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State of the Campus – August 22nd

Mon, August 23, 2021 Published by

We continue testing all staff weekly and unvaccinated staff twice a week. So far, since the beginning of the pandemic, we have administered over 16,000 tests for COVID-19. That’s a lot of nose-swabbing! This week, we have three Independent Living staff who tested positive for COVID-19 and are still in quarantine. We have no residents who have notified us that they are positive. Gratefully, all the staff and residents who have tested positive during this latest surge of COVID-19 infections have or are recovering.

It’s the “Feeling”

Sun, December 23, 2018 Published by

One of the most important aspects of why folks choose a lifeplan community is the environment.  By that, I am not referring to the air quality or the paint color.  It’s the “feeling” that they have when they come to campus and the sustained sense of inclusion and acceptance once they have moved here.  Those of you who already live on campus are one of bedrock reasons decisions are made to live at Beatitudes Campus and you are additionally the cornerstone of continuing satisfaction and engagement.

I recently became aware of an NPR story about the influx of people who are choosing to retire in some of the highest growth areas of the country (Maricopa is the fastest-growth county in the nation, according to the U.S. Census data) and just this morning I heard that 200 people a day move here.  The piece discussed several new senior living sites but also noted that continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs, or life plan communities) are still one of the strongest choices of all.

Beyond the details about the various options in Phoenix, there was something else about the NPR story that caught my attention.

“The last house I’m gonna have”

The reporter had interviewed a woman named Sara Klemmer, who currently lives in a thriving historic area of town.  For Mrs. Klemmer, the decision to leave the neighborhood she loves makes sense financially and logically, but still, she says it’s been emotionally difficult.  And the notion of joining a continuing care community is a psychological adjustment, too.

‘This is the last house I’m gonna have, the last apartment,’ Klemmer said. ‘You come face to face with your mortality.’”

In all honesty, I hear this sentiment a lot from people who are considering a move to a lifeplan community.  At the heart of this and similar comments is the idea that, “I know I should do this—it makes sense in every aspect—but it’s the finality of it that is holding me back.”

There are four common refrains I often hear when it comes to seniors’ apprehension about a lifeplan community/CCRC move—the reasons that people give for not being “ready,” several of which were voiced or implied by Ms. Klemmer.

“I’m still active and independent.”

“I don’t want to leave my home.”

“Moving is too much of a headache.”

“I’m worried that I can’t afford to move to a Life Plan Community this early.”

All four of these reasons for putting off a Life Plan Community move (whether to a patio home, entry fee or rental apartment) or wavering about the decision to move are completely understandable.  However, many of you analyzed your circumstances and came to some conclusions that are often pretty startling until you give them some thought.

Here are a few important points that we ask folks to weigh… and it is always of great benefit when we are able to ask so many of you to tell the story of how you came to your conclusions to move to the campus.

Choosing to “age in place,” instead of downsizing and moving to a Life Plan Community, likely is the easiest solution in the short-term. But should you experience a health setback in the future, this option may end up being not only physically challenging (especially if you do not have a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor of your home) but also costly (the current average cost of in-home care is around $4,000 per month. But this is based on just 6 hours of care per day. If you require more care, especially if it is 24-hour care, it could double or triple this amount.

Opting to remain in your home also can cause tremendous issues in the long-term for your adult children, who may end up dealing with the many challenges that come with caregiving for an elderly parent. This can be an especially difficult situation if your adult children live far away, have young children of their own to care for, or lack flexibility with their job.

The fact is, someone will have to sort through all of your belongings eventually—likely your adult children or another loved one. They will be forced to choose what to keep and what to give away or sell, pack and move everything, and then sell the home. It is a daunting task to put on someone else’s shoulders, both physically and emotionally.

Making the right choice for you

The sentiments expressed by Ms. Klemmer in the NPR story are extremely common. After all, moving out of a cherished home and into a Life Plan Community is a major life change. It would be concerning if a person had zero apprehensions about it!

But I can tell you this, having spoken with literally hundreds of Life Plan Community residents over the years: the vast majority of people who decide to move to a Life Plan Community are extremely happy they did. Yes, most residents say there was an adjustment period when they first moved in, but in the long run, the benefits of living in a Life Plan Community—including services, amenities, and a continuum of care services available onsite—far outweigh the inconveniences that come with downsizing and moving.

In many surveys, the number one reason given for delaying a decision about moving to a Life Plan Community was, “I don’t feel that I’m old enough yet.” Some who are well into their 80s even said this.

The idea that this will be your “final move” does force one to confront their own mortality, as Ms. Klemmer points out, and some people aren’t entirely comfortable with facing this reality. This fact may be at the heart of this common sentiment voiced in surveys that “I’m not old enough yet.”

However, what I hear from most residents is how glad they are that they moved earlier, rather than waiting until some unspecified time in the future when they felt “ready” or “old enough.” Moving sooner rather than later has given them the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with other residents, establishing a solid social and support network for the unknowns of the future (such as dealing with a health crisis or a partner’s passing). This ready-made support system, along with the peace of mind that comes with knowing your care needs will be met no matter what, is a compelling reason to put aside your trepidation and put the wheels into motion on making the move.

I’m happy to bring you up to date that we have a substantial number of planners getting ready to join us in the next year.  We have contracted for 29 of the 34 new patio homes and have an additional two on hold!  The campus mission marches on!  Be sure to welcome your new neighbors as you see them at events and around campus.  And don’t forget that there is a great resident referral bonus available to all of you who live on campus.  Stop by the marketing office to get the details and your referral form!*

Keep Learning, Growing and Living Better!

Sun, June 17, 2018 Published by

Springtime means graduation season. There is a recent and growing trend among college graduates that is garnering a lot of attention. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, by 2020, 43 percent of college students are expected to be age 25 and older. And among these older grads are more and more seniors, who are embracing their love of lifelong learning.

You may have seen some of the recent news stories about older people who recently got their diplomas. ABC News highlighted Bob Barger, a WWII Navy pilot, who recently received his associate degree in technical studies from the University of Toledo in Ohio. After returning home from the war, he had dropped out of college to focus on his job and earning a living for his wife and two children.

CBS News shared the moving story of 89-year-old Ella Washington, who, after raising 12 children and putting in a lifetime of hard work, recently completed her associate degree in interdisciplinary studies from Liberty University in Virginia. She’s already begun work on her bachelor’s degree, majoring in history.

Bob and Ella are just two of the many older people who are taking advantage of the free time that retirement offers to pursue their education and learn more about subjects they are passionate about. And studies show that the benefits of seniors’ pursuit of lifelong learning are abundant.

Learning something new, such as a new skill or hobby, can help boost your memory. Neuroscientists at the University of Texas at Dallas conducted a study that found seniors who took on a new mentally challenging hobby saw a lasting increase in their memory skills. These researchers believe that taking on a new challenging activity—like learning to quilt, play an instrument, or operate a computer, for example—strengthens numerous networks within the brain.

A research study conducted by neurologists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found that engaging in a lifelong pursuit of mentally challenging activities may actually help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that seniors who frequently read, played mentally challenging games like chess, or engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities are 2.5 times less likely to have Alzheimer’s, which impacts approximately 4 million Americans.

Pursuing lifelong learning activities has benefits that go beyond boosting your brain power. Cognitive neuropsychologists at the University of Sussex in England did a study that found that reading for even just six minutes lowered study participants’ stress levels, slowing their heart rates and easing tension in their muscles. And lower stress has wide ranging benefits for seniors’ cardiovascular health, decreasing blood pressure and reducing the risk of a stroke or heart attack, boosting immunity, and lowering levels of depression.

But researchers at Harvard and Princeton had even more impressive findings in their research on the connection between lifelong learning and health. The study authors found that one more year of education increased life expectancy by 0.18 years. They discovered that the more educated a person, the lower their rates of anxiety and depression, as well as the most common acute and chronic diseases (heart disease, stroke, hypertension, high cholesterol, emphysema, diabetes, asthma, ulcer), and they were far less likely to report that they were in overall poor health.

Now, there is a “chicken or egg” debate on whether the increased level of education caused these positive health results, or if the people who were healthier (perhaps based on lifestyle factors like drinking, smoking, eating habits, etc., or the impact of their economic standing) were simply more likely to pursue educational opportunities, but the findings are still significant.

There are numerous lifelong learning opportunities available to seniors. I’m proud to remind everyone reading this article, whether you are a campus resident, seeing it online or considering Beatitudes for yourself or your loved one, that we have an outstanding, resident-run LifeLong Learning program on campus with dozens of classes offered each year and a strong games program matching residents interests in not only bridge and Mahjong, but also a host of others.

Beyond that, if you’re looking to take up a new intellectually stimulating hobby like quilting or painting, contact our Life Enrichment department to see what groups are currently available. The Library, which is managed by the Beatitudes Campus Auxiliary, is another great resource—providing not only a treasure trove of mentally stimulating books, but also offering opportunities to serve other campus residents by volunteering.

One of the many advantages of living in a senior living community, such as a Life Plan Community (formerly CCRC) like Beatitudes Campus, is the array of activities and events offered to residents. Knowing the many benefits to their residents’ mental and physical health, Beatitudes Campus in particular puts an emphasis on lifelong learning opportunities. From guest speakers to art classes to affinity groups like chess, bridge, and book clubs, we are proud to provide their residents with numerous ways to keep their minds active, all in a close-to-home location.

Courses include everything from literature, history, and creative writing, to art and music appreciation, philosophy, and current events.

Whether you are interested in getting educated on a new subject or acquiring a new skill, there are near-countless ways that lifelong learning benefits seniors. So why not challenge yourself and try something new? It’s a lifestyle choice that’s good for your mind, which in turn is good for your health!*

A Legacy of Rich History

Mon, July 24, 2017 Published by

Yvonne Olivier Bechet, 83, was one of the first women to pass through the New Orleans Police Department’s academy. She describes how the stigma against women at the time challenged her just as much as the rigorous physical requirements she faced, but she kept her drive. After 22 years on the force, Bechet retired in 1990 as assistant superintendent. She now looks back fondly on the experience that she said made her feel like a superwoman.

“We’ve all been given life, and in living it, you have a story,” Bechet said.

I recently read about how Bechet told that story to an interviewer, as part of a national project to hear from retirement community residents and to record tales of their lives. It reminded me of some coffee table books that Rosey and I bought a number of years ago that were about “A Day in the Life of America.”  There was actually a huge amount of history behind most of the pictures.  It led me to think about the incredible histories that I hear as we meet many prospects considering a move to Beatitudes Campus.

A few years ago, a wonderful history of many Beatitudes Campus of Care (as it was then known) was published called Goals, Gumption and Grit.  I know that often those with a fascinating history are most excited to hear the stories of the other residents with whom they live.  One resident recently told me, “That’s a lesson in itself, that we can all learn from each other still.”

I also read about a project, called “These Eyes Have Seen,” that was started by a senior living organization in Florida and it made me think about all of the rich histories that I have been privileged to hear throughout my career.  Are there those of you who would be willing to share some of your stories that we could publish as we prepare for a new business year starting in October?  Watch for an announcement – we will be putting together a jazz brunch and photo shoot in the fall where we will record the stories that made you who you are.  I wanted to give you an advance notice so that you can begin to think how you’d like share your narrative and then we’ll formulate the interviews.

Thanks again for the opportunity to share a bit of life together.  I am indeed a far richer man than I deserve for the wisdom that has been shared with me over my career in senior living.  My job has allowed me to meet seniors who have traveled the world, penned calligraphy for the White House and captained steamboats without ever learning to swim. I’ve met someone who came to Phoenix on an “orphan train”, one lady that as a child she didn’t know butter was a solid (think about that one – pre-refrigeration), the stories of the first two women members of the Arizona legislature and the friendship they extended to me imparting behind the scenes, unique perspectives and a Basque sheepherder who detailed for me the path from the high country down the Mogollon Rim to the valley and how it all meshed together with emerging urbanization.  I have been so amazed by the American and Arizona history I’ve been able to experience first-hand.

I can’t wait for the weather to cool and we’ll get outside for this event to again showcase what I believe is one of the most fulfilling life plan communities anywhere!

Advocacy Action Alert: Save Medicaid

Mon, June 19, 2017 Published by

It is critical that Senators Flake and McCain hear from all of us! I ask that you share the information above and encourage them to oppose changing Medicaid to block grants or per capita caps when our senior population across the nation is rapidly growing. It is the wrong policy at the wrong time.

Redefining the Urban Landscape

Mon, May 1, 2017 Published by

I was reading an article the other day about the fact that few people in America walk to work. Most of us drive to the supermarket. But more older people these days are looking for a community where they can enjoy a full life without a car.  The article explained how Ben Brown and his wife, Christine, weren’t really thinking about retirement when they moved to a small town nestled in the Smoky Mountains near Asheville, a haven for many East Coast and Midwest retirees.

“We loved the idea of living in a small town in a rural mountain area,” Mr. Brown recalled. “And we converted a summer house to a year-round home to suit our tastes.”

Yet Mr. Brown, a 70-year-old writer, and his 66-year-old wife said they had second thoughts as they made the transition toward retirement.

“We realized ‘aging in place’ means a lot more than just a comfortable house,” Mr. Brown said. “So we began thinking more about ‘aging in community.’ That means an urban neighborhood where you can walk or take transit to just about everything you need.”

Ben and his wife are considered the “young” old… seniors who are demographically just into the category of senior living and services.  The story went on to talk about West Asheville, a vibrant, urban neighborhood, brimming with trend new restaurants, inviting shops and a number of bus routes into the larger city next door.  Nearly every place they wanted to go was within walking distance, a major benefit for those who don’t want to drive everywhere as they get older.

This made me think a lot about our march toward redevelopment and the larger community in which Beatitudes is located and the community we are excited about continuing to define on this campus.  And when I say excited, I truly do mean that is the sharpest sense of the word.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to the Design Studio group for a couple of weeks and it was enlightening for many to learn of the amount of research that we do to plan and forecast what services, amenities, price points, logistics, technology and environment make for the best in senior living.   One of the terms that we have begun to hear a lot of in urban planning is “walkable” and this has long been a hallmark of life plan communities (previously known as continuing care retirement communities)… that we organize a campus such as Beatitudes to emulate a growing, mixed-use neighborhood with ample amenities to provide a “good life.”  As a result, our campus as seen the evolution of four restaurants which are available to all residents regardless of their home location in independent or assisting living or nursing care.  A bank, ceramic studio, computer lab, library, gift shop… there is a large list of these conveniences.  What is rather thrilling is that we now are on the edge of two facets in the life of the campus that can help us all set the bar far higher in the new age of senior living.

One is our own redevelopment plan which has been revisited, reviewed, rearranged, revamped, redesigned and researched (insert every “re” word you can imagine!) again and again during the year that I have been here on campus and before.   Why?  Achieving marketable feasibility is far more intricate than merely building new apartments or patio homes and hoping for the best.

Often retirement communities have been slow to change.  But the most successful take the time to really assess what makes the most sense and build around those needs.

Now one of the truly exciting facets that very few life plan communities can boast.  Enter our new paradigm: the walkable, urban space envisioned by the emerging 19North Community Association which our Resident Community Outreach Committee has helped ignite.  Emanating out of the completion of the lite rail along 19th Avenue, a number of community members from surrounding neighborhoods and businesses determined that a new opportunity existed to redefine the area as a walkable, safe and invigorated area of powerful living.  Now couple that with Mayor Stanton’s determination to achieve an “Age Friendly Community” status.  I was very honored to be the only senior living community representative named to a new sub-committee to study that topic and was sworn in at the city council this past January.

What a stellar opportunity we have!  We are seeking to not only program on our own campus, but help define what is “age friendly” in our neighborhood and provide even more access to opportunities for diverse interest.  The theme is simple: Get out and walk/utilize easily assessable short distance transportation to basic services such as our campus buses.  We are thinking about folks like the Browns that I mentioned at the beginning of this article as we plan our next generation of this life plan community.

Walkability is much more than a hip marketing pitch. It’s linked to better health, social engagement and higher property values.  The researchers Philippa Clarke and Linda George found that walkable, mixed-use environments could possibly reduce disabilities many face as they age. Pedestrian-friendly communities promote walking to a grocery store, cafe or other services like the salon or library such as we have here on campus or nearby.

Although there is clearly a growing demand for walkable, urban retirement communities, they are difficult to build within cities, said Christopher Leinberger, a developer based in Washington and a professor at the George Washington University School of Business.  Mr. Leinberger noted that most mainstream retirement developers had traditionally favored suburban or exurban sites that involve sprawling “greenfield” building on relatively cheap farmland. The new approach, by contrast, is for dense, urban or town-centered sites that are accessible for services and socially vibrant.

“The model used to be to isolate old people on cul-de-sacs backing up to a golf course,” Mr. Leinberger said. “The new model just beginning to rise is for walkable urban places.”  And here we are in our north central Phoenix location doing exactly that.  I love being a part the development of a new cutting edge model for senior living.  Beatitudes Campus has probably one of the most unique positions in helping redefine high quality senior living that could possibly exist – a long history of quality services on our own 22 acres and now integrating into the surrounding community determined to raise the standard of living for all.

But there are often obstacles. Age-friendly communities within cities may require extensive infrastructure improvements, including wider sidewalks, bike lanes, more public transportation options and longer pedestrian signal walk times.  Thankfully, the mayor and council seem determined to invest in the improvements.

Mr. Leinberger, in a G.W.U. study, found that the walkability factor added more than 72 percent in increased housing value compared with car-dominated developments, where he says prices will fall over time as America ages.  He provides a short list of items to consider when defining and planning an age friendly, walkable community.

Do they have quality health care institutions nearby? Is public transportation adequate? Will you need barrier-free sidewalks and retail establishments? How easy is it to leave and visit other parts of a city or its metropolitan region?  What about local colleges for cultural amenities and lifelong learning programs?  The answers to these questions are basically favorable for those residing here and we’re just beginning.

I’ll be anxious to continue to update you on the progress of 19North and the Age Friendly Sub-Committee.  We present our initial findings and recommendations at the June, 2017 council meeting.  And, of course, we will have a great deal more to publish about our own redevelopment in the next few months.  These are indeed very significant times for the campus and I’m so proud to be a part of what will be the foundation for the look, feel and service of Beatitudes Campus for many years to come.

It’s All On A Continuum

Mon, October 31, 2016 Published by

printed-wall-mural-00032-time-tunnel-continuum-abstract-vinyl-bYou made a beautiful decision. Maybe one of the best decisions you could have made for this time in your history. You had choices, but you chose, brilliantly, to live in a community where, if your living situation should become less than optimal with your quality of life decreasing – you have wonderful choices. That is because you chose to live in a community that offers you a continuum of increasing possibilities. Change is hard, but you made a hard choice that I believe guarantees the highest quality of life possible for you.

The definition of continuum, according to Merriam-Webster, is a range or series of things that are slightly different from each other and that exist between two different possibilities. As I see it, if a resident wants to maintain a high quality of life, even as some abilities decrease, because they live at Beatitudes Campus they have the beautiful option available to them to enter into an environment of support that will return that quality of life right back to them with one move along the continuum.

Every day I give thanks that we have options for our residents so as to enable them to live life to the fullest. However, a phenomenon takes place, in more instances than not, that so often breaks my heart when it occurs. That is when by all educated observations, a resident who would greatly benefit from utilizing the continuum by flowing through it to a higher level of assistance, would rather stay where they are often risking so much physically and emotionally. The benefit of all that Beatitudes Campus has to offer seems to be wasted and worthless. We often say it, “We will always defend the right of our residents to make their own choices – right choices and wrong choices. But it is heartbreaking to those who know what a difference it would make if only the continuum was embraced as a positive hope for the future.

Being a minister serving churches and visiting multiple communities like ours, I saw my parishioners and listened to them while there. After doing so, I am not naïve as to the many fears and reasons for resisting moving to higher levels of care. Because I am aware I, and my colleagues who feel similarly here at Beatitudes Campus, have worked hard to obliterate the stereotypes that plague higher levels of care feeding into unnecessary resistance. It often starts when considering moving to a community like ours and dreading the move and then, after doing so wishing one had moved “ten years earlier”. I can’t even count the number of times I have heard this.

The same is so true for accepting the opportunity to move to higher assistance apartments. It seems to be so dreaded and, upon finally doing so, life suddenly gets so much better when compared to the months leading up to the move. I have said it a 1000 times, the same Campus, the same dining venues, the same friends, the same activities and events. Nothing changes except for the building one now lives in. One can still do everything they want to do with a little added help available to do so. It is not a decline at that point, it is a step forward toward being safer and freer to not have to worry about the many little things when one was without assistance. Those little things prior to the move and no longer being able to do them were, in almost every case, diminishing the quality of life prior to moving.

If I could, I would remove all of the stigmas and fears and open up everyone’s eyes to all of the continuing possibilities in the continuum

If I could, I would remove all of the stigmas and fears and open up everyone’s eyes to all of the continuing possibilities in the continuum. For now, I hope you might have opened your eyes and, if not for you right now, at least help one of your neighbors see that when the time is right, there is no greater gift to self, family and friends than that of accepting the care and assistance that will truly lift you to a higher level of success. It is a great choice. It is really why you chose to live here. Take advantage of it. After all, we are all on a continuum when it comes to life and there is no end when it comes to the highest quality you deserve.