I recently was given an article from AARP called Reinventing Home: Happy Together by Sally Abrahms. It is a very interesting perspective on a new way of facing the true challenges of aging: facing loneliness and coping with increasing need for support. I feel like I have tried for my entire career to help seniors (especially the vulnerable ones--those that live alone, are recently widowed, or those that have trouble connecting with others). This "social" solution is the answer to this very core problem.
The article explores several different solutions to the problem--"niche" communities (ie university based retirement communities for those who value lifelong learning and the benefits which come from being attached to a college campus), cohousing (intergenerational communities who share common space and share meals and activities but have their own living quarters), "Green Houses" which are modern, small nursing homes with more of a small, cozy home feel), and the Village model where people remain in their homes (age in place) but with community support and social connections provided by a central agency (we are attempting to initiate this program in my home community of Del Mar).
Thus, there are many options available allowing each person to choose a model that works for them. The unifying principle is that people want and now are realizing that they need more supportive environments to spend their senior years. The world is rejecting the old way--be home and independent or be banished to a nursing home. Nursing homes fail on many levels and people want more. That more has arrived and not a moment too soon. We as a society now realize that social support and ongoing education, activity, and socialization are every bit as important as food and water for the ongoing development and actualization of our minds, bodies and spirits.
Thank God, we as a society are coming to our senses. As this attitude and paradigm shift take hold, seniors will finally be able to be loved and supported all the way until the end of life and as a result, a world of suffering can be avoided and a higher plane of life can be realized.
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