We have moved to a new site. Do come and visit us! www.thewomensroomblog.com
A couple of weeks ago India Knight wrote in her Sunday Times column about how she and her friends were planning various alternatives to old people homes in order to accommodate them in their old age. They ranged from members only clubs in Marylebone, to communes by the sea.
We have been thinking about this subject a lot recently, as we are faced with not only our parents next stage in life, but the fact that we too may need to be looked after in later life. The thought of ending our days sitting in a row of hard back chairs, in a fluorescent lit, communal living room is too much to bear, and as the baby boomer generation grow old, we feel there may be a care home revolution on its way.
My gay best friend and I have plans to open a 'boutique style' old peoples home, exclusively for girls and gays (sorry fellas) complete with fabulous muscly boys serving us tea and G & T's, with Friday nights round the piano, singing songs from musicals. It will be tastefully decorated apart from the occasional ironic kitsch artifact, smell of Jo Malone lime coriander and basil fragrance and will of course be spotlessly clean. Situated by the sea, we will take the air and nod off in deckchairs covered in stylish tartan travelling rugs, and may even have a couple of beach huts, for tea brewing purposes.
You can tell I haven't thought about it much at all, can't you!!
It seems however there may already be some alternatives to our traditional notions of old peoples homes and The Claremont in Toronto is one of them. Brought to our attention by friends who have recently moved from Canada to the UK, in search of adventure. They were faced with the difficult decision to leave their recently widowed father behind, but were lucky enough to find The Claremont, which provides retirement living for independent seniors. It turned out to be the perfect place and their Dad is very happy there, not least, because the residents seem to have such a great time.
Keen to dispell the notion that notion that older people just want to settle in for a snooze when the sun goes down, the residents recently produced a charity calender showing the saucy side of getting older. Senior Executive director, Lynn Webster, says, “The calendar showcases the vitality and fun-loving spirit of many Claremont residents, and gives a bit of cheeky challenge to the assumption that people in this age group don’t have any excitement after dark.”
Our friends Dad is the silver fox in the satin dressing gown, who looks like he's having the time of his life!
I think I may use the Claremont as the business model for my senior home by the sea. Can you imagine how camp the the calendar will be!!
Haha, love it. You have to get that calendar released! :D
Posted by: Ziggy | January 17, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Sadly, the issue of ageing and what is going to happen to our parents / us is all too real. And although this post takes a fun look at the situation, the reality of it is, how , especially for those of us who may have never followed a "normal" corporate lifestyle. My husband is 70 this year and I dread to think where we will end up when we can no longer care for ourselves.
Sue
Posted by: sue Evans | January 17, 2011 at 01:58 PM
I love the sound of the Claremont. I've been talking about the same thing for a few years with friends too. At this stage a seaside location for our old age commune seems as important as hunky gardeners stripped to the waist for us to ogle at - no touching though! Some days the thought of zooming along the promenade in a motorised wheelchair is quite appealing too.
Posted by: Jude | January 17, 2011 at 02:04 PM
Sorry, the comment above somehow got lost in translation ! What I was trying to say was that the reality of the options on offer are scarily few, especially for those of us who may have never followed a "normal" corporate lifestyle. We'd never want to burden our kids nor compromise the lifestyle we've followed for over 40 years.
Posted by: sue Evans | January 17, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Wonderful! While I -- sadly -- can't imagine either my mom (too shy) or my in-laws(too conservative) in the Claremont, it's encouraging to see that some alternatives are developing, perhaps in time for my too-quickly-approaching senior years.
Posted by: materfamilias | January 17, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Totally fabulous - I shall make sure that I end up in a place like that without a doubt - I am sure that by the time I reach the necessary age - which is years and years and years away of course - this type of thing will be standard !!!! If only !
Posted by: Becky | January 17, 2011 at 04:29 PM
I agree Sue, while this is a witty look at old peoples homes it really is a serious issue. I can honestly think of nothing worse than becoming 'normal' in old age. Lets hope there are some alternative places like the Claremont in the UK to be found when the time comes.
J x
Posted by: jane | January 17, 2011 at 06:28 PM
I've been advocating the commune idea among my friends for years. It makes sense - not least because when offspring visit, they can check up on each others' parents and send an email round along the lines of - "saw your Mum: she is remembering to change her incontinence pants regularly and your Dad is still shouting at the telly". In all seriousness, we need to come up with a good and respectful way to care for our elderly - they (and we in due course) deserve better.
Posted by: Nicola | January 17, 2011 at 07:24 PM
Fantastic - can I sign up for Claremont-by-the-sea now! I always think I'd like to be old and retired somewhere sunny like Spain, where I can sit in a square nattering with all the other old folks
Posted by: That's Not My Age | January 18, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Yes old people in hot countries seem to have a much nicer life somehow. I spent a summer in Spain one year and the old ladies sat in the square talking until at least 1am every morning. Some of them had never been out of the village. I used to wonder what they found to talk about, but who cares. At least they were out and not trapped at home in the cold!
J x
Posted by: Jane | January 18, 2011 at 09:24 PM
I had fun and enjoy staring at those photos of couples. It seems that the idea are absolutely fine. Old people must given a time and importance. I enjoy reading your article and it was great.
Posted by: "carpet cleaning bremerton wa " | February 16, 2011 at 09:34 AM
For any folks invested in more and better resident contribution, that is a knock back, i believe. But strangely enough, the newest one-pager Can involve many responsibilities around consultation.
Posted by: Belstaff Jackets | November 25, 2011 at 07:09 AM