A little friendly competition, plenty of team spirit and opportunities to connect are on the way as Friends Homes residents prepare for the 2026 Kintura Olympics.
Held annually, the Kintura Olympics brings together residents from Kintura’s five life plan communities, as well as Friends Homes, which is managed by Kintura, for several weeks of sports, games and activities celebrating all areas of wellness. Communities take turns hosting events, giving residents opportunities to stay active, visit new places and build friendships along the way.
At Friends Homes, residents from both Independent Living and Assisted Living will have opportunities to participate. Home community competitions include Wii bowling, Sudoku and puzzles, with scores submitted virtually. Golf competitions begin Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, followed by events hosted across Kintura communities from Sept. 28 through Oct. 7.
And there is no shortage of ways to compete. Residents will travel to participating communities for events ranging from lap swimming, water walking and water volleyball at Scotia Village to walking relays and Quiz Bowl at Well-Spring. Glenaire will host women’s billiards, Corn Toss and chair volleyball while River Landing will close out the competition with pickleball and table tennis.
“The Kintura Olympics is an opportunity for everyone to come together and have fun,” said Kayla McBane, Director of Wellness at Friends Homes. “Our residents enjoy meeting residents from other communities, visiting new places and sharing in a little friendly competition. It also gives our wellness teams another opportunity to create meaningful experiences that keep residents active, engaged and connected.”
The preparation begins well before the official competition. Communities work together to make sure residents have access to the spaces and equipment they need to practice, even when certain activities aren’t available at their home community. Friends Homes, for example, welcomes residents from Well-Spring to practice chair volleyball and bocce, giving competitors an opportunity to sharpen their skills while connecting with residents from other communities ahead of the Games.
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Friends Homes will take its turn as host, welcoming competitors for duplicate bridge, men’s and women’s bocce and men’s billiards. And the competition won’t be the only attraction.
Because this year’s events will be held at Friends Homes West, the community is embracing a “Wild, Wild West” theme. Residents and guests can expect Western-inspired decorations, plenty of team spirit and a special meal prepared by the dining team to complete the experience.
Behind the scenes, wellness teams across the communities spend months planning and working together to make the Olympics possible. For residents, that collaboration translates into something much bigger than a competition.
Whether competing for a win, cheering on a neighbor or making a new friend, the Kintura Olympics reflects the active, connected lifestyle future residents can look forward to at Friends Homes – where wellness can be just as much about having fun together as staying active.
By Jessica Ford
Kintura Content Specialist