Changing Aging

This is a cool mission statement:

To transform a source (the knowledge, talent and skill of the region’s 50+ population) into a force for enriching our community by helping individuals find meaning and the means to contribute to the greater good.

It’s the mission of Coming of Age, a Philadephia collaboration of four partners:  Temple University’s Center for Intergenerational Learning, WHYY Wider Horizons, the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and  AARP Pennsylvania. 

Coming of Age has three objectives: 

1.  Helping people age 50+ plan for the future;

2.  Promoting 50+ volunteering, learning, and community leadership;

3.  Working with nonprofits to recruit, train, and retain 50+ volunteers.  

Coming of Age is a great model for other communities who want to seize opportunities of an unprecedented age wave.  It’s fresh, invigorating, inspiring, fun . . . It’s also drawing dollars . . . Atlantic Philanthropies recently gave it $1.8 million to expand in other parts of the U.S.. . . . .

Do you know of any other communities that are doing this?

Changing Aging recently sat down with Dr. Andrew E. Scharlach, of the University of California at Berkeley, where he holds the Eugene and Rose Kleiner Chair in Aging. He also serves as Director of the Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services, which conducts research designed to inform development of innovative and effective services for older adults.  It recently sponsored an international web-based conference on “Creating Aging-Friendly Communities” and  technical support through an ongoing “Community of Practice” is available here.

Dr. Scharlach, who also serves as a gubernatorial appointee on the California Commission on Aging, has published extensively on the needs of older adults and their families, particularly with regard to long-term care services, work and family responsibilities, bereavement, and gerontological social work education.

In addition to more than 40 articles, he is the author of Elder Care and the Work Force: Blueprint for Action (with B. Lowe and E. Schneider; Lexington Books, Controversial Issues in Aging (with L. Kaye; Allyn & Bacon), and Families and Work: New Directions in the Twenty-First Century (with K. Fredriksen-Goldsen; Oxford University Press).

 What are the biggest changes that you think we’ll see in U.S. community planning as it relates to preparing for vital aging communities?

 We’re going to and already are seeing older consumers more involved in the planning process in communities. Aging friendly initiatives and products will become the norm.  You’re going to see much more universal design in housing development.  You’re also going to see products that look good, have good design and that are functional.  Michael Graves, the renowned designer, is creating good and functional design of shower heads, tea pots and other products used in everyday life.  That will become more widespread in architecture and other community infrastructure.

How do you see senior housing changing for the age wave?

I see several different areas for change.  I think you’re going to see more housing that’s built for a lifetime, e.g., universal design.  That’s going to lead to communities that are more intergenerational.  I think senior housing providers also will move more outside of their traditional bricks and mortar, where they help create virtual senior communities by delivering services to people in their home.  Technology is going to play a much greater role.  We’re already starting to see that with sensor monitoring in people’s homes.  That technology is going to have to increase because we’re going have many fewer caregivers. I also think there will be more peer support and less reliance on family care.  Communities that are known as “good places to grow old” are where people will want to live.

What are examples of U.S. communities you’ve seen that “get it” when it comes creating aging-friendly communities?

There are a number of communities that are seeing aging as an asset and working to be livable for a lifetime in different ways. Atlanta has a large initiative called Aging Atlanta, which is part of their regional planning and is focused on making Atlanta a place people want to stay.  The University of Indiana has a Center for Aging and Community under the direction of Dr. Philip Stafford that has been doing a lot of work in this area to help communities become lifespan communities.  Fremont, California, is another one that is doing community-wide work to help people live and stay in Fremont to the end of life.

 

By 2050, the U.S. will have more than a half million centenarians.  Assuming a shortage in professional caregivers, how do you see family care changing for this unprecedented demographic shift?

Technology is going to have to play a critical role.  Robotics are going to take on some roles that were traditionally done by humans.  You’re also going to have nurses checking in with patients by video or by computer via sensors.  We’re going to have to think very locally.  Neighbors are going to have to look out for neighbors.  Community design also is essential for this.  Buildings have to be easy to live in and easy to navigate for people who have disabilities.  You can start to see how the unprecedented age wave in the U.S. will impact just about every area of our society.  Communities can’t plan in silos.  There are a lot of interconnections and intergenerational ties to this.

 What do you want old age to look like for you?

I want to be socially connected.  I’d like minimal physical impediments, and I want to be able to maintain meaningful activities and relationships without undue pressure to maintain the functional levels of earlier years. There’s this image in America that to age well, you have to be jumping out of airplanes or running marathons. Not true. Healthy, successful aging is about enjoying life – not speed or intensity.

 

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit in on a session about congregational senior housing at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Eastern Washington/Idaho Synod Assembly.  I learned some interesting things about how this type of collaboration makes so much sense for communities and congregations of all denominations seeking to ride the age wave and expand ministry work.

Presenters were Pastor Dave Olson of First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint, Idaho, Steve Ordahl, senior vice president of business development at Ecumen and Dana Wollschlager, director of real estate development at Ecumen.  First Lutheran Church and Ecumen are developing senior housing called Luther Park of Sandpoint, which will be connected to First Lutheran Church (above is an architectural rendering).  Ecumen is the developer and will manage it upon opening later this year. 

5 Key Points About Congregational Senior Housing:

1.  Builds Connections Across Generations: Pastor Dave elevates with excitement when he talks about the opportunities for intergenerational connections at First Lutheran.  First Lutheran operates an early childhood learning program that will be enhanced by the wisdom and friendships of new neighbors at Luther Park.  And he sees Luther Park’s new residents benefitting from learning from their young friends.  Congregational senior housing can be an effective vehicle for fostering meaningful intergenerational connections.

2.  Creates Bridges in the Community: I assumed that it would be all people who are already connected with First Lutheran who are moving to Luther Park.  My assumption was wrong.  There are a number of people who don’t attend First Lutheran today who are moving in.  Also, Pastor Dave talks about how a lot more people know about First Lutheran in the Sandpoint area now that they are offering this housing option.  It’s building bridges in the community.

3.  Enhances What It Means to be a Community: The most successful congregations and most successful senior housing are truly “communities,” not simply bricks and mortar.  People care for each other . . . respect each other . . . learn from each other . . . grow and develop . . . and are proud of being member of their congregation and their neighborhood.  Congregational senior housing can capture and enhance what it means to be a community.

4.  Provides Another Appealing Draw to the Church:  As I listened to Pastor Dave explain the many neat things about this expansion of First Lutheran’s ministry, you can see how the church-senior housing integration can be a draw to attract new members to a parish.  You immediately sense that this is a place that has vision and is committed to being there for their parishoners for the long-term.  That’s a comforting thought.

5.  Expands Ministry Resources:  Pastor Dave conveyed how Luther Park will provide positive cash flow to First Lutheran Church.  Congregational senior housing is a ministry that if done right can generate financial resources to benefit and help expand other ministries and create new synergies that make churches and communities stronger.

A lot of people talk about the challenges of a large, aging population.  As First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint is showing, there are also a lot of opportunities.

“If they don’t innovate, they will die.”  So says John Krout, director of the Gerontology Institute at Ithaca College, in today’s New York Times story about the future of senior centers.

“Changing Aging” broached this subject earlier this month in a post about a new kind of center at Ecumen’s Parmly LifePointes community (pictured above).

This and other successful new centers such as Mathers Lifeways Cafes don’t scream “senior center.”  They scream “aging is all about living . . . even at the end of life.”

Churches across America have a tremendous opportunity to play a significantly positive role in the aging of America by helping create vibrant communities that bring multiple generations together.

Looking closer at this emerging leadership role, we have introduced a white paper entitled: “A New Wrinkle on Aging, Congregational Senior Housing.”  Author Kay Harvey shares one congregation’s experience as it turns a vision into reality.

Look for these 10 senior housing development trends from 2007 to pick up even more steam in 2008 as the age wave gains force:

1.  Congregational Senior Housing:  People want to live in nurturning, vibrant communities.  Churches want to extend their ministries, strengthen their congregations and build community.  Congregational senior housing, such as the visionary ELCA project in Sandpoint, Idaho is a win-win.

2.  College Campus Senior Housing:  Lifelong learning is a key part of successful aging.  Look for more colleges to create intergenerational communities and see the benefits of senior learners and neighbors.

3.  Increased Technology:  Technology is allowing members of the sandwich generation to be greater participants in their parents’ lives and care.  At the same time, it is giving people more control over their health and independence.  Look for increased growth in interactive technology in 2008.

4.  Memory Care:  Every 72 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s Disease.  New memory care households focus solely on the challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia, while eliminating the institutional style of the past.

5.  Green Construction:  Enviro-friendly and sustainable development is increasing in senior housing and will continue to grow in 2008.

6.  Catered Living:  Combines independent living and al la carte assisted living services.  This housing type allows a person to stay in their home even when they need or want more assistance.

7.  Smart, Innovative Design:  Look for innovative designers, such as Michael Graves to increasingly bring their skills to aging and using smart, creative design to improve people’s lives. 

8.  Livable Communities:  More cities are getting hip to integrating senior housing close to other community resources such as transportation, shopping and libraries, rather than sticking them in the fringes next to nothing.

9.  Successful Aging Centers:  Look for wellness centers connected to senior housing that help people of all ages and abilities nurture their physical, intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and vocational health.  These increasingly serve as larger community resources for successful aging.

10:  Virtual Retirement Communities:  In this model, all the amenities of a senior housing community are brought to an exisiting neighborhood, such as the model Beacon Hill Village.  New bricks and mortar might include a very small health center that provides more intensive care when needed.

We invite you to download Ecumen White Papers on a range of subjects related to changing aging, including senior technology and senior housing development tips in our online library

We’ve added new white papers in our successful aging resource library. This is an evolving online resource by Ecumen for senior housing and aging services professionals and others interested in aging and creating more livable communities. 

The new papers look at trends in senior housing development and how technology is changing aging.  You’ll also find our Age Wave Study of baby boomers and senior housing development tips.

We invite you to share links to other such resources in the comments section below.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune had a nice article yesterday on Luther Park, a senior housing development that we are very excited to be part of in Sandpoint, Idaho.  The first project of its kind in Idaho, it’s a great example of collaboration among Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) partners to help people live for a lifetime in communities that they love.

First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint will be the owner of Luther Park which will be physically connected to First Lutheran Church.  Ecumen will develop and manage it.  The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA is the primary financing partner, and Thrivent also contributed financing.  Pastor Dave Olson is the visionary behind the project and bringing the various ELCA partners together to make it a reality.

Below is the Star Tribune story:

Sandpoint, Idaho, has become one the most desirable retirement destinations for active seniors. At the base of the Selkirk Mountains and just south of the Canadian border it provides scenic beauty, outdoor recreation and an arts community.

Shoreview-based Ecumen, one of the country’s largest nonprofit senior housing services and development companies, was also attracted to the area.

It joined with First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint and other Evangelical Lutheran Church in America partners to break ground on Idaho’s first catered living senior housing development in Sandpoint.

Called Luther Park at Sandpoint, it will be connected to First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint and will open in November of 2008.

Ecumen’s development plans integrate independent living with a suite of assisted-living services on one site. The catered living design allows seniors to be as independent as possible in a community they were drawn to, while providing assisted-living and memory-care services when needed.

The apartments include one- and two-bedroom floor plans and common areas will include a grand fireplace gathering area, library and media center, community meeting rooms, a salon and barber shop and outdoor walking paths.

Posted by Kathy Bakkenist, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations 

Recently I blogged about several intergenerational focus groups we recently did of members of the Baby Boom Generation, Silent Generation and Greatest Generation.

How would you answer this question?: If you could create your ideal future, how would you describe it?

Here are answers from our focus group participants:

- Close friends nearby, a strong sense of community.

- Comfort, safety, good health.

- Balance of being independent and having a community around you.

- Stimulating community that allows me to expand my horizons as I age.

- Friends, health. But I want some key things to be easy - computer repair, plumbing problems, etc.

- Lots of things I can walk to. To live a pedestrian life.

- Health and vitality.

- Health support, so even if I’m at home there are resources I can tap into - like coming home from the hospital and not having to go to assisted living.

- Friendships, connections with people.

- An environment that fosters friendships and connectedness.

- Continuous learning.

- Staying in my home, being healthy and vitality.

- Living in a community that’s working toward the common good. Companions and resources readily available.

- Not having to reinvent the wheel. Being able to ask someone for advice who can direct me to resources.Good health.

- Living where I am now.

- Having the same neighbors in my building.

- Six months here, six months in a warm climate.

- Knowing all the neighbors in my building.

- Sense of neighborhood.

- Good restaurants and grocery store.

- Less car dependent.

- Ongoing learning/educational opportunities.

- Be in a safe community where you feel comfortable on the streets.

- Youth, age diversity (many nods)

- Neighborhood gatherings.

It’s fascinating how often “community” pops up in responses. In aging services we’ve traditionally been so focused on the “medical model.” Those that are the best companies will be those who listen to what their customers want and deliver it. I love one of the statements from another focus group member who said, “It is not about aging. It is about building communities and people helping each other.”

Back in August, we blogged about a Chicago Tribune story on “outsourcing long-term care to India.”  The story was about a son moving his father there for care, because he’d get more personal attention and it was less expensive.  Also, a recent ABC News story looked at people moving from the United States to get long-term care in Mexico.  These folks should have checked out a few rural U.S. communities before heading out of the country.

What is so striking is the sense of community (and family members caring for family members) that you find in many smaller towns’ senior communities. 

A reminder of this again was the recent 90th Anniversary Celebration for Bethany Community on the shores of Lake Winona in Alexandria, Minn.  More than 600 neighbors showed up for their public picnic.  I’m sure there were probably some people related there, but when you walk inside Bethany Community and many senior communities in rural America, you find family . . . literally.  Here are a couple of examples:

Jeannie Klimek (left in center, with her parents) has been the “chief of first impressions” at Bethany Community for 21 years.  In her role as receptionist, she’s often the first person that people come in contact with at Bethany Community.  Now stay with me on these various connections . . .

Jeannie’s father Vern Chan (everyone knows him as Bud) is here with his lifelong best buddy Duane Persson on Machinery Hill at the Douglas County (Minn.) Fair.  Vern and Duane are now next door neighbors at Bethany Community and still best buddies. 

Jeannie’s mother Christine Chan is known by every one as Tinker.  She lives at Bethany Community, too.  Vern, I mean Bud, gave her the name Tinker because “she was alway tinkering on their family’s farm.”

Then there’s Irmadene Knudson, RN, who is director of nursing at Bethany Community.  Her mom was a nursing assistant at Bethany, Irmadene followed in her footsteps starting as a nursing assistant when she was 16.   Irmadene and her three daughters (two of whom have followed her into nursing) often visited Irmadene’s grandmother who also lived at Bethany Community.  Irmadene has had several other relatives live at Bethany Community, too.

You’ll find many of these types of connections in other rural communities.  It’s a powerful, beautiful thing . . . communities and family members caring for their loved ones.  Before people think about outsourcing care to another country, they should check out rural America.