ASHEVILLE — Trinity Oaks, a premier senior living community located in Salisbury, received a LeadingAge North Carolina Excellence in Innovation Award at the association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Expo held in Asheville on Friday.

The award recognizes programs and best practices that address significant needs in the pursuit of expanded possibilities for aging.

Trinity Oaks was the first senior living community to pilot a smartphone app that assesses seniors’ risk for falls. The AVA app, created by Mathews-based ForesightCares, guides participants through timed balance exercises and captures their performance on a smartphone camera. AVA then uses proprietary artificial intelligence technology to analyze the footage and measure participants’ risk of falling. 

Forty-two Trinity Oaks residents registered for the study, 11 teammates served as facilitators, and one teammate served as a coordinator and liaison to the app developers. Several residents were unable to complete the exercises and withdrew from the study; most sought help to improve their balance skills. Thirty completed the study and gave feedback on their experience with the app. 

The study not only helped residents understand the level of fitness needed to prevent falls, but it also increased participation in Trinity Oaks fitness classes by 50 percent. More than a dozen participants were referred to Trinity Rehab for physical therapy, and teammates developed a physical therapy “Spirit Week” to educate and motivate residents. Trinity Oaks also received four new iPads for residents as part of the study.

“This partnership was a win-win for all involved,” said Trinity Oaks Learning for Life Director Donna Williams Groce. “Residents gained a better understanding of how to enhance and maintain their quality of life and the developers stepped out of the lab to find real world participants, making their product stronger. Ultimately, engaging in this research was beneficial and an honor for our community.”

Trinity Oaks is an affiliate of Lutheran Services Carolinas. Its campus includes independent living cottages and apartments; assisted living, health and rehab, and memory care; a gourmet dining program; and state-of-the-art recreational facilities. Learn more at trinityoaks.net or call Lorie Aldridge at 704-603-9202.