Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Boom Will Burst Any LTC Complacency

2012; Elsevier BV; Volume: 13; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.carage.2012.03.029

2377-066X

Steve Barlam,

Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies

We've heard it before. The coming of the baby boomers is going to change long-term care. They want to continue learning and growing. They expect many physical and virtual connections to the outside word. They'll bring diverse lifestyles into facilities. And they really expect to have high-tech gadgets at their fingertips.Many nursing homes and other senior-living options have recognized, even before the boomers arrive, that this more vital and service-oriented approach offers health benefits and combats long-term care's parallel plagues of boredom, hopelessness, and loneliness.Now that the first boomers have reached retirement age, it's time for the next step. Let's recognize that a new generation of seniors is making the traditional “end-of-life” notion of elder care obsolete. From now on, superficial changes – a computer terminal (mostly sitting idle) in the dayroom, Beatles music supplanting Big Band tunes won't be enough.Real ConnectionsTomorrow's seniors will need consistent, integrated access to environments beyond facility walls that give them a chance to stay tangibly connected and engaged while giving back some of themselves to their communities. Partnerships and mentoring programs such as the Senior Corps' “RSVP” volunteer program, emeritus college programs, university extensions, and Road Scholar (formerly Elder Hostel) programs are among the many untapped opportunities.Rather than offering strictly in-house art classes periodically, why not work directly with a local art center that will host seniors classes – or send teachers – regularly? Or arrange “adopt-a-grandparent” programs at local schools. Think outside the box. In California, seniors get training as mediators in the legal system and then serve voluntarily to settle disputes not rising to the level of courtroom proceeding.TechnologyBecause today's seniors are increasingly technologically savvy and boomers already rely heavily on technology in their personal and work lives, tomorrow's elder-care facilities will need to embrace technology as a central element of the senior lifestyle.They'll need to upgrade their one or two facility computers to comprehensive technology centers with wireless connections and plenty of stations to match the predictable demand for frequent, easy access to computers, apps, and the Internet. Of course, facilities will need to offer free WiFi.Ideally, touchscreen tablets – or whatever their cyber-successors are – will be available too, for these open a whole new world for seniors wanting to e-mail, use social media, or just read comfortably after downloading a book. Dedicated information technology support will have to be available to keep residents up to date on using the latest technology and help with the inevitable tech problems.These steps should be part of a long-term plan. Too often, we see facilities plunge headlong into technology, thinking of it as a one-time investment. Years pass and soon the hardware or software is outdated to the point of being nearly unusable.PassionsThe ability for seniors to continue their interests – which probably won't be called hobbies anymore – is vital to well-being in a long-term care facility. Once again, these should be viewed as continuous experiences instead of occasional activities designed to fill time.There are a number of meaningful interests that facilities can easily embed in their overall programs. Yet to date, these opportunities remain largely untapped.Cooking—Forward-thinking facilities recognize the value of community kitchens or chef collaboratives. Both help make residents' experiences more holistic, particularly since many people have seen the kitchen as where communal life goes on and they have a strong sense of control. Since cooking is an area where many seniors are proud to excel, they can retain that pride and find joy in preparing their own and their neighbors' meals. Doing so provides a sense of control over what one eats that is often missing in communal living.Gardening—Tied closely to the kitchen, gardening is another area that can satisfy many active and alert seniors. Especially with the rise of farmers' markets and eat-local movements, food and produce symbolize renewal and relevance while offering literal hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves rewards. I've seen how working in the garden and working with outside agencies such as Master Gardeners can create a sense of connectedness and environmentalism that boomers have grown up with.Digital Photography—With the advent of digital technology, many baby boomers have developed an interest in photography – which is a terrific activity to pursue well into old age. It offers both a creative outlet and a rich learning experience encompassing both artistic and technical skills.FamilyToday's seniors want to preserve their world as much as possible within a facility. In the spirit of connectivity, family is and will continue to be a big part of this.The challenge for facilities is therefore to become accessible to all generations, enabling family members young and old to participate with the facility in community events such as art fairs, gardening shows, lectures, movies, and even dog-obedience classes.Accessibility can be enhanced by simple logistical changes. Offering valet parking makes it easier for family members to come and go.Amenities like play areas, video arcades, barbeques, swimming pools, pool tables, and ping pong can transform a facility into a vibrant, appealing, intergenerational gathering place. Additionally, creating private spaces where families can spend time with residents and having room accommodations for families visiting from out-of-state are highly valued services.By integrating these and other lifestyle features, long-term care facilities will go beyond giving lip service to the baby boomers who will need them, but rather will offer them a veritable home. We've heard it before. The coming of the baby boomers is going to change long-term care. They want to continue learning and growing. They expect many physical and virtual connections to the outside word. They'll bring diverse lifestyles into facilities. And they really expect to have high-tech gadgets at their fingertips. Many nursing homes and other senior-living options have recognized, even before the boomers arrive, that this more vital and service-oriented approach offers health benefits and combats long-term care's parallel plagues of boredom, hopelessness, and loneliness. Now that the first boomers have reached retirement age, it's time for the next step. Let's recognize that a new generation of seniors is making the traditional “end-of-life” notion of elder care obsolete. From now on, superficial changes – a computer terminal (mostly sitting idle) in the dayroom, Beatles music supplanting Big Band tunes won't be enough. Real ConnectionsTomorrow's seniors will need consistent, integrated access to environments beyond facility walls that give them a chance to stay tangibly connected and engaged while giving back some of themselves to their communities. Partnerships and mentoring programs such as the Senior Corps' “RSVP” volunteer program, emeritus college programs, university extensions, and Road Scholar (formerly Elder Hostel) programs are among the many untapped opportunities.Rather than offering strictly in-house art classes periodically, why not work directly with a local art center that will host seniors classes – or send teachers – regularly? Or arrange “adopt-a-grandparent” programs at local schools. Think outside the box. In California, seniors get training as mediators in the legal system and then serve voluntarily to settle disputes not rising to the level of courtroom proceeding. Tomorrow's seniors will need consistent, integrated access to environments beyond facility walls that give them a chance to stay tangibly connected and engaged while giving back some of themselves to their communities. Partnerships and mentoring programs such as the Senior Corps' “RSVP” volunteer program, emeritus college programs, university extensions, and Road Scholar (formerly Elder Hostel) programs are among the many untapped opportunities. Rather than offering strictly in-house art classes periodically, why not work directly with a local art center that will host seniors classes – or send teachers – regularly? Or arrange “adopt-a-grandparent” programs at local schools. Think outside the box. In California, seniors get training as mediators in the legal system and then serve voluntarily to settle disputes not rising to the level of courtroom proceeding. TechnologyBecause today's seniors are increasingly technologically savvy and boomers already rely heavily on technology in their personal and work lives, tomorrow's elder-care facilities will need to embrace technology as a central element of the senior lifestyle.They'll need to upgrade their one or two facility computers to comprehensive technology centers with wireless connections and plenty of stations to match the predictable demand for frequent, easy access to computers, apps, and the Internet. Of course, facilities will need to offer free WiFi.Ideally, touchscreen tablets – or whatever their cyber-successors are – will be available too, for these open a whole new world for seniors wanting to e-mail, use social media, or just read comfortably after downloading a book. Dedicated information technology support will have to be available to keep residents up to date on using the latest technology and help with the inevitable tech problems.These steps should be part of a long-term plan. Too often, we see facilities plunge headlong into technology, thinking of it as a one-time investment. Years pass and soon the hardware or software is outdated to the point of being nearly unusable. Because today's seniors are increasingly technologically savvy and boomers already rely heavily on technology in their personal and work lives, tomorrow's elder-care facilities will need to embrace technology as a central element of the senior lifestyle. They'll need to upgrade their one or two facility computers to comprehensive technology centers with wireless connections and plenty of stations to match the predictable demand for frequent, easy access to computers, apps, and the Internet. Of course, facilities will need to offer free WiFi. Ideally, touchscreen tablets – or whatever their cyber-successors are – will be available too, for these open a whole new world for seniors wanting to e-mail, use social media, or just read comfortably after downloading a book. Dedicated information technology support will have to be available to keep residents up to date on using the latest technology and help with the inevitable tech problems. These steps should be part of a long-term plan. Too often, we see facilities plunge headlong into technology, thinking of it as a one-time investment. Years pass and soon the hardware or software is outdated to the point of being nearly unusable. PassionsThe ability for seniors to continue their interests – which probably won't be called hobbies anymore – is vital to well-being in a long-term care facility. Once again, these should be viewed as continuous experiences instead of occasional activities designed to fill time.There are a number of meaningful interests that facilities can easily embed in their overall programs. Yet to date, these opportunities remain largely untapped.Cooking—Forward-thinking facilities recognize the value of community kitchens or chef collaboratives. Both help make residents' experiences more holistic, particularly since many people have seen the kitchen as where communal life goes on and they have a strong sense of control. Since cooking is an area where many seniors are proud to excel, they can retain that pride and find joy in preparing their own and their neighbors' meals. Doing so provides a sense of control over what one eats that is often missing in communal living.Gardening—Tied closely to the kitchen, gardening is another area that can satisfy many active and alert seniors. Especially with the rise of farmers' markets and eat-local movements, food and produce symbolize renewal and relevance while offering literal hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves rewards. I've seen how working in the garden and working with outside agencies such as Master Gardeners can create a sense of connectedness and environmentalism that boomers have grown up with.Digital Photography—With the advent of digital technology, many baby boomers have developed an interest in photography – which is a terrific activity to pursue well into old age. It offers both a creative outlet and a rich learning experience encompassing both artistic and technical skills. The ability for seniors to continue their interests – which probably won't be called hobbies anymore – is vital to well-being in a long-term care facility. Once again, these should be viewed as continuous experiences instead of occasional activities designed to fill time. There are a number of meaningful interests that facilities can easily embed in their overall programs. Yet to date, these opportunities remain largely untapped. Cooking—Forward-thinking facilities recognize the value of community kitchens or chef collaboratives. Both help make residents' experiences more holistic, particularly since many people have seen the kitchen as where communal life goes on and they have a strong sense of control. Since cooking is an area where many seniors are proud to excel, they can retain that pride and find joy in preparing their own and their neighbors' meals. Doing so provides a sense of control over what one eats that is often missing in communal living. Gardening—Tied closely to the kitchen, gardening is another area that can satisfy many active and alert seniors. Especially with the rise of farmers' markets and eat-local movements, food and produce symbolize renewal and relevance while offering literal hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves rewards. I've seen how working in the garden and working with outside agencies such as Master Gardeners can create a sense of connectedness and environmentalism that boomers have grown up with. Digital Photography—With the advent of digital technology, many baby boomers have developed an interest in photography – which is a terrific activity to pursue well into old age. It offers both a creative outlet and a rich learning experience encompassing both artistic and technical skills. FamilyToday's seniors want to preserve their world as much as possible within a facility. In the spirit of connectivity, family is and will continue to be a big part of this.The challenge for facilities is therefore to become accessible to all generations, enabling family members young and old to participate with the facility in community events such as art fairs, gardening shows, lectures, movies, and even dog-obedience classes.Accessibility can be enhanced by simple logistical changes. Offering valet parking makes it easier for family members to come and go.Amenities like play areas, video arcades, barbeques, swimming pools, pool tables, and ping pong can transform a facility into a vibrant, appealing, intergenerational gathering place. Additionally, creating private spaces where families can spend time with residents and having room accommodations for families visiting from out-of-state are highly valued services.By integrating these and other lifestyle features, long-term care facilities will go beyond giving lip service to the baby boomers who will need them, but rather will offer them a veritable home. Today's seniors want to preserve their world as much as possible within a facility. In the spirit of connectivity, family is and will continue to be a big part of this. The challenge for facilities is therefore to become accessible to all generations, enabling family members young and old to participate with the facility in community events such as art fairs, gardening shows, lectures, movies, and even dog-obedience classes. Accessibility can be enhanced by simple logistical changes. Offering valet parking makes it easier for family members to come and go. Amenities like play areas, video arcades, barbeques, swimming pools, pool tables, and ping pong can transform a facility into a vibrant, appealing, intergenerational gathering place. Additionally, creating private spaces where families can spend time with residents and having room accommodations for families visiting from out-of-state are highly valued services. By integrating these and other lifestyle features, long-term care facilities will go beyond giving lip service to the baby boomers who will need them, but rather will offer them a veritable home.