Gen Now | September, 2022

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GEN

NOW

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C-VILLE’s Monthly Guide to Navigating Senior Living Options in Central Virginia Respite & Enrichment Centers

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JABA offers an inclusive community where we fully embrace and value members through activities, socialization, and intergenerational connections— all in a safe and secure environment.

And for loved ones, a comprehensive support system so you can go to work, or simply have some time for yourself— with peace of mind.

Personalized, weekday enrichment for adults with dementia or disabilities: Engaging activities Supportive, trained staff Nutritious lunch and snacks Affordable, with scholarships available

Engaged. Included. Valued.

Call today to schedule a visit.

Charlottesville (434) 817-5235 Louisa (540) 500-5961

Jefferson Area Board for Aging jabacares.org

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IT’S ALL

in the Details DISCOVER THE EXTRAORDINARY

CALL 434-218-5102 TODAY!

343 Archer Ave. / Charlottesville, VA Independent Living / Assisted Living / Memory Care AnthologyCharlottesville.com

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ANTHOLOGY OF CHARLOT TESVILLE

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CONTINUE YOUR LIFE STORY WITH US

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When it comes to living your best life, little things make a big difference. At Anthology of Charlottesville, it’s the high-quality finishes, compassionate care and greeting by name. Our independent living, assisted living and memory care community is intentionally designed to provide a first-class lifestyle so you can continue your life story with no compromises.

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Aging in the Suburbs: Is Our Community Prepared?

During the boomer generation, the suburbs grew into an ideal of American life as young families moved away from urban centers for more space, privacy and safety. And they fought zoning efforts to keep their beloved suburbs free from commercial development.

Lovely oases with lawns and gardens, safe streets and cul-de-sacs where children could play, and a few cars in the driveway to get to work, shop or cart the kids around.

It was the American Dream.

Flash forward a few decades and the dynamic of those suburbs has changed. According to a 2019 Harvard study, residents over 50 in lower-density neighborhoods across the country more than tripled between 2000 and 2016.

According to U.S. Census data, Albemarle County’s 65+ population grew from 14.3% in 2010 to 19.7% in 2020, a 37% percent increase. That’s nearly double the

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Give Your Loved Ones the Gift of Care

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OUR SERVICES:

We offer companion care, personal care, hospice and Alzheimer’s assistance

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24 hour care assistance services available.

Transportation assistance

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We match clients with caregivers that can meet their specific needs and interests

681 Berkmar Ct Charlottesville Va,

434-202-0017 nurturing hands.org

Nurturedhandscare@gmail.com

number of people 65+ living in Charlottesville.

At the same time, AARP reports that 1 in 10 Americans want to stay in their homes as they age. But what if you live in a suburban home where there are no social services or public transportation nearby and you have to drive everywhere?

Another issue -- suburban homes are often not designed to be senior-friendly, and retrofitting them can be costly. Then there are the yards to take care of, the garbage to haul out to the end of the street, and the constant upkeep and maintenance of owning a stand-alone home. And despite what you might think, boomers aren’t rich. According to a Pew Research study, almost half of the nation’s boomers haven’t paid off their homes, one in four has no retirement savings and 91 percent have less than $25,000 in assets.

“By 2024, one in four people in our area will be over the age of 65,” said Marta Keane, CEO of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging and an organizer behind Charlottesville Area Alliance (CAA), a collaborative seeking to make our area more age-friendly. “And so we know that population is growing, and we know that people are choosing to age in place.

That will require new programs and services.”

A mission of the CAA is to work with localities to address this reality, from putting in benches with backs on them to improving public transportation and infrastructure.

In Japan, where the aging population has increased dramatically, we can see how suburban life can change. For example, a suburb of Osaka began thriving in the 1970s, but today 4 in 10 people who live there are over 65. They recently had to install an autonomous vehicle service, a 7-seater,

driver-supervised golf cart guided by a magnetic track embedded in the streets, which follows specific routes and uses as its hub a recently developed central supermarket.

Of course, propositions like that can be costly, especially for local governments already straining under costs for schools and basic government services. One study estimated that meeting the public transit needs of seniors wanting to stay in their homes would result in budget increases of more than 80 percent by 2030.

“This is no longer about planning for a ‘future’ aging population; there is much work that must be done today to prepare for the age wave that we are in the midst of,” said Peter Thompson, executive director of The Center and a CAA partner.

Technology has brought some relief to the situation. Self-driving vehicle technologies will allow people to drive safely longer, there are ride-sharing travel services like Uber and Lyft, and the tremendous growth in e-commerce and delivery services for everything from groceries to kitchen supplies makes it possible to avoid leaving home. Virtual learning and socialization, voice-controlled online assistants, smartphone technologies, and the fast-developing world of AI and robotics present ways for older adults to combat isolation, access services, and stay connected.

Still, as Thompson pointed out, the impact of aging in suburban and rural areas is already upon us, and the need for localities to address the situation is only going to become greater.

David McNair handles communications, media relations, and social media efforts for JABA.

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At Our Lady of Peace, the health and well-being of our residents remains—as always—our top priority.

Welcoming new residents!

Call today to learn more about the compassionate care, lovely apartments, wonderful amenities, and active, family-oriented lifestyle that makes our community one-of-a-kind.

What Residents Are Saying “Here I feel safe, loved, respected, and not alone.”

Premier Assisted Living and Memory Care

Barbara Allison, Our Lady of Peace Resident

Residential Living • Assisted Living Memory Care • Nursing Care

434-973-1155 our-lady-of-peace.com 751 Hillsdale Dr. | Charlottesville Coordinated Services Management, Inc. Professional Management of Retirement Communities Since 1981

small pet friendly

Call and schedule your tour today!

(434) 985-4481 422 William Mills Dr. | Stanardsville, VA

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United Way award for “Above and Beyond Business.”

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WINNER