Today’s Retirement Community: A Lifestyle Choice

by Nicole DeWoolfson Muller

My very own personal fitness trainer? A movie theater? A playground for my grandchildren? An indoor pool? A computer and business center?  Fine dining and a casual bistro?  Nature trails?  If this sounds like a luxury resort or nearby country club, you may be surprised to find these amenities within the many retirement communities in the Philadelphia region.

Today's generation of retirees are demanding upscale services and comforts when searching for a retirement community and Philadelphia has a wide variety to chose from.  Just look at the marketing brochures and advertisements for continuing care retirement communities and assisted living communities to find key selling points including resort living, larger spaces, more options and upscale amenities. 

By now you have no doubt heard about the anticipated growth of the elderly population, when the baby boom generation reaches retirement age.  Retirees of today and the baby boomers on the horizon want more out of life and more out of a retirement community.  For many, moving to a retirement community is a lifestyle choice, a choice which enables retirees to enjoy their retirement years without the burdens of home and lawn maintenance or worries about their future needs.  But it is more than that.  The choice provides freedom, the freedom to enjoy life and time to pursue all of your interests.  Retirees are active and healthy and they have a wealth of retirement community options to choose from. This article presents some of the latest trends found in Philadelphia’s retirement communities and assisted living communities.

Upscale Amenities

The new generation of retirees are seeking communities with a lot to offer.  Amenities found within the Philadelphia area’s retirement communities are diverse and represent the various interests and active lifestyles of residents.  Outdoor amenities can include a putting green, tennis court, bocce court, shuffle board, gardening areas, nature trails, picnic areas, and swimming pools to name a few.  Inside, the list can include convenience store, billiard and game room, library, arts and craft studio, bowling alley, theater, woodshop, greenhouse, gift shop, beauty parlor and computer center. 

Suburban Philadelphia’s newest continuing care retirement community, Shannondell at Valley Forge, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open by the end of the year. Shannondell is one example of the fine amenities found within retirement communities.  Developers studied retirement communities around the country seeking first class amenities and services and brought them to Valley Forge.  Community spaces are getting larger and more extravagant.  Shannondell boasts a 110,000 square foot clubhouse with a movie theater and concession stand, state of the art fitness center, aquatics center with 70 foot indoor pool, spa and salon services, full banking services, and a game hall and the list goes on.

Fitness and Aquatics

Physical fitness and wellness are key concerns for seniors.  Communities are enhancing their existing fitness facilities and even building new ones to meet the increased desire for fitness training and exercise.  It is no longer enough to simply place a few pieces of exercise equipment in a closet-sized room.  Retirees are looking for fully equipped fitness centers with treadmills, bicycles and weight training apparatus.   Residents want personal trainers and fitness instructors to monitor their health and progress.  New communities are incorporating state of the art fitness centers on their campuses and older properties are revamping their fitness programs.  Today’s fitness classes range from kick boxing to yoga. Wellness centers offer everything from massage therapy to aroma therapy. Some campuses in this area even include tennis courts and walking and bike trails.

ACTS communities pride themselves on their emphasis on wellness.  The ACTS continuing care communities have fitness instructors specifically trained to work with seniors.  Some of the ACTS communities offer indoor pools with aquatic instructors leading residents in aqua therapy, aerobics classes and water polo matches.  Wood River Village, Cathedral Village, Dunwoody Village, Martin's Run, Quadrangle, Philadelphia Presbyterian Home, and Shannondell also provide swimming pools for exercise and fun.  The Quadrangle even offers a tennis court, six hole golf course and putting green for resident recreation.  

Technology

There is also a growing interest in computer and business centers within retirement communities. Communities have recognized their residents’ desire to learn about and use computers.  Computer centers are becoming a standard feature and communities are offering computer courses on everything from researching family genealogy to email.  Residents are using the computers to email grandchildren, take online courses, and even conduct business.  The Abramson Center for Jewish Life in Horsham recognized this trend and designed its new assisted living community to include a central computer center as well as internet connections within each resident room.  Some communities also provide a business center for residents including fax machines and copy machines and  secretarial services are available.   In addition, on-site postal services can be found in many communities.  

Larger Accommodations

Today’s retirees are looking for larger spaces. Both assisted living and continuing care retirement communities are recognizing the desire for larger apartments.  Older communities are renovating existing apartments to increase their size and new communities are building bigger apartments with significantly more square footage. Downsizing from a large home into an apartment can be an overwhelming task.  Seniors desire more spacious apartments enabling them to keep cherished furnishings and mementos from their former homes.  Consequently, retirees are opting for larger apartments with walk-in closets and extra storage spaces. Some desire a guest room for visitors such as grandchildren.  Two-bedroom apartments with a living room, dining room, two bathrooms, kitchen and sometimes even a den are becoming more and more popular. These apartments are being built as large as 2,400 square feet.  Often, residents participate in the selection of new carpet and window treatments.  Communities that provide cottage style living often allow residents to customize floor plans and upgrade features.

Assisted living communities are recognizing many of the same trends evident within the area’s retirement communities.  Many retirees are seeking larger accommodations and are no longer satisfied with small box-like apartments or shared rooms.  For example, Dunwoody Retirement Community recently added a new assisted living community to its campus.  The design of the community is residential in character and offers clusters of rooms around a spacious living room and community kitchen. 

A Variety of Dining Options

Seniors want more choices when it comes to dining. Retirement communities traditionally have provided a large formal dining room which resembles a fine restaurant with elegantly prepared meals.  These dining rooms have become a trademark within retirement communities and remain popular with residents.  However, communities are now offering more casual alternatives to dining. Bistros, cafes, and delicatessens are becoming more and more evident within retirement communities.  They allow residents the flexibility to dine on their own schedules and the ability to get meals for carry out.  Another trend is providing spaces for “feel good” foods such as an ice cream parlor, candy shop, or bakery with freshly baked cookies, cakes and breads.  Many communities offer catering services for private parties or provide guest meals for holiday celebrations. 

Not only do retirees seek different dining settings, they want a variety of foods to select from including ethnic dishes and healthy alternatives.  Residents are also demanding flexibility with meal times, many desiring later dinner hours to accommodate their active lifestyles.  Some no longer want to pay for three meals each day and so many communities are allowing residents to select a meal plan which suits their individual preferences. 

Diverse Activities

Activities have gone far beyond Bingo.  Many communities offer a wide variety of social, cultural, recreational and intellectually stimulating pursuits.  Communities are drawing upon the interests and strengths of their own residents in tailoring meaningful programs and activities, rather than making assumptions that all older people have the same interests.  For example, Dunwoody in Newtown Square has 27 different resident committees focusing on all aspects of life at Dunwoody.  Residents are actively involved with everything from entertainment to dining and make important decisions which affect their community.  Dunwoody also offers an array of activities and programs ranging from musical concerts by the Philadelphia Boys Choir to lecture series.  Many seniors maintain their involvement with the outside community after moving to a retirement community  Some are very involved in volunteering and fundraising efforts for local organizations.  Through affiliations with local colleges and universities, opportunities for continued education exist for residents in many communities.  Retirement communities and assisted living communities typically have full time activities directors who plan social calendars with a wide variety of outings including everything from local theater trips to international tours. 

Intergenerational Activities

Communities are recognizing the value of intergenerational activities which bridge the gap between youth and the elderly.  These programs benefit both age groups and foster relationships that transcend age.  Retirees share their wisdom while learning from the youth.  Some communities, including Chandler Hall in Newtown, even have a child care center on site and residents participate in activities with toddlers and children throughout the day.  Another example, New Courtland Elder Services, who operates six skilled nursing facilities in the Philadelphia area, has recently been recognized for their innovative programs bringing residents and young people together.  New Courtland and the Boy Scouts of America have joined to pioneer a new program which bestows a Golden Eagle Scout honor to nursing home residents who complete an eight month program.  Residents worked with local Boy Scout troops to earn their own badges in areas such as cooking, camping, and stamp making. Another program brought residents together with students from the Settlement Music School.  Students and residents worked hand in hand for 32 weeks and presented an multigenerational concert.

Acknowledging the importance of family visits and resident interaction with all age groups, the Abramson Center for Jewish Life in Horsham was specifically designed to welcome young visitors.  Abramson’s Town Square is central to the community and links the assisted living and nursing center.  There are a number of spaces for visiting and playing with grandchildren and even great-grandchildren including a children’s play alcove complete with toys and activities.  The Town Square also offers a library, technology center, and Bistro for casual dining for residents and their families to enjoy.   

Customized Care

Most assisted living communities offer different packages of care customized for individual residents.  Just as no two communities are alike, no two residents are exactly the same. For example, one resident may only need help monitoring their medications while another may require assistance with bathing and dressing.  Packages of care bundle personal care services so that residents pay only for the care they require

Many area assisted living providers including Brandywine Senior Care, Sunrise, Marriott, and Genesis Health Ventures provide designated care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.  The Alzheimer’s units  offer residents specialized care and activities within a secure homelike environment.  Often, enclosed outdoor courtyards and gazebos are provided so that residents can enjoy the outdoors.  Memory boxes filled with favorite photos and mementos often hang outside resident doors.  Sunrise has a special area filled with memorabilia from a bygone era where residents can go to reminisce. 

Should you or your parent decide to make a lifestyle choice, consider one of the area’s many retirement communities and see for yourself all that they have to offer.

Definition of Terms

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): CCRC’s (retirement communities) provide a full range of services and care on one campus.  Independent living apartments and cottages are offered to healthy and active retirees who want the security of knowing that their future health care needs will be met.  In order to provide a continuum of care, CCRCs typically have assisted living and nursing accommodations on site.  CCRC’s also provide the benefits of 24-hour security, emergency response, maintenance-free living and many social activities and amenities within the community.  Amenities are plentiful in CCRCs and can include a library, various activity rooms such as woodworking shops and arts and crafts rooms, fitness center, computer room, and indoor pools to name a few.  Services typically include elegant meals, housekeeping and transportation.  There are a variety of different types of CCRCs including those with upfront entrance fees as well as those considered rental communities with no entrance fee.  The amount of future health care included can also vary significantly.  Some CCRC’s include unlimited health care while others provide a limited amount of health care.  Rental CCRCs have on site health care but require payment for services as needed. 

Assisted Living: Assisted living is a component of a CCRC but can also be found as a freestanding community.  Some assisted living communities coexist with independent living or skilled nursing.   Also known as personal care in Pennsylvania, assisted living provides supportive services for older adults who need personal assistance but do not need nursing care on a daily basis.  Services typically include three meals daily, housekeeping, transportation, medication reminders and assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing.  For those with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia, many assisted living communities provide a specific wing designed to care for these individuals and some communities are exclusively designated for dementia care.  Monthly fees and the amount of service provided can vary drastically from community to community.