Seniors at Whitcomb Terrace thrive when liberated from the burdens of running a household

Editor’s Note: Sponsored content brought to you by Aspen Valley Hospital

Older
adults often assume that moving into a senior living community equates to a
loss of independence, but the paradox is this environment often delivers more
independence for seniors compared to what they had while maintaining their own
residence.

In Aspen,
senior living at Whitcomb Terrace feels more like a retreat where residents and
staff truly enjoy each other’s company and have access to countless educational
and cultural experiences in the community, all while living purposeful and
active lives. The not-for-profit community, owned by Aspen Valley Hospital, has
just 15 total residences, providing a family-like atmosphere that feels warm
and welcoming for residents yet offers privacy and autonomy for those who want
it.

Whitcomb
Terrace Director Maggie Gerardi has worked at the community for 18 years. In
that time, they have typically had limited space for new residents, which is
why she said Whitcomb’s current openings present an exciting opportunity for
folks “to claim a rare spot at Aspen’s premiere place to age well.”

The
Whitcomb Terrace staff is focused on helping residents thrive by remaining
active in the community. Most staff members have been at Whitcomb for 10 to 25
years, providing residents with the comfort of seeing familiar faces every day and
providing them with personal, trusted care.

Enhanced quality of life

As
seniors age, living at home is often something that remains important. They’re
surrounded by memories, but keeping up with various chores and daily tasks can
become increasingly difficult.

Gerardi
said many seniors feel that if they can manage on their own, why should they
stop living at home? But that is precisely the time when seniors and their
loved ones should start considering a senior living community — long before
they think they “need” it.

“So
often people move in, and love it so much that they wish they had made the
transition years before. People don’t realize the negative impact loneliness
and isolation have on one’s quality of life,” she said. “If people move in
before they think they’re fully ready, they’ll end up thriving more than they
were at home, and maintain that level of health longer.”

Those
who want to maintain their privacy can absolutely do so, and thrive at
Whitcomb, too. Not all residents want to participate in all of the activities
or programs and that’s OK. They can maintain their personal freedom while also
taking advantage of the services and amenities provided at Whitcomb Terrace,
Gerardi said.

Meredith
Daniel, activities coordinator at Whitcomb Terrace, said

determining
when this transition is an appropriate choice for a family member or loved one,
or even for yourself, is understandably hard.

“However,
we’ve observed there are benefits derived from giving the responsibilities of
daily life over to a qualified and loving team,” Daniel said. “Quality of life
is naturally enhanced by social interaction, activity stimulation, and the
relaxation that comes with having your daily needs met.”

Grateful relatives

“In
1960 mom came to ski bum in Aspen and worked for Drs. Whitcomb, Oden and
Gould,” says daughter Lisa Prior, who returned home to Aspen when it was time
for her mother, Sharon, to relinquish some of the burdens of living
independently. “‘Dr. Whit’ was our family doctor so it’s really wonderful to feel
his care living on in this way. Because Whitcomb Terrace is a small community,
mom knitted right in with the other residents. The quality of care is so
personal, everyone there has different aging issues, and the incredible staff
are very responsive. There’s really nothing like it. Having mom at Whitcomb has
erased the eldercare anxiety I’ve been living with for a few years now. And the
icing on the cake is that my time with mom is not taken up with chores—we hang
out or head out to experience all the things we love about the Roaring Fork
Valley.”

A vibrant community

It’s
fitting that in a place as exciting as Aspen, that a senior living community
would offer its residents so much in the way of activities, social engagement,
culture and great food. The positive energy permeates through the community,
where residents encourage each other to attend art shows, go for walks outside,
head to the theater or to any other activity that piques their interests.

“Residents
get together daily to enjoy their shared interests, whether it’s through art,
puzzles, bridge, Scrabble, movies, walking, music — they’re often creating
their own experiences together,” Gerardi said.

With
just 15 residents at maximum capacity, it really does create a family
atmosphere — staff included. Residents have their private apartments, and they
also have the ability to go out as often as they like, participating in the
same activities they did before moving in.

“We
provide a variety of opportunities for enrichment to encourage residents to
remain active,” Gerardi said. “Residents are also able to maintain privacy and
independence, continuing to participate in their own activities and programs in
the community. We have amazing meals and staff who cares for residents like
family. We also acknowledge some residents choose to keep the same routines and
independence they had prior to moving in. We treat each resident as an
individual.”

Staff
member Natalie Ward Trecker said the residents really appreciate living in a
place that isn’t full of strangers. They’re able to form lasting friendships,
and because so many residents have lived in Aspen for a long time — or they
have family here — they can also share their connection to this area with one
another.

Gerardi
seeks to inform the community of the rare openings at Whitcomb Terrace, where
apartments have been recently renovated, and to acknowledge that the cost is
more affordable than people might expect.

“We
have four apartment styles, ranging from small studios to large one-bedroom
units, with rates from $3,500 to $6,000 per month,” she said. “And that price
is all-inclusive. It’s one rate for all of the services we provide, including
meals, salon services and so much more.” Gerardi encourages potential residents
to consider taking advantage of this unusual opportunity while it’s still
available.

via:: The Aspen Times