Developing affordable housing has become a much more creative endeavor over the past decade, as millions of Baby Boomers not only retire but seek out communities that include a wide range of resources.
Volunteers of America National Services, which is headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is an organization on the leading edge of this trend, bringing together quality of life and health care in markets across the country.
David Jefferson, vice president of real estate operations at VOANS, said it’s important seniors find a community where they can reach out to others but also maintain a sense of independence.
For seniors to “age in place” requires opportunities to be active and connect them to health care and other services.
VOANS aims to create communities and provide services that can be a “beacon of light” for people, Jefferson said.
“That’s what Volunteers of America National Services wants to be, this kind of beacon of light in the community that is a place where people can come and gather,” Jefferson said. “As well as a place where people can live in a safe, affordable community.”
Creating places for people to live used to focus on simply getting a building developed.
“Now, we’re building buildings that are interconnected and woven into the fabric of the community, of the neighborhood, “ he said. “It’s important that we have essential services and job opportunities that connect people.”
‘Joyspan’ — when housing extends quality of life
Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist who’s an expert on aging, echoes Jefferson’s views on seniors’ housing needs.
Burnight, a distinguished instructor at the University of Chicago Graham School, is the author of “Joyspan,” an award-winning book that explores the importance of quality of life as people age.
“A long life, even a long life in good health, doesn’t mean much if you’re not enjoying the quality,” she said.
Joyspan derives from health span, but it combines the concept of well-being with longevity, Burnight explained. She said it’s “very germane” to the issue of housing. “Because we want to be thinking about how to maximize the quality of life with various housing options that are available to our parents and ultimately to us,” she said.
And as Jefferson noted, one of the key things for people and where they live is connecting with others.
Burnight pointed out that a Harvard University study found that individuals who have strong connections with others — family, friends and their communities — tend to live longer, happier lives.
Even the most introverted people need interdependence and connection and that can be woven into their housing situation, she said.
Large or small, housing facilities can deliver
Jefferson noted that it’s not the size of the housing facility that matters because “operational excellence is scalable.”
Whether a property has 500 units, 100 units or fewer, the work basically comes down to the same critical factors, said Jefferson, who has a wide range of experience managing major housing facilities across the Washington, D.C., region.
“We want to have operational excellence across our portfolios and to ensure that we are delivering the same continuum of care and the same level of service across wherever you go in a Volunteers of America National Services building,” he said.
Jefferson pointed to the organization’s efforts to address the aging population of Prince George’s County, where VOANS opened a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, Center last year.
Each time VOANS provides more services, more people find out about what it can do for them and their families, he said.
“It’s very important that we connect people to our services … especially for the children of aging adults,” Jefferson said. “ ‘Hey, this is a great place for mom. This is a great place for dad.’ ”
Jefferson pointed out that VOANS operates in more than 40 states across the country. People can learn more about where services and facilities are available on the VOANS website.
“I’m sure somewhere in America we’ve got some housing that is in your neck of the woods,” Jefferson said.
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