Month: October 2021

Categories
Making the Decision

How a senior community can help you enjoy retirement

Three images of Atria Senior Living residents

There are many articles and even entire books devoted to helping you enjoy your retirement. While the specific guidance they offer for active senior living varies, they generally have these two points in common: the importance of relationships and of finding purpose in daily life.

At Atria, our vibrant senior living communities provide daily opportunities for the kind of meaningful connection and expanded learning that support creating a purposeful life. These topics are discussed in our Next Chapter series, which explores how residents are making the most of their retirement – and how Atria fosters their ability to do what they love. Here’s a look at how these older adults are enjoying retirement.

Colorful connections

“When you live as long as I have lived – for 94 years – you live many lives within one life.”

That 94-year old is Sarah, a passionate artist and Atria on Roslyn Harbor resident. Her many lives include raising a family and being an accomplished illustrator, teacher and fine artist specializing in sculpture and painting.

Sarah says she lives her life as though she’s going to live forever, because she doesn’t want to think that her age is holding her back from pursuing what brings her joy. For Sarah, this joy includes spending time with family and her continued passion for painting.

Atria is delighted to support Sarah’s interests and to offer our community as a venue for her upcoming art show. Living at Atria has also helped her develop some very dear friendships. As Sarah explains, she was living alone, but the wonderful friends and community staff bring her a sense of security and make her feel like she’s part of a family.

The power of music

“Music is life itself,” is a Louis Armstrong quote that resonates deeply with Ira. When he made the move to Atria, music was Ira’s key to making new friends and renewing his sense of purpose.

Music was a powerful bond between Ira and his father, and it’s what inspired him to create a music appreciation group called Musical Memories. Beth, the Engage Life Director at Atria Forest Hills, encouraged Ira every step of the way. Soon, others were looking forward to tapping their feet, clapping their hands and singing along to Ira’s playlist at the group’s regular gatherings.

Atria helped Ira share his childhood joy and fostered meaning in his life through the many new friends he’s touched with his love of music.

Inspiring others

“I’m finally the person I’ve always wanted to be.”

Nanci, a resident at Atria Tanglewood, expressed this sentiment while reflecting on her life – a life filled with great joy and the intense challenges she faced after being diagnosed with Lupus in her 20s. After raising a family as a single mother, Nanci later remarried. When her second husband passed, she made Atria her home.

The person Nanci has become is one who is sharing her love of the written word by reading to the first-grade students at a local school. She is finishing up a very special storybook – a gift to the many enthusiastic children who so enjoy her regular visits.

Nanci appreciates the support Atria provides and regards the community staff as family. In addition to volunteering at the school, she has found meaning in serving on the resident counsel and helping new residents discover the many opportunities her vibrant community offers.

A personal pursuit

Retirement is a time to learn fun new things and share one’s passions with others. Atria is delighted to support the interests of so many of the world’s wisest people, like Dorothy, who recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of publishing a second book.

Then there’s Sarah’s community neighbors Eleanor, Doris and Phyllis, New York natives who became fast friends at Atria but have very different interests; Shirley, who enjoys sharing her love of film with her neighbors; Bob, a veteran who just took the flight of a lifetime; and Linda, who loves teaching her Atria neighbors how to make beautiful watercolor paintings.

As these residents’ experiences show us, retirement is truly a time to begin writing your next chapter. Atria is dedicated to providing the support and opportunities to make retirement as enjoyable and gratifying as it can be.

Categories
Financials

How much does senior living cost?

Older couple doing paper work together

The number of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2060 – a shift that will increase demand for senior housing. In the coming decades, more people will ask themselves: “What is the cost of senior living communities?”

That’s a complex question, and our immediate answer is that it varies according to location, the level of care required, and other factors. In a June 2010 report, the US Government Accountability Office identified some top-level national averages:

  • Assisted living options: $1,500–$6,500/month
  • Memory care units: Price varies according to location
  • Skilled nursing units: $1,500–$10,700/month

The same report also found that all-inclusive retirement living can cost anywhere from $1,800–$600,000 in entry fees alone. The range of that dollar amount is so vast that, in effect, it means that the amount you can expect to pay can vary substantially. Still, what do those dollar values mean? What do you get once you pay them? Let’s delve into the numbers, detailing the costs associated with the type of community so you can get a clearer idea of which option is right for you and your family.

The Cost of Independent Living Communities

Independent living communities are best suited for seniors who are able to live on their own without assistance provided by the community. With that said, many residents of independent living communities do have care needs and often choose to contract with outside home care providers. They may make this decision for any number of reasons – including the benefit of selecting services on a more a la carte basis than an assisted living community might allow for. (Many independent living communities also offer the option of moving to assisted living housing whenever residents are ready.)

The exact figure for how much independent living communities can cost varies according to where you live and the services and amenities that you can access. Upscale dining options, resort-quality features like swimming pools and wellness clinics, chauffeured car services and on-site medical concierge suites will all add to the cost of a lease. A community without any of those perks might not be as expensive.

The median monthly cost of senior independent living in the US was $2,552 in 2018, but many senior living communities do not display their rates and require anyone interested in moving in to speak to someone at the community. At Atria, we’re upfront about our prices, tax and veterans benefits that older adults might be able to access, and we also provide an affordability calculator that makes all the costs of our services transparent.

The Cost of Assisted Living Communities

Seniors often choose an assisted living option to maintain their lifestyle and independence in their own apartment, while benefitting from round-the-clock support whenever they need it. Assisted living costs can vary, but as of 2016, the average rent of a one-bedroom assisted living apartment with a single occupant was $3,628 per month.

Assisted living communities also include fees for care services based on an assessment of residents’ needs. The most frequently requested services include medication assistance and reminders, as well as personal care such as bathing, getting dressed, and scheduling appointments with physicians. Meals, laundry, and housekeeping are generally all included, and residents can still enjoy the ongoing programs, events, and workshops that the community hosts. Assisted living communities may also offer memory care neighborhoods for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

The Costs of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

Continuing care retirement communities (or CCRCs) are designed so that residents can access higher levels of care when they need them without having to move to an entirely different community. They generally offer three levels of care: independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing units. As with assisted living, some CCRC facilities offer memory care for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia – a service that incurs an additional cost.

Since CCRCs do offer so many thresholds of care, they tend to be more expensive than communities that offer only assisted or independent living services. CCRCs usually charge an initial entrance fee, which starts around $100,000 for a non-purchase (or rental) arrangement, but they can climb to $1,000,000 depending on the size of the living unit and the community’s location. They also charge monthly service fees that typically range between $1,000–$5,000.

The types of services that assisted living communities and CCRCs offer often overlap, so it’s worth noting a few differences between them:

  • CCRCs generally ask residents to sign a sizable long-term contract and pay a hefty buy-in fee. Assisted living communities typically rent on a month-to-month basis and charge a minimal new resident service fee. (Similarly, CCRCs ask for a lifetime commitment, whereas assisted living communities rent monthly.)
  • CCRCs may rely on continued care service contracts with other providers at off-campus locations. Assisted living communities generally have an in-house staff who maintain the consistency of care.
  • Most activities at CCRCs are resident-organized. Assisted living communities tend to hire professionals who specialize in developing monthly calendars of events for the residents. These events might include fitness classes or guest lectures.

The Costs of Living at Home

We realize that we’ve blitzed you with a lot of numbers that, by this point, might beg the question: “Isn’t it cheaper just to live at home?” That all depends on your circumstances.

Do you own your house or are you paying off a mortgage? Is your house or apartment equipped with aging-in-place modifications, or is that another investment that you’ll have to pay down soon? Are you able to perform maintenance or upkeep on your home, or do you pay someone to mow your lawn, rake your leaves, fix the backyard gate, and so on?

Answering those questions can help you determine how much you’re really paying to stay at home rather than move into a community. With that said, bear in mind this analysis that the costs of aging-in-place modifications (such as installing ramps, grab bars, better lighting, and safer flooring options) total about $20,000–$30,000. Other estimates peg that figure much higher.

The total cost of living in an assisted living community is around $48,000 per year. Compare that to some of the fees that can accrue when we choose to stay at home:

  • The average cost of hiring a private duty aide who performs tasks such as cleaning or cooking is around $48,048 per year.
  • Employing a full-time home health aide costs about $50,336 per year.
  • Adult day health care typically runs around $18,720 per year.

As we age, the costs associated with ensuring that we’re receiving the care, social support, and daily maintenance we need can all add up. Older adults often find that paying one lump sum for peace of mind is worth the cost. With a provider like Atria, that sum pays for all these features that comprise an active, engaged life:

  • Social Life: Social, cultural, and educational events to look forward to every day.
  • Transportation: Car or bus service that couriers residents to outings, errands, and appointments.
  • Dining: Chef-prepared meal options that meet residents’ dietary needs.
  • Housekeeping: An attentive staff handles all maintenance requests and keeps apartments tidy.
  • Emergency Assistance: Access to on-site help 24/7 in the event of an emergency.
  • Exercise / Fitness: Daily opportunities to improve strength, flexibility, and balance with other residents.
  • Independence: Assistance from a discreet staff to help residents live on their own terms.

Determining Senior Living Costs

Making sense of the costs that bubble up as we answer the “moving to a senior living community vs. staying at home” question can be overwhelming, but reviewing our financial resources is a great place to start.

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about Atria, visit AtriaSeniorLiving.com/FindACommunity to discover the location nearest you.

Categories
Caregiving

How to prepare a parent for assisted living

Older woman and daughter on laptop together

Helping your parents transition into senior living starts with an open discussion that keeps their needs, wishes, and best interests at the forefront of the conversation. This decision can be challenging, but unthreading the intricacies involved will ultimately help everyone feel more stable. Here are some questions for your family to consider:

  • How do your parents feel about where they live now?
  • What are their current care needs, and how much will those services cost?

Perhaps the most important question to address, however, is whether your parents should move into an assisted living community, independent living community, or a nursing home. In this article, we’ll discuss assisted living communities specifically – how to choose the right one, which questions to ask, and how to make the move.

Touring

As you’re researching assisted living communities, one of the first considerations that you’ll encounter is location. What makes sense for your parents? (Do they want to stay in the city where they’ve always lived, or, if you live a few states away from them, does it make more sense for them to be closer to you?) Then research the community that’s right for them in that area. Come up with a few options, and go visit those communities – because even though their online photos will most likely look welcoming, you’ll want to walk the corridors and feel the atmosphere yourself.

Visit at least three assisted living communities. Schedule a tour during mealtime, so you can sample the restaurant fare. Talk to the staff. Mingle with the other residents and sit in on an activity – anything from an exercise class to a lecture series – to gauge how deeply those workshops have been planned and how effectively they’re presented. Ask questions. Take notes. Try to wander off the tour circuit, if possible, observing the gardens, taking in the views and walking around the on-site amenities and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Bear in mind that even if a certain community seems ideal – great price-point, stellar amenities, friendly reception, excellent kKey lime pie – it may not match up with your parents’ personalities. Some people prefer a patio with plenty of sunlight and a pineapple-beetroot amuse-bouche. Others of us are library-and-fireplace people who look forward to rainy nights with a novel and a glass of scotch. Your parents might like the food in one location, the residents in another, and the amenities and ambience of a third. Weigh all those options equally as your family decides which one is ultimately best for them.

Care services

Yes, you want to choose a community that matches your parents’ personalities, but one of the most important considerations to weigh is the community’s care services. You have most likely chosen assisted living, because, while you want your parents to continue their independent lifestyle, you also want them to benefit from living somewhere that can help with activities of daily living (or “ADLs”) if needed – such as bathing, getting dressed, and assistance with medication management. Be sure to discuss how the community will assess the level of care that your parents require. Take time to meet the nurses or caregivers on staff, if possible. Make sure that, if you do move your parents into a certain community, all the services and ADLs that they require will be provided and will be within your budget.

Packing and downsizing

Now that you’ve visited the communities in your area, you’re ready to commit to a decision and complete the transition – which involves packing.

Budget some time for this step, because it may take a while for your parents to consolidate their possessions. Remember how attached they may be to certain items in their house. Pictures or letters they’ve stored away and haven’t seen in years may evoke memories, so listen to them as they decide what they’re willing to part with – and what they want to hold on to. Be prepared to make lists of people to contact in case your uncle or cousin might want an armoire or a children’s book that’s belonged to your family for generations.

As you pack, be thinking about how you’re going to make the move. Will you transport your parents’ belongings to their new community one carload at a time? Will you hire movers? Decide on the date and time of the move, and the resources you’ll need, way ahead of schedule, so that you don’t run into any surprises come moving day.

Getting involved in activities

Once your parents are all moved into their new homes, it may be a good idea to visit them more frequently for the first few weeks or months, just to make sure they’re enjoying their new surroundings. Review their care assessment to stay apprised of any changes to their health. Encourage them to attend events in the community, so they can meet other residents. Talk to the staff and ask how they’re acclimating, and what arrangements or modifications might be made to make them feel more comfortable.

Staying involved

Do whatever you can to help your parents become well -situated, and if the usual 90-day acclimation period has passed and they feel as if a certain assisted living community isn’t the right fit for them, it’s okay to start the process over. Follow the steps we’ve listed above and listen to how your parents feel about the communities you visit. If this process sounds overwhelming, that’s okay, too. Contact us today to talk to a director of a community near you, so we can answer any of your questions about assisted living.

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about Atria, visit AtriaSeniorLiving.com/FindACommunity to discover the location nearest you.

Categories
Making the Decision

What activities can you do in senior living?

Atria Senior Living residents outside and painting together

One of the benefits of moving into a senior living community is the opportunity to stay active and engaged. Communities use an assortment of names to describe these opportunities — “senior activities,” “elderly enrichment,” or Atria’s Engage Life® programs — but they generally refer to a customized calendar of events where residents can connect with each other, pursue their passions and express themselves creatively. Let’s delve into the types of activities you can do in most senior living communities and why they’re vital to the well-being of the residents.

Why activities are important

Recent studies have provided an insight about human behavior that cultures have known (or sensed) for countless generations: People who stay physically active and maintain strong social connections are healthier than people who are isolated or inactive. The more opportunities that we have to connect and get to know the people around us, the better our health, outlook, memory and brain function — and our capacity to continue to learn — will all be.

Common activities available in senior living

The activities offered in a senior living community can differ substantially, but here are a few of the mainstays that you typically find:

 

Exercise Classes and Games

Bowling, yoga, golf, lifting weights, playing bocce, ballroom dancing, taking boxing lessons — a vibrant senior living community should foster opportunities for residents to engage in a range of physical activities.

 

  • Workshops and Classes
    • Participate in a book club. Learn Sanskrit or sign language. Start an embroidery class — or a new discussion group on current events. Residents who love learning, discussing complex subjects, and broadening their skills can enjoy the insight and intellect of their peers with these self-hosted courses.
  • Creative Talents
    • Some of us are driven to create, whether we’re painting a summer garden on the patio or filling page after page with a story that keeps running through our minds. A quality senior living community will provide residents with the space and schedule to tap into their creative energy and connect with likeminded artists.
  • Interaction and Engagement
    • A great senior living community should also support an environment where residents play cards or Mahjong tournaments deep into the night, or enjoy some “grape therapy” — that is, a wine and cheese social — or run into each other at a happy hour in the patio or around the garden.
  • Group Outings
    • Another advantage of being a resident at a senior living community is the opportunity to go on trips to different cities or places of interest — a museum in Manhattan, for instance, or a scenic route through a canyon in California, as well as sporting events, lunches in the park, and shopping trips.

How activities foster community and friendship

Meeting new people, lifting weights, or playing a late-night bridge session help people feel like they belong. That, in turn, can lead to many other positive outcomes — improved self-esteem, peace of mind, and an investment of time into deepening the network of support that improves everyone’s quality of life.

Engage Life® at Atria

At Atria, we consider activities to be among the most important features of a senior living community, but we don’t call them “activities.” Our term is the Engage Life® program, which we’ve set up to foster interactions and bring new opportunities for residents to achieve their goals. Each community at Atria has an Engage Life® director who takes the interests of the residents into account to create a calendar of events and outings tailored to what they want to do. Learn more about Engage Life® and reach out today to learn more about what Atria has to offer.

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about Atria, visit AtriaSeniorLiving.com/FindACommunity to discover the location nearest you.

Categories
Making the Decision

Customer satisfaction at Atria

Image of someone on their phone

The health, wellbeing and happiness of Atria residents and their families are of the utmost importance to us – which is why we take their feedback seriously. To that end, we send out surveys to our communities twice a year to gauge the opinions and insights of the world’s wisest people.

We’re excited to share some of the Atria reviews that we received from five communities who took our Spring 2021 survey, and we’re proud to announce that we earned excellent scores in the following categories:

  • Safety and well-being of residents
  • Courtesy and friendliness of staff
  • Responsiveness of community leadership to concerns
  • Desire of caregivers to accommodate requests

Read on to learn more about the recent senior living reviews, and how our staff and caregivers go above and beyond for the residents every day.

Atria Tarzana

Shak Rafat, the Executive Director of Atria Tarzana in Los Angeles, California, ensures that the Atria mission statement is top of mind for each employee at the community, and instills the core company values of trust, integrity and respect into his team. Shak takes the time to get to know each new employee. He also meets every week with the Resident Council president. That way, he can absorb the residents’ feedback and then take that feedback to the community directors so that they can implement it.

For Shak, and the culture that he has helped create at Atria Tarzana, the emphasis is on continuous improvement. Everyone on staff puts in extra effort to provide an optimal experience for residents. Carlos, the valet, dedicated an entire day to helping a widowed resident find his wife’s wedding ring, which had gone missing. That’s just one example of how the staff at Atria Tarzana go above and beyond for the residents.

Here’s a quote that seems to sum up how residents feel about Atria Tarzana: “The people that work there are amazing! They help make Atria a happy place.”

Atria Windsor Woods

Located in Hudson, Florida, Atria Windsor Woods was ranked second among Atria communities according to the recent senior living ratings. Executive Director Janet Brown attributes that placement to the hard work of everyone on staff – and their mindset of viewing feedback as an opportunity to improve. One example of acting on this attitude is the proactive steps that Windsor Woods took after residents discussed the food selection. The new staff members in the kitchen implemented the residents’ recommendations into new and improved menus. Their “Taste of food” scores went up around 10 points.

The quotes that we received from the residents indicate that Atria Windsor Woods is a supportive community. “Everyone is so kind. This is now my home,” said one resident. Another resident said: “During the pandemic, all department heads helped out in the community. Very nice management decision to support front-line staff.”

Atria Forest Hills

For Jill Draggota, the Executive Director at Atria Forest Hills in Queens, New York, customer satisfaction starts with hiring compassionate team members who love what they do. Focusing on the details helps Jill and her team improve lives every day, and has led to results large and small. An Engage Life Director at the community, for instance, worked tirelessly to livestream a resident’s grandson’s wedding during COVID-19. Draggota’s team has also established an open-door policy with the Resident Council to absorb and build upon their feedback on an ongoing basis.

A key quote from the recent survey: “The building is immaculately clean. The activities bring people together. They do everything they can for all of us. I love this place.”

Atria Crestavilla

Brian Keys, the executive director at Atria Crestavilla, follows the same plan whenever he receives survey scores: He asks his directors to report each month on areas where the survey indicated they could improve. Addressing those improvement areas have always led to increased resident satisfaction. The consistently excellent work that Brian’s team has demonstrated, in turn, inspires him to continue going above and beyond.

As an extension of the culture of improvement and open communication that Brian has encouraged at the community, families have access to Brian via his cell phone, and he and his team work to resolve any issues within 24 hours. That approach, it seems, has led to some of these expressions of resident satisfaction: “The people who are part of the Crestavilla Team offer outstanding support. They may have a title, but in addition, these people wear a lot of hats! When an extra pair of hands is needed, they jump right in.”

Atria Rancho Peñasquitos

Spring 2021 was the first time that Atria Rancho Peñasquitos in San Diego, California, was among Atria’s top rated senior living communities according to the customer satisfaction survey, which came as no surprise to Executive Director Quinn Hernandez, who felt like his team shined during COVID. Hernandez witnessed his directors working in different departments, helping out at the front desk, and pitching in wherever they were needed.

Hernandez instills in his team the idea that they are working in the residents’ homes, which helps put everyone’s job – including his – into perspective. He also addresses the feedback from the Resident Council right away and works with his directors to formulate improvement plans.

According to feedback from one of the residents’ children, Hernandez’s assessment of how his staff exceeded the expectations of their jobs is accurate: “The staff is wonderful. They did an excellent job during COVID with keeping the residents and staff as safe as possible.”

Outro

Atria values its senior living ratings because of our commitment to quality and our mission to create vibrant communities where extraordinary older adults can thrive and participate. When you choose Atria, your voice is heard. Learn about some testimonials from residents about their experiences – and contact us today to find a community that listens to you.

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about Atria, visit AtriaSeniorLiving.com/FindACommunity to discover the location nearest you.

Categories
Senior Aging & Health

Billie Jean King’s memoir chronicles defining moments

Image of Billie Jean King talking with an Atria Senior Living Resident

At Atria, we admire sports icon and champion of equality Billie Jean King not only for her spectacular achievements in sports, but for how her indomitable spirit inspires us to create a more inclusive world. Her beliefs and life experience make her the perfect spokesperson for our Next Chapter series that explores how older adults are redefining aging.

Now a New York Times bestseller, Billie Jean’s new autobiography, All In, is a spirited account of her life’s journey filled with insights and advice on leadership, business, activism, sports, politics, marriage equality, parenting, sexuality and love. Here are a few highlights that show how living honestly and openly can have a transformative effect on relationships and happiness.

Meeting Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, tells a story of resilience, grace and resolve – one that Billie Jean holds dear. So, when she received a call one morning with an offer to meet the world leader, she jumped at the opportunity and hopped on a plane to Johannesburg.

Mandela embodied qualities that Billie Jean cherishes most: Kindness. Generosity. Freedom. Equality. Forgiveness. She also shares his belief in transcendence and redemption.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion,” Mandela wrote. “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can learn to love.”

At their meeting, Mandela talked about his imprisonment at Robben Island. Despite the difficult living conditions, he sought out the humanity in his captors. Through persistence and humility, he managed to break down barriers and convinced the guards to make the prisoners’ lives less onerous.

It was a wonderful experience, and Billie Jean still marvels at how Mandela “reimagined the country in ways people had doubted were possible.” She goes on to say, “For me, nothing has compared to meeting the man himself and walking in some of the same places he tread.”

Making Black lives matter in the 1970’s

Motivated by her childhood admiration for Althea Gibson, Billie Jean worked with her former husband, Larry King, to make tennis an equal opportunity sport. But despite the efforts of the Kings and others, it was still an uphill climb for the players of color on the Virginia Slims Tour in the early ‘70s.

“Our crowds in Philadelphia were filled with American Tennis Association members (a Black-run organization) who gave them a warm reception,” recounts King. In Houston, the Black staff told the players they’d never seen Black women play professional tennis before, and it made them proud. But a stop in Florida was a different story.

To the players’ dismay, they saw Confederate flags flying from every other flagpole around the grandstand at Miami’s Jockey Club. Ann Koger, one of the tour players, climbed the pole that evening and removed one of the flags. After informing Tour Director Peachy Kellmeyer that the remaining flags were an insult to the players and every other American, the flags were all taken down.

Tournament housing also became an issue. Available rooms suddenly disappeared when Black players showed up at the tournament desk. Billie Jean approached the desk and, in a calm but direct manner, said, “You know, there must be some mistake. My friends here told me that you have no housing for them. And if that is true, I can assure you that I will not play in this tournament. And neither will anyone else. So, what are you going to do about that?”

Moments later, rooms were found at a nice hotel.

Billie Jean King’s legacy of equality

In All In, Billie Jean writes, “Sports consistently reminds us how talent comes from all places, and how much we can achieve together, especially when we can accept each other without prejudice and recognize that our differences make this a richer world.”

Billie Jean is creating a legacy that will endure and shape future generations. Working with others, she has helped create the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, a non-profit undertaking that promotes equality and inclusion and advocates for equal pay.

She says that we must continue asking ourselves whenever we consider any undertaking, When this is done, will we have helped make this world a better place? She feels we should define success as both doing well and doing good.

Ed Woolard, Billie Jean’s dear friend and business mentor, helped her refine three guidelines to help us do well – and do good – by becoming happier, more successful human beings.

  • Be a problem solver and an innovator, and realize that once you identify a problem, it’s important to be a part of the solution.
  • Never stop learning, and never stop learning how to learn.
  • Relationships are everything.

For more insights into these and other stories, read All In, available here. And for inspiring stories about how older adults are breaking personal barriers, visit our Next Chapter website where you can watch Billie Jean interview Atria residents about how they are redefining aging.