SUMMER 2007Tom Smith
Director of Institutional Advancement
Remember in the old, classic sitcoms when the adult children would jokingly say to their aging parents, "We're dropping you off at the home"? The perception that a "home" was a place to send old people has lingered around for decades. Over time, the concept of a place where older adults went to live when the rigors of health and maintaining their homes became too much has undergone a major transformation.
A local example of this transformation is Friends Village at Woodstown. One hundred ten years ago, a group of Quaker meetings decided to open a boarding home for older adults in Woodstown. With four boarders, Friends provided superior yet simple levels of care for the aging. From those humble beginnings to today's newest continuing care retirement community, Friends Village now serves the health care needs of over two hundred fifty senior residents. The expectations of today's seniors who are living longer, healthier lives has influenced and inspired the senior health care industry to restructure its philosophy.
I asked Mary, a resident at Friends Village since 2001, to share with me what she did during a typical day. I met Mary in one of the six resident dining rooms just after 8:00 am breakfast. The room was buzzing with conversations. After breakfast, Mary told me she likes to go back to her room to rest and prepare for the day ahead. "I will meet you in the Recreation Room at 10:00 am for coffee hour … don't be late." She winked as her tiny frame strolled back to her room.
Across the campus, the Activities Department in Assisted Living (AL) was preparing for the morning trivia game, a favorite among the AL residents. "They love their trivia," laughs Linda, who oversees most of the activities offered in AL. "Later today, we have some residents going on the van ride through the country, others are going over to the Crafts Room to work on a quilting project, and one resident's daughter is picking her up and taking her out to lunch followed by an afternoon of shopping."
Throughout the day, Friends is teeming with activity. The van has just left for the country ride, Wheel of Fortune is being played in the Recreation Room, and three residents are exercising in the Fitness Center. There is a group of men playing cards in a room just off the main lobby while another long-time resident, Richard, is in the Billiards Room playing pool with his grandson. After dinner, tonight's entertainment will be the Hobo Band.
Over the past several decades, nursing homes have transformed into a choice for seniors, instead of an option for their adult children. More importantly, today's facilities realize and focus on the importance of maintaining connection with the community. Many of the residents at Friends Village helped build, maintain, and govern their communities. Staying connected is vital to the endurance of today's society. Today's senior living options afford the community an opportunity to preserve connections with these vibrant, wonderful souls.
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Monday, May 21, 2007 at 11:48 PM
