June 9, 2026
Joanne Malleta, Director of Resident Health Services, Completes Prestigious ICAA Foundation for Wellness Program
As a professional working in the fast-growing field of older adult wellness, where the need for professional training and development has never been more urgent, Joanne Walsh Malleta, Director of Resident Health Services at The Clare, is proud to be among the exclusive group of graduates of the ICAA Foundation for Wellness course.
The specialized knowledge and techniques gained during this intensive, multi-week program bring a new level of expertise to Malleta’s role at The Clare, Chicago’s only downtown Life Plan Community. The certification also strengthens the wellness experience The Clare offers its residents, reinforcing the community’s standard for whole-person care on the Gold Coast.
“This certification means so much to me,” said Malleta. “I’m fortunate that LCS and The Clare have invested in me and our team – to receive it from an organization as respected as the International Council on Active Aging is an honor. I’ve worked in senior living for more than 30 years, and I’ve always believed that helping people stay connected to a sense of purpose is vital to their wellness. This course gave me new tools and ideas for how I work with our residents.”
The ICAA Foundation for Wellness curriculum centers on the foundational elements of wellness, guiding participants through self-discovery exercises, wellness best practices and real-world case studies. Graduates leave the program with new strategies for building on a community’s existing wellness culture – from understanding the science behind wellness to developing practical, implementable programs for residents.
“The course reinforced how important it is to look at wellness as a whole, not just one piece of it,” Malleta said. “Every resident is different, and everyone’s idea of wellness is unique. It gave me new ways to think about how we can support residents in reaching their own goals – through health services, dining, fitness, lifelong learning and the relationships that make up daily life at The Clare.”
Malleta’s certification is part of a broader wellness initiative at The Clare, where team members across several departments are being encouraged to pursue the same training. “Wellness touches every area of our community,” Malleta said. “I’m excited to see how these tools get put into practice across The Clare, because the more people who share this understanding, the stronger our ability to create a great experience for residents.”
A social worker by trade, Malleta has worked in senior living for more than 30 years and joined The Clare in 2013. As Director of Resident Health Services, she serves as a liaison between residents, staff and outside parties, and meets with prospective residents before they move to the community. She grew up on a farm in Iowa and is a graduate of the University of Iowa. She and her husband, Vijay, have two children, Keaton and Nolan, and outside of work she enjoys needlepoint, meditation, movies and concerts.
About The Clare
The Clare is Chicago’s only downtown Life Plan Community, offering luxury independent living paired with seamless access to a full continuum of on-site care through The Terraces at The Clare, including assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing. Located at 55 E. Pearson Street on the Gold Coast, The Clare offers residents a restaurant-caliber, four-venue dining program and a 100 Walk Score location in the heart of the city.
About ICAA Education, Inc. (ICAA)
ICAA Education, Inc., develops and delivers courses designed to help active-aging professionals build the needed skills and knowledge to impact both older-adult wellness in all dimensions as well as the business bottom line.
ICAA Education, Inc., is a sister company of the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), a professional association that has led, connected and defined the active-aging industry since 2001. Founded in the belief that unifying the efforts of organizations focused on improving the quality of life of older adults benefits both the people they reach and the organizations themselves, ICAA’s vision is shared by over 10,000 organizations. ICAA’s support of the active-aging industry includes industry research reports, environment and program development, market development, education and research on healthy aging and wellness, networking, best practice sharing, marketing and strategy development, public relations campaigns and recognition programs.