What’s Life Like in Retirement Communities These Days?

Senior Living News covers trends and changes within retirement and senior living communities across the country. Recent articles describe how the pandemic has affected the senior housing industry—basically, upending it as it has with everything and everyone else. However, reports also show some very positive findings.

Even as the pandemic continues to impact our country, those living in retirement communities are returning to a sense of normalcy. Early on, retirement communities became leaders in enforcing strict safety protocols to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 within their buildings. Add to that, with more than 90% of Americans over age 65 fully or partially vaccinated, seniors at retirement communities are seeing a safe return to pre-pandemic lifestyles.

Residents are once again looking forward to events, social gatherings and outings. “If you focus on fun, the people with come,” says one industry leader.

Some seniors are ready for a move into senior housing but have been delaying their decision because of the pandemic. But now may be a great time to take advantage of the renewed sense of community and a full calendar of social activities and events.
 
With this in mind, below you can read about what life is like at some of our local retirement communities:

Residents at Boulevard Park Place (BPP) are having fun and staying fit. The independent living community in Burien has returned to pre-pandemic favorites like bean bag baseball and the ever-popular Thursday afternoon bingo. Even during the height of the pandemic, BPP safely offered fitness classes six days a week because staying fit is so important to wellness. One solution was to add more classes in larger rooms – the same with water fitness classes in the pool: more classes = fewer people per class. Residents regularly socialize in lobbies and multipurpose rooms to play games or meet for coffee & cookie gab fests.

Rich programming, activities and chef-made cuisine are part of the pleasure at Cogir Senior Living! Singers may come to serenade the residents, or a local dance troupe may put on a performance. Special outings include art museums, parks, plays and shopping. New residents are partnered with a resident ambassador to sit with at meals, introduce them around, and help get them involved with activities they enjoy. Birthdays and milestones are celebrated with a party and scratch-made cakes. And residents socialize regularly at twice-a-week happy hours with live entertainment. Cogir Senior Living has Seattle area communities in Mill Creek Queen Anne, Northgate, Edmonds and Bothell.

Emerald City Senior Living residents enjoy being out and about again, and have ventured to museums, taken casino trips and Sunday Brunch outings. Activities within the community include bingo (of course!), movie-time, puzzles, crafting, Happy Hours and trivia get-togethers. Fitness classes are offered every day, and Emerald City also provides onsite physical therapy for residents. We are a community focused on helping maintain a vibrant, purposeful life. We encourage residents to try something new every day, explore and experience the unique! --Angela Jacobs, Divisional Sales Specialist, Emerald City Senior Living.

Five-Star Fun is back at Fairwinds–Brighton Court! Our amazing, cheerful residents participate in Wii Bowling, giant Jenga, beanbag baseball and social crosswords. This year sees some new additions to our award-winning activity program. Group PrimeFit exercise, socializing in the Bistro, dining in the restaurant, along with musical performances on the front lawn. The positive attitude and determination of residents and staff alike make all the difference. New technologies have been embraced, new safety and sanitizing protocols put in place, but the return to a sense of normalcy is refreshing and reassuring. We are offering tours so come by to see all the fun we are having. --Jackie Requa-Hall, General Manager.

At Harbor Place at Cottesmore, our residents are enjoying a wide variety of activities! Exercise classes include strength and balance, chair yoga, cardio drumming, swimming, walking club and more! We enjoy many games from scattegories, dice games and bingo. Book club, documentary group and crafters have been busy too. Music is always welcome from piano and singing by residents, staff and guests – plus we’ve enjoyed concerts. Community events this summer have included two outdoor concerts and a car show that we’ve enjoyed with friends and family. –Sue Wilhelm, Campus Sales & Marketing Director, Harbor Place at Cottesmore located in Gig Harbor.

Holden of Bellevue opens Fall 2021. Beyond exceptional dining, the community will offer state-of-the-art wellness complete with a yoga studio, public bistro and public hair salon, activity areas, family gathering spaces and more. “Holden of Bellevue has been very fortunate after COVID. The pandemic has allowed for our new building and future residents in the event our industry is affected by this again. Our company will be utilizing antimicrobial upholsteries, UV-light robots for infection control and other technologies,” says Michelle Strazis, Executive Director at Holden of Bellevue.

Here at Quail Park Residences of West Seattle, we are more focused than ever on engaging and enriching the lives of our residents. We offer a variety of in-house activities including our version of beach volleyball, trivia night with prizes and “Taste of the World” – weekly virtual reality visits to places around the world supported by a menu and drinks that match! We also have sidewalk and patio performances and a garden club. The pandemic was a clear reminder of just how important connections and social interactions are to our seniors. It is always a (safe) party at Quail Park!
 --Ed Taylor, Community Relations Director.

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