Who among us hasn’t made a resolution that in some way dealt with becoming healthier – to lose weight, quit smoking, lower our cholesterol, tone those abs, etc.? But lack of time, energy, and even motivation, makes it difficult to make the lifestyle changes needed to succeed. So what if we were given a whole different way, not only to define health and wellness goals, but to achieve them in ways customized specifically for us?
Welcome to AL!VE- a truly unique concept in health and wellness in Charlotte, Michigan opening to the public in November. AL!VE is an integrated approach to healthcare born out of a fairly simple need to find space for the local hospital to relocate their physical therapy facilities and women’s health services. While AL!VE does indeed house the hospital’s physical therapy unit and women’s health services, its founders and numerous supporters will tell you that AL!VE is first and foremost an experience, while the built environment is a direct response to the experiences that will be created there. Though the facility will house a number of the components we’ve come to expect in a wellness facility, like state-of-the-art exercise equipment and indoor tracks and walking paths, these are but tiny components in a much more comprehensive program that recognizes that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to good health. That’s why personal guides, called “creationaires” will develop profiles on members that identify broad life goals and uncover real barriers to achieving those. Individualized plans designed to achieve those goals may or may not incorporate a visit to the gym as the best approach for achieving greater health and wellbeing.
The facility is a truly collaborative effort spearheaded by Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital with participation by numerous community groups, business leaders, government officials and individuals. Funding for the $18 million project is coming from a variety of sources, including the community. The initial $10 million allocated by Hayes Green Beach was made possible in part by use of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Program 242, which offers affordable financing for hospitals.
AL!VE is an idea that’s generating a lot of press! Check out this recent story in Healthcare Construction + Operations. The article features an interview with our own David Johnson, master planner for the facility who shared the vision of Hayes Green Beach CEO Matt Rush many years ago: a vision that has truly come to life. Plus, take a look at this recent profile story in the Lansing State Journal that includes some great photos of the public’s first experience with AL!VE: you won’t want to miss the men in suits in shot #7!