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| SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2025
They are living purposeful, energetic, vibrant lives being in a community like
Glenmeadow (PHOTO COURTESY OF ISTOCK IMAGES)
By ANNE-GERARD FLyNN
in the aftermath of the pandemic when many sheltered in place and Kathy Martin, president and chief communicated through Zoom and executive officer of Glenmeadow, FaceTime and relied on Instacart deliveries to connect, families are reflects frequently on “aging in community” and what that means at feeling able to take time to deliberher senior living complex whose 113 ate a move to senior living. “We still get the calls, ‘My dad independent units and 34 assisted living apartments are for anyone 62 really needs to be in assisted living and older. in two weeks. Can you make that “There is much more time behappen,’” Martin said. “We can make it happen but generally tween retirement and end of life speaking the process to transition to than we imagined there would be a generation ago,” Martin said. “Baby senior living takes as long as it takes and our goal is to help facilitate that boomers are retiring in greater numbers and they aren’t necessarily decision-making process. This is new territory for a lot of the prospecinterested in sitting in the rocking chair by the fire knitting, although tive residents and their families. We are here to help families understand that is certainly an option.” She added, “Retirees are living purposeful, energetic, vibrant lives and being in a community like Glenmeadow provides the opportunity to maintain and nurture that.” “We have residents who are still working with Glenmeadow as home base,” Martin said. “We have residents who are active volunteers. We have residents who are members of local organizations. This isn’t a place where people come to wind down. Yes, you can age in place here, but the stronger experience comes from in aging in community.” She said the emphasis on a culture where this process may lead and of community and connection what kind of questions to be thinking about.” means family members know their Martin said questions to consider loved ones are supported in their needs. include “how are the staff and how “It is almost impossible to isolate often will you or your family memin a community like Glenmeadow,” ber engage with them whether at Martin said. “There are people who Glenmeadow or any other commuwant to see you at our many pronity?” grams and your friends will want to “Staff are the front-line caregivers,” she said. “You want to be sure know that you are doing OK.” they are interacting with you or your Demand for both independent living and assisted living units for loved one regularly whether it is seniors continues to grow across providing direct care or running a program or saying hello in the hallthe country, something reflected in Glenmeadow’s occupancy rates. way. Are the staff satisfied, are they Martin advises families to do their engaged in their work, do they like due diligence in considering a move coming to work every day? This reflects the culture of the community to senior living and to be informed about the community culture and and translates into the relationships its financial obligations. The move that are built with residents.” She added that it “is always helpful may involve downsizing and the when prospective residents talk with sale of a home, and she notes that, Special to The Republican
current residents as they are going to be honest and tell you how the food really is.” “The more you can experience the community in making a decision the better,” Martin said. “Tours with prospective residents can take two hours. We want to be sure they have a really good sense of Glenmeadow. Is this a place where they can imagine themselves for however long they are here? It could be a few years or 10 years or more.” She said it is important as well to understand the financial model a community uses - Glenmeadow is private pay and uses an entrance fee model compared to a rental model for its independent units – and to
a couple decide they don’t want to deal with life’s overhead anymore - who is going to shovel the walk or deal with the water heater when it dies at 3 in the morning,” Martin said. “They decide they want or need a different experience. Moving to Glenmeadow removes all the hassles associated with home ownership and carries with it all the benefits of a retirement that feels like a vacation.” Martin said another pathway to a life plan community happens when an individual or family member realizes more support is needed and the choice is made “to live at a place like Glenmeadow on the independent living side or assistant living side
“Glenmeadow is a wonderful place to have all parts of you self-nurtured and to grow in ways you want to grow.” Kathy Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Glenmeadow in Longmeadow. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNE-GERARD FLYNN / THE REPUBLICAN)
have a “good understanding of all the amenities that are included in your monthly service fee and if there are any ancillary charges.” A nonprofit with a board of directors, Glenmeadow also offers home care services to the Greater Springfield Area. Its H-shaped complex that sits on 23 acres in Longmeadow opened in 1997, but its history traces back to a home for “aged women” without means that was founded in 1884 on Main Street in Springfield. Today, Martin said, the road to Glenmeadow for prospective residents is varied, and a growing number of couples are making the decision to move in, including many from outside of the Greater Springfield area, affirming that Glenmeadow is an attractive destination for retirement. “In some cases, an individual or
where there is more care available.” She said this choice is being driven, too, by “families being more dispersed.” “Children don’t always live around the corner, able to stop in and see how mom and dad or another loved one is doing,” Martin said. “So, for peace of mind, families will often recommend Glenmeadow where their love one can live independently but know there is care available if needed. They are not alone.” Martin, who holds a doctorate in physical education, was assistant provost for accreditation and administration at UMass-Amherst and Glenmeadow board member prior to being named to head the community in fall 2023. She sees the increase in more couples moving to Glenmeadow as an “indicator of the decision-making
families are going through” around when to make such a move and what supports a move brings. “It is harder to make such a move after you have experienced a significant life event like the death of a spouse,” Martin said. “Couples moving in is a good sign for our population being able to be in community where, if and when something happens, there is support, including friends, already in place.” Recently a respite care program has been started that, Martin said, offers “someone who might have graduated from a rehab stay but is not ready to return home the option to live at Glenmeadow for up to 60 days.” Amenities at Glenmeadow include a new pool and fitness center called the Vitality Hub, a hair and nail salon, and a library. Glenmeadow is pet-friendly, and a resident walking a small pet not an uncommon sight. Programming provided both by Glenmeadow and its residents ranges from daily fitness classes to movie nights to discussion groups. The majority of residents are female, but Martin notes there is a “thriving men’s club that provides an outlet for our male residents, including some great local trips” and exercise is among the most popular activities at Glenmeadow where the average age in the mid-80s is similar to many other life plan communities. “Glenmeadow doesn’t have the feel of a retirement home as many would conceptualize,” Martin said. “Here, you can be as involved as you want to be. We have some residents who have a full schedule every day and there are others who may not be joiners but are still active in the community, whether it is reading the newspaper in the Family Living Room or going for a walk in the Longmeadow area.” She added, “Glenmeadow is a wonderful place to have all parts of you self-nurtured and to grow in ways you want to grow.” “Our goal is to help you stay active, engaged, and thriving for as long as possible,” Martin said.