Congregate housing can be liberating for seniors

By Rita Baum

"We're staying put!" declare Saratogans Ethel and Walter Ballard, ages 80 and 84. Why are they so emphatic? Because they love their home, plain and simple. Both are in good health, have family and friends nearby, and enjoy being close to shopping, medical care and numerous places of interest. Walter continues in his selective advertising business. Ethel takes a leadership role in community organizations. They see no compelling reason to leave the single-level Saratoga house they have owned and occupied for 43 years.

As the Ballards can attest, housing is perhaps the single most important decision an older person makes. If an independent elder opts to leave the family home for a different type of independent living, the choice is a retirement community or congregate housing. California is now well-stocked with both, but current supply may not be sufficient to accommodate our growing older congregate housing population, especially for individuals in lower income brackets.

Both private and subsidized facilities have waiting lists. Others limit newcomers with restrictions. The Meadows in Los Gatos, for example, will not accept new admissions over age 80 and requires all new residents to be completely ambulatory and independent in self-care upon admittance.

Ken Dychwald, author of Age Wave, defines the three stages of the aging process as follows: 50-64, middle adulthood; 65-79, late adulthood; 80 and above, old age. An increasing number of people in middle adulthood are "easing into retirement." Soon after their children are married or otherwise settled, many eagerly exchange the things that were dear to them in the first half of life for something quite different in the second. Nearly all retired persons crave an easier, simpler life with less responsibility for landscaping and maintenance, and the freedom to just get up and go should the wanderlust arise.

Retirement communities are generally restricted to independent adults age 55 or older. They include single homes, condominiums, mobile homes and townhouses which are owned by their occupants. Many offer golf, tennis, swimming, a variety of classes and on-site restaurants. At The Villages, a San Jose gated retirement community of 2,500 homes the average age is 72, but the age of new buyers is from 55 to 80. Purchase prices range from $180,000 to $500,000 for dwellings of 600 to 2,400 square feet. The amenities are plentiful and, like most retirement communities, they are designed for strictly independent living.

Villa Capri in Los Gatos is a small, neighborly retirement community with 35 single-level two-bedroom condominium homes. Most of the amenities of the larger communities are available except golf.

Some couples and individuals seek community, privacy and activity without ownership, wanting to avoid any responsibility except for themselves. For them, congregate living is the style of choice. They are willing to trade their beautiful gardens for balcony container plants. Emy Reynolds, age 77, is very satisfied with the congregate living style she enjoys at The Terraces in Los Gatos, in the independent living section. "I'm so smitten with this place." she says, "For a person who has been alone, the companionship is wonderful. Dinner is a social time." The mental and physical benefits of socialization and a support group have been well documented, and the options for this living style are plentiful, with more than 200 facilities in Santa Clara County.

Whether private pay or government subsidized, congregate housing is available to independent adults in condominiums, apartments, individual rooms and hotel-style living. Most apartments have a small kitchen for occasional cooking. At least one meal is provided daily in a common dining area. Utilities, transportation and activities are usually included in the rent. Depending on individual taste and income level, congregate living can provide modest amenities or the elaborate services of a luxury hotel with gourmet food, designer apartments, laundry, daily housekeeping, well-stocked libraries, lectures and travel.

Although no personal care or assistance is provided, some private-pay congregate living facilities allow home care agencies to come on-site to provide services that are arranged between the agency and the residents.

Subsidized housing is often as attractive as private pay facilities, with many of the same amenities, and the rental rate is no more than 30 percent of the tenant's income. To qualify for subsidized housing, monthly income must not exceed $2,400 for a single person and $2,700 for a couple. In Los Gatos subsidized apartments include Hartin House and Villa Vasona; in Saratoga, Fellowship Plaza has 150 units. A wider choice is available in neighboring cities, with the largest number throughout San Jose.

To obtain lists of retirement facilities or subsidized apartments in Santa Clara County call Senior Information and Referral (I& R) at 345-4532.

"Waiting lists are long for subsidized apartments," warns Patricia Draper, executive director, "but names are eliminated rapidly due to inability to locate persons on the list when their names come up." She advises applicants to notify each facility of changes in address and phone number.

With a broad range of options available, the most important thing to remember when choosing housing is to follow your heart. Houses are just bricks and mortar, and a home is much more than simply a place to get out of the rain.

---

Los Gatan Rita Baum has a master's degree in gerontology.

---

State Assemblyman Jim Cunneen on schools, traffic and other local issues

Carl Heintze: The Millennium Bug

Police Blotter

Sports Briefs

Westmont softball team defeats Santa Teresa

Del Mar wins in Pioneer Classic