What retirement communities are remiss on.

(rough draft)

There are many varieties of retirement communities. Some are truly full service.

Most though, as so many are getting older or in need, do not provide quite the comprehensive electives for the residents.

This may address their prioritization. Mostly one faces institutions for retirement of varying services. They are organized largely by those who are not direct residents and so they seldom see the outcome of their programs they submit to the communities. This kind of care does seem to be evolving over the years and will continue to do so.

They see themselves as communities, organizations. In that case, they do not concentrate on the individual retiree in their services. They concentrate on the efficiency of their organization, more often as an industry or business.

Organizations are comprised of people, individuals. The retirement communities will in fact collect individuals of varying backgrounds. The people are not beholden to some theme, like save the whales, promote education, etc. The residents have individual histories and backgrounds which may not totally dovetail into some premolded theme. It ought to be proactive responsibility of the facility since it has agreed and contracted to "take care" of the resident to arrange call for assistance if there is medical or behavioral needs, as other care organizations do.

The retiree represents and comes from the public at large. This strongly should be taken into consideration that each individual has a long, varied background, and probably interests and hobbies most of their life. Now they may experience change but that should not be like a control environment, excised from the world they previously had lived in.

Each individual has years of experiences. They may have developed preferences for the way they live. They come with a wide variety of interests and hobbies. And that should not come to a truncating end when they extend their life at a retirement community. The communities, if truly interested, should try to cater to the person's experiences, and some individuals wish to continue some interactions while even residing. It gives them a sense of involvement and fulfillment of living a full life.

While many such communities offer some kinds of recreation and scheduled outings, that may not match the background experience a resident wishes to extend. They would feel more at ease and participate in extending with what they are familiar with, which simply may include certain furniture, curtains, gadgetry, relics, family items or photos, pets, literature, physiclal hobbies, artistry, music and outside participation with friends or organizations. No need to feel like they are sequestered or withdrawn from the world. The goal should be the full well being of the resident first, not the residence. The contract should be fully life affirming care and participation. Their potentially last residence should be humane toward them.

Many of their individual aspirations are not unreasonable and can be entertained and not shuttled off by staff. People are more knowledgeable and involved and may even contribute to the environment, if given a chance