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By Susan Elise Campbell<\/p>\nBy Susan Elise Campbell<\/p>\n
Aging baby boomers continue to represent a growing population in the Capital District and into the North Country. But seniors moving from their homes to an independent living situation have not changed as much demographically over the past five or 10 years as one may have thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything, they are entering senior living later and later in life because they are active longer, due to medication and the wellness impact on the community,\u201d said Andrea Hebert, executive director of The Glen at Hiland Meadows in Queensbury, an Eddy Senior Living Community.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, for those anxious to shed the responsibilities and costs of maintaining a house and yard, age is less of a factor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do see residents seeking us out at a younger age than they may have 20 years ago, partly because this type of independent living situation didn\u2019t exist a generation ago,\u201d said Kellie Postlethwaite, general manager at Prestwick Chase in Saratoga Springs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nursing homes were the common option then, and Postlethwaite said many people still do not understand the difference between what is now called enhanced assisted living and independent senior living, such as The Glen and Prestwick Chase provide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Adult living communities encourage residents to pursue their interests and to come and go as they please. Staying active is the opposite of a stereotypical rocking-chair image that was formerly associated with seniors, Postlethwaite said.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>\u201cIndependence means more than maintenance-free living,\u201d said Hebert. \u201cIt can also mean not climbing stairs and having transportation needs met and meals prepared, if that is what residents seek.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEntering a senior community sooner would allow pursuing their goal of independence sooner,\u201d said Hebert. \u201cDownsizing into an apartment is difficult, but I wish people would realize that coming a little sooner would give them a lot of freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n One current trend may be that seniors want larger apartments than in the past. Hebert said The Glen built a new wing with 28 larger units a few years ago because they found \u201ceven a single individual likes an open floor plan and more space.\u201d<\/p>\n Some who are selling the homes they raised their families in are experiencing higher valuations than ever, but that is not their main reason to transition out of homes and into independent living. The primary motivators are socialization, maintenance-free living, and the influence of their children.<\/p>\n \u201cThe housing market may be a factor for a few, but the majority have already made their decision,\u201d Postlethwaite said. \u201cTheir motivation may be a limitation, such as no longer being able to do stairs, or have taken the step to be closer to family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore and more of our 65 to 70-year-olds are deciding they want to live an active life,\u201d she said. \u201cOften it is the children driving the decision because independent living allows their parents to not only live close by, but also to be comfortable and safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Isolation during Covid impacted the physical and mental health of the older population and Postlethwaite said that, without question, seniors today want and need to be among other people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many residents at The Glen choose to live there because their friends do, Hebert said, and they are striking new friendships, too.<\/p>\n Seniors have plenty of opportunity to socialize at independent living facilities. Residents make the most of their golden years by getting involved in activities both on and off campus, said the experts.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery resident engages in a different way,\u201d Hebert said. \u201cSome go to the local senior center for association and many are interested in staying involved in activities they long enjoyed, like hiking or knitting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome residents at Prestwick do a bottle collection to raise money for a local high school marathon, some sew and stuff pillows that are delivered to hospital patients, others do roadside cleanup with the Town of Greenfield twice a year,\u201d said Postlethwaite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Both facilities have activities directors who plan everything from activities, presentations, and games that take place in-house to music performances and theater at local venues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Postlethwaite oversees annual travel excursions at Prestwick Chase, where groups of 12 to 16 people sign up to take more extensive trips. There is also a resident council who offers their input on new places to visit.<\/p>\n Both managers at The Glen and Prestwick Chase commented that they have residents who continue to work part-time. Many residents come from backgrounds such as teaching,medicine, engineering, and other professions.<\/p>\n As the time to move approaches, both communities have staff to help make transitioning smoother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe encourage people to take a tour, come in as many times as they want, try the food, and visit with the residents,\u201d Postlethwaite said.<\/p>\n She said one of the draws of Prestwick Chase is that \u201cthere are three restaurants under the direction of an executive chef, not a food service company\u201d and that it is the only such community with a liquor license.<\/p>\n Prospective residents need to do their homework as they decide where to spend their active years and evaluate which amenities they will need. The pricing structure and what is included in each package differ from place to place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Visit eddyseniorliving.com and prestwickchase.com for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Susan Elise Campbell Aging baby boomers continue to represent a growing population in the Capital District and into the North Country. But seniors moving from their homes to an independent living situation have not changed as much demographically over the past five or 10 years as one may have thought. \u201cIf anything, they are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":40869,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement-planning"],"yoast_head":"\r\n