I have known George for many years. We met in high school and we have been friends ever since. He called the other night and said he wanted to talk about something that concerns both of us. Knowing him as I do, he probably had given the matter a lot of thought, so I was anxious to hear what he had to say. We agreed to meet at our favourite restaurant.
George, in his usual manner, wasted no time in getting to the point. He knew we both would be retiring soon and that he had giving the matter some thought. True to form he started right in. “You know people like you and I are not going to put up with this idea that at a certain age we are no longer useful and be put out to pasture. I want to remain active as long as possible and do something enjoyable and useful with the rest of my life.”
“Yes”, I replied, “as long as you are able. Your health may have something to do with it”.
George quickly replied, “Yes, but I’ve been reading the 2021 Census and it contains some rather interesting facts about Canada’s aging population. It showed that the percentage of Canadians aged 85 and older was one of the fastest growing age groups and will probably continue that way well into the future.”
“But, you’re right, a significant portion of the population will have health and activity limitations but many will be in good health and remain active well into their advanced years. If I fall into that category, I’d like to stay, for example, in a resort facility on the Strait of Georgia out in BC that’s actually a retirement home which features an active marina with mooring facilities for the use of the residents. Just think, weather permitting, I could go sailing any time I wanted, or go salmon fishing and probably have a willing crew made up from other residents who would be happy to join me in either activity.” Being ardent sailors we both laughed and agreed it would be a great idea.
George continued, “Better still, have a retirement time-share or exchange unit that would allow me and others to spend some time anywhere in the world when space was available. Just think of it, Paris in the spring and Bahamas in the winter, then BC for some summer fun, all under the auspices of a time share retirement arrangement.”
I had to admit that it would be very nice but I’d never heard of any retirement home having that sort of arrangement. I asked, “Wouldn’t they be rather expensive?”
I could hear a note of impatience in George’s voice, when he replied. “That’s what I mean. We have to start thinking in different terms about how we spend our retirement years and what sort of facilities are available for us to enjoy!”
I just had to interrupt him again, to ask if he thought this would ever happen.
Looking a little exasperated he continued, “Not only will it happen, changes like this have already started in other countries.”
He then reached for his cell phone and said, “Listen to this,” and began reading from Wikipedia. “The Green House Project is an American national non-profit organization dedicated to creating alternative living environments to traditional nursing home care facilities.”
George continued to read from his phone, “The project creates ‘caring homes for meaningful lives’ for elders where residents have private rooms and baths, can move freely through the home, builds deep relationships with each other more and they even participate in preparing their own meals. It is based on a philosophy seeking to reverse the ‘enforced dependency’ of life in a traditional nursing home by creating small intentional communities of 7-10 elders designed to foster late-life development and growth”.
I wondered out loud if there were any such retirement homes in Canada.
“No, but they’re working on it. It was started in Tupelo, Mississippi in 2003 by a American Geriatrician, Dr William (Bill) Thomas. By 2011, there were 99 Green Homes on 43 campuses in 27 states in the USA, and hopefully they will soon come to Canada.”
George continued, ”I was fortunate enough to be visiting a relative in Tennessee recently and was told there was a Green House Project nearby in Jefferson County. I gave them a call and they were kind enough to invite me to visit the facility. They were ever so welcoming and happy to show off the facility. I had a chance to tour the campus, discuss some of the problems and benefits, and talk with some of the staff and residents. It was an interesting and instructive tour, and pretty well confirmed what WikIpedia had to say.”
George continued, “While the Greenhouse is one concept, there are others just as innovative and appealing. One which I like is to open portions of the retirement home to the public. For example, in a Japanese facility they have a separate market garden adjoining the home and the residents not only grew the vegetables, but act as service personnel to attend their customer’s needs. It takes little imagination to see that this concept of limited access while protecting the safety and security of the residents could be expanded. You could have a used book store as part the premises, a quilting or other craft shop where not only products could be sold by the residents but their years of experience in the craft could be passed on to others by providing training courses. Not only that, but it makes the residents feel like they are part of the community. The possibilities are endless.”
I couldn’t help but agree with George. With a ‘Can Do’ attitude there is no end to what could become of what was sometimes referred to as ‘God’s Waiting Room’.
Retirement homes could become interesting, enjoyable, instructive places that inspire and compliment this growing segment of our population.
Robert B Hulley is a retired Real Estate Counsellor. He is a volunteer member of the Region of Peel Community Advisory Board, and a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. Photograph by Author.
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