Belmont Village Senior Living announced on May 21 that the UC San Diego Stein Institute’s Living Lab at Belmont Village La Jolla has received the 2026 Argentum Best of the Best Award. The award was presented during the Hero Awards ceremony at Argentum’s annual Senior Living Executive Conference & Expo on May 19.
The recognition highlights an innovative partnership between Belmont Village and the UC San Diego Stein Institute for Research on Aging, which aims to bridge academic research and practical implementation in senior living communities. The initiative is noted for bringing real-world aging research directly into a functioning senior living environment, allowing scientific discoveries to be tested and applied in ways that improve residents’ health and quality of life.
Launched in 2023, the Living Lab features a purpose-built research studio within Belmont Village La Jolla. This facility supports onsite studies such as biosensor testing, technology development, physical assessments, interviews, and behavioral interventions. Researchers also use community spaces like gyms, art studios, town halls, and social lounges so studies can become part of daily life for residents.
“We believe senior living communities can serve as engines of innovation in aging,” said Patricia Will, Founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living. “The Living Lab exemplifies how collaboration with academic partners can bring meaningful research directly to residents’ lives and impact the research, while advancing new approaches to healthy aging.”
Danielle Glorioso, Executive Director of the UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging said: “The Living Lab was designed to bring research out of the abstract and into everyday life. By partnering directly with residents, we’re able to test and refine innovations in real time, ensuring they are not only scientifically sound, but truly meaningful and applicable to how people live, age, and thrive.”
The recognition by Argentum underscores ongoing efforts within senior living communities to foster environments where innovation is integrated into everyday experiences.
