Seniors on a Mission and G3 Village Founder Joanne Hickox and I have been on the road with our presentation, “Grand Plans for Purposeful Living” and it’s putting where and how we live as older adults in the spotlight. To thrive during our second half, we simply MUST think honestly, creatively and practically about our home sweet home. It is one of the single most important components of a workable Grand Plan. Let’s open the front door to some real talk about all that.

The message Joanne and I like to impart is that grand plans for purposeful living requires an innovative approach. That means you can’t just twiddle your thumbs and wait for the right residence to come your way. And you can’t turn your nose up at the conversation and pretend aging in place is your only destiny to claim. What you can do is be proactive about your options, know how much it all costs comparatively, come up with multiple contingency plans, factor in caregiving expenses as circumstances change and be open to options that provide opportunities for community, support, wellness and personal growth. Dream big! Know what you like and what’s available to you! But get educated on and be open to all the possibilities that exist.

Joanne’s G3 Village concept, is one such innovative possibility. G3 Village is an entirely new, self-sustaining, intentionally designed community for middle income older adults that offers a unique blend of independent living, community engagement and wellness-focused amenities. The village addresses the diverse needs of adults aged 55+ by focusing on three essential pillars of successful aging: physical well-being, spiritual enrichment and social connection. Recognizing that these components are interconnected, G3 Village aims to create an intentional, self-sustaining, residential community that nurtures wellness in body, soul and spirit. Developers expect to offer 30-35 modest, but comfortable residential units on agricultural property near Ringhaver Park.  Monthly fees, which include rent, utilities and organic, healthy meals, start at $2,600, Hickox said. And there will be a 10-hour/week volunteer component to the community, which gives all residents the opportunity to find purpose in serving each other. You can learn more about G3 Village at www.G3village.org.

I also like the idea of the village movement, where older adults live near one another in a community and share the costs of service providers and resources. Very smart!

In my research for the upcoming “Mindful Aging Strategies: Grand Plans for Second Half Thriving” class I am leading at St. John’s Cathedral’s Center for Wellbeing this summer (beginning Wednesday, May 28 at 1 p.m.), I discovered a fantastic resource for understanding older adult residential options. Here’s what the Aging Life Care Association says these are the primary options as we age and ADLs change:

Aging in Place in a home modified for mobility needs

Independent Living

Assisted Living / Residential Care Facility (AL or RCFE)

Board and Care Homes

Assisted Living with Dementia Care

Post-Acute Care (Skilled Nursing Facilities or Rehab Center)

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Please read this article by the Aging Life Care Association, it is so, so helpful and includes wonderful information and perspective! And this piece by the National Council on Aging is also very, very good. Lastly, this piece by AARP includes some intel on costs, which will help you do the math.

We all want to live vibrantly and purposefully as we age. And this future is ours to claim if we can think honestly and openly about the opportunities out there! If you’d like Joanne and I to speak to your group or organization about this important topic, contact me at susannabarton@me.com.