Page 16
— Health Care Properties Quarterly — September 2016
Senior Housing & Care
Our article this quar-
ter reflects the thoughts
of a cross-section of baby
boomers, who are not affili-
ated professionally with the
senior living industry, about
senior living.
The participants from
varying occupations and
geographic locations are
Gary D., 65, financial consul-
tant; Dan M., 55, business
development; Carol J., retired
special education teacher;
Louise H., 62, consultant; Bill
D., 55, restorative justice pro-
gram director; Justin C., 59,
marketing and advertising;
Diane M., 57, retired and a
volunteer at Clermont Liv-
ing Center and Project Angel
Heart; Cindy L., 63, telecom-
munications executive;
and Felicia B., 55, franchise
owner.
Q:
When you think of
senior housing, what is the
first impression that pops into
your mind?
Dread and resistance to
the inevitable. I don't want
to see myself in senior hous-
ing because it does not look
that favorable or fun. I am
mostly in a state of denial.
When forced to think about
it, I plan to stay in my exist-
ing home as long as it is
financially and physically
possible, which means I am
still in denial. I am sure I will
be one of those characters
that drives their kids crazy
and will have to be forced
out of my comfortable sur-
roundings by necessity.
Gary
Old-fashioned nursing
homes, which is where I
want to stay away from in
terms of senior housing.
What I want – an active,
involved retirement commu-
nity where I have the choice
to participate or not partici-
pate.
Dan
To begin with, I would like
to be in my home as long
as I can. Even though inde-
pendent senior living might
sound attractive, ultimately,
the benefits of staying in
one’s own home as long as
possible can be much more
psychologically and finan-
cially beneficial. The biggest
thing that would make me
move to senior housing is if I
couldn’t drive anymore.
When I think of senior
housing, I really think of
three levels. There is the
independent living, assisted
living and skilled/nursing
health care center.
Carol
Two impressions: The old
ones that are like old men-
tal institutions that stink,
and the new, very expen-
sive ones that are more like
apartments.
Louise
First words that come to
mind: Sad, depressing, insti-
tutional and “some of those
places might be OK to live.”
Bill
Wheelchairs, walkers but
sweet, elderly people who
are possibly very lonesome
and appreciate community.
Justin
I have a very high-end
vision of what senior
independent-to-full-care
living looks like because of
my experience at Clermont
Living Center. I could see
myself living there or some-
place similar. The apart-
ments are a good size with
a well-equipped corridor
kitchen. Two apartments I
visited had room for a piano
(which is a requirement for
me). The lobbies and public
areas are decorated nicely.
The residents I know in
independent living shop,
travel and entertain. There
is a show tune choir and
residents put on a musical
each year! There are reli-
gious services. There is a
cafeteria, a gym, a gift shop,
a beauty parlor and medi-
cal offices on the premises.
Probably more. There is a
high-end restaurant with
wine Wednesdays! I have no
idea what it costs.
Diane
Old people sitting around
in wheelchairs. This initial
thought comes from past
images, before my mother
moved to senior housing.
Now, I view totally different
seeing through experience.
The residents are active with
few in wheelchairs. There
are activities to keep every-
one busy.
Cindy
There are all kinds of
options for senior living
and many that people don't
know exist – even in their
own neighborhoods. And
more senior living providers
need to look at more medi-
cal care and support – aging
is not just about hospital-
ity. It’s about being able to
age in place with dignity
and proper care in the least
restrictive environment pos-
sible.
Felicia
Q:
What type of senior liv-
ing environment would you
consider living in yourself
when/if the time comes? What
qualities and amenities would
be important to you?
Very attractive nurses.
Beyond that, competence
of medical care and cleanli-
ness, a reasonable degree
of privacy and proxim-
ity to family and friends, if
they are still alive too. Very
important I am in control of
the choice and environment,
to the extent that I am still
competent to do so.
Gary
Building off my above
answer, key things to me
include: Very nice apart-
ments/residences, but they
don’t need to be over the
top. I don’t want to pay for
that, nor do I need it. Inter-
esting, educated residents
from across the area, region
or country. I don’t want resi-
dents who are all from one
part of town and know each
other.
Lots of activities, both at
the senior living community
in the city, including cultural
events. Good food, assuming
they provide meal service.
On-site physical therapy,
workout facility and pool. If
possible, tennis courts.
Ideally: One set monthly
price that is guaranteed not
to increase so you can stay
at the facility for life. The
facility should have regu-
lar housing, assisted living,
memory unit and nursing
home at the one location.
Dan
I am a baby boomer and
also at the point where I am
a caretaker for two moms in
their 90s. After visiting many
senior living facilities with
my mom and later visiting
facilities when I actually had
to find a place for my mom,
I looked at senior living in
a different way. First of all,
I want to stay in my own
home as long as I can. If I
need to go to an apartment,
I would consider an inde-
pendent senior living place.
In the independent living
I’d want to make sure there
was Wi-Fi and cable in every
room and a few activities
provided. Also there should
be a center van service if I
couldn’t drive and needed to
go to doctor appointments
or take residents to an exer-
cise facility.
Carol
I plan on staying at home.
Louise
Where residents feel as
fulfilled as possible because
they are treated by all staff
with patience, dignity and
respect; comfortable rooms
where residents can create
the space in which they live
and are encouraged to do so;
inside and outside common
areas are inviting, warm
and comfortable; access to
nature and the outdoors to
whatever degree possible;
mentally and spiritually
stimulating and meaningful
for the variety of people liv-
ing there; volunteer oppor-
tunities for those who would
like to serve (whether it be
with a single gesture or in a
greater capacity); entertain-
ment options; programs by
local residents and school
children; space and equip-
ment for physical exercise/
movement; quality food
with variety; library; activi-
ties based on resident input
with a sincere effort to meet
all reasonable requests. For
example, let’s say there was
an activity van and a rule
that at least five people had
to want to go somewhere
in order for it to roll. Then
let’s say I’d like to go to a few
baseball games before I die,
but no one else wants to go.
It would be nice to live in a
place where intelligent peo-
ple could work that out.
Bill
Definitely something with
padded walls and ground
level so I don’t jump from
my balcony.
Honestly, I probably won’t
be able to afford it! Ameni-
ties, other than air condi-
tioning and heat, probably
won’t be important. Unless,
of course, you're talking
shuffleboard with a digital
score screen.
Justin
I volunteer in the nursing
unit and there is a memory
care unit. It looks a little dif-
ferent there; residents have
a room like a hospital room.
There are activities like exer-
cise, crafts, movies and cha-
pel services, and the dining
room is always decorated for
the season or holiday. The
staff is competent.
Diane
I would want to live in a
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long-term relationships.
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