HaroldUrman
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Dec 1, 2009, 12:52 PM
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By Harold Urman Ph.D
The prototype for the modern retirement community began in Sun City, Arizona. It was built by the Del Webb Corp. in the 1960s and 1970s, when senior citizens pursued economy-size dreams and air conditioning was still considered a luxury. By the 1980s, those dreams needed an upgrade, which is why Del Webb and others began to build retirement communities with bigger houses, grand landscaping, huge swimming pools and gymnasiums, and expansive cultural centers.
Today, retirement communities are on the brink of an identity crisis. The boomer generation is now eligible to live in age-restricted 55 and older settlements and their needs and desires for independence and control is shaping the next generation of retirement living.
Boomer’s want more control over how they age, and the concept of the luxury campus offered by many high-end retirement communities around the country may not fit the requirements of this far more demanding and independent group. This article is intended to introduce some of the new models of retirement living that are beginning to blossom in the United States.
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs)
In the mid-1980’s UJA Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York began targeting health and social services to older adults who were living in market rate apartment buildings in New York City where older adults were the predominant residents. Unable to afford the cost of living in a retirement community and having a strong desire to age in place, these buildings developed into what are now called Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). This model promotes healthy aging, independence, and community building through a multifaceted approach. The key elements consist of: case management and social work services; health care management and prevention programs; education, socialization, and recreational activities; and volunteer opportunities for program participants and the community. From this early work, NORCs are being created all around the country. In 2001, the United Jewish Communities (UJC) embarked on the NORC Aging in Place Initiative to seek federal assistance to promote the development and testing of the NORC model nationally. Between 2002 and 2008, UJC helped agencies to secure federal demonstration grants in 45 communities in 26 states. For more information about NORCs visit www.norcs.com.
Senior Cohousing
Cohousing was imported from Denmark about 15 years ago by architects Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrrett. Cohousing is a type of collaborative housing in which residents actively participate in the design and operation of their own neighborhoods. Cohousing communities are usually designed as attached or single-family homes along with one or more pedestrian streets or clustered around a courtyard. The common house is the social center of the community, with a large dining room and kitchen, lounge, recreation facilities, and other common spaces.
The first senior cohousing neighborhoods are just now emerging in the U.S., with the added features of easy access for all levels of physical ability, shared guest rooms for visiting family members, living quarters in the common house for home health aides whose services may be shared by several residents in the neighborhood. Although each home is equipped with a complete kitchen and dining area, the common house is a place where neighbors gather together on a regular basis to share meals and socialize with one another. There are currently 227 cohousing communities in the United States that have been built or are in the process of being developed. Visit www.seniorcohousing.com for more information.
The Village Model
The idea behind a Village is a simple one: Community members come together with the common desire to stay in their homes and their neighborhoods as they age. To accomplish this goal, a non-profit corporation is created and all community members pay an annual fee, which typically ranges from $500 - $1,000 per person or household per year. The money is used by the Village to provide support and services for members as needs arise. The first Village began less than 10 years ago with Boston’s Beacon Hill Village. Since then, the Village concept has taken off around the world.
Basic assistance with members’ daily needs is at the heart of all Village models. Among the services offered are:
. Personalized transportation to shopping, meeting friends, seeing a doctor, etc.
. Meals that are either prepared in your home or delivered to your home
. Referrals to professionals for evaluations and customized home health care
. Routine housecleaning
. Access to discount home maintenance and personal services.
Some Villages include a “concierge” level of service, which include such services as:
. Group transportation to special events
. Reserved tables at local restaurants
. Bill paying services
. Assistance with running errands
. Pet-sitting services
. Computer classes in your home
The end result is that Village members get help and assistance as they need it to remain independent and engaged in civic and social life while remaining in their own homes and their own community. For general information on Village Networks, visit www.agingincommunity.com/models/village_networks. For specific information on the type of services offered by local Villages, visit www.beaconhillvillage.com in Boston, MA or www.avenidas.org in Palo Alto, CA.
Eskaton National Demonstration Home
The Eskaton National Demonstration Home, located in Roseville CA is the result of years of research and development with industry leaders to create the home that represents the future of smart, healthy, independent living for America’s aging adults. Combining innovative universal design, cutting-edge home and health technologies and green living features, makes this home a home for life.
The project's goal is to demonstrate how older adults can remain in their own homes longer - maximizing independence and community - connection, affordability and overall quality of living. These ideas can be integrated into any floor plan and type of structure, making the features of this home easily adaptable to any construction project, anywhere in the United States.
The Eskaton Demonstration home offers flexible and adaptable designs for every stage of life, such as wider hallways, level floor transitions and multilevel work surface, all without sacrificing the interior and exterior esthetics of the home. These homes bring together the best in health, wellness, and social technologies to support all stages of life. Some examples include:
Social Connectivity: All residents to stay connected with family, friends and caregivers though a TV and/or home computer
Healthy Living: Wellness monitoring station transmits daily health reports to caregivers
Smart Reminders: Automated reminders and alerts insure you never miss an appointment, event or medication.
Smart Lighting and Appliances: On when you need them and automatically off when you don’t
Green Living: Use of solar energy, a tankless water heater, smart lighting and other energy-saving features result in a home that is GreenBuilt-certified.
For more information on the Eskaton National Demonstration Home, visit www.eskaton.org/national-demo-home.html.
Although other models of retirement living exist, these models represent some of the most popular innovations available today to meet the needs of a wide economic spectrum of aging adults, who desire to live independently in a neighborhood and control how they age in place.
Harold N. Urman, Ph.D. is an educational psychologist and co-founder of Vital Research, a consulting firm specializing in research and evaluation. Established in 1982 and based in Los Angeles, Vital Research is a national research and consulting firm with expertise in senior living services satisfaction measurement.
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(This post was edited by HaroldUrman on Feb 5, 2010, 8:42 AM)
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