Bruceville Point resident Barbara appreciates her life
I’ll share a little secret with you. Those of us in senior living strongly dislike the term “independent living.” For one thing, no one is truly independent. We all need others in our lives, both for support every now and then and to give us meaning and purpose. And secondly, its existence is in direct comparison to living arrangements such as assisted living or memory care. This comparison suggests a hierarchy with one arrangement being more desirable and another carrying more stigma.
Undeniably, there is something very attractive about the concept that independent living conveys. I would define that as something more akin to autonomy or agency. Everyone, regardless of age, wants to believe their voice matters, they have a choice in the decisions they make, and they have ownership of their resources, including time and energy.
Barbara, a resident at Bruceville Point, made me realize the importance of autonomy. To begin with, moving to Bruceville Point was her choice—one option among several places she toured. She had visited two or three other communities and “it didn’t compare to the other places we’d look at,” Barbara said. “It was brand new, the amenities, the feeling of home. Bruceville Point stood out.”
Barbara appreciated the full-sized kitchen and her own washer and dryer. “Whether I use or it not, it’s there. It’s nice to have the option,” Barbara said. Those two features, in addition to the larger apartment size and plentiful storage removed any doubt. “This is where I wanted to be,” Barbara happily concluded.
Barbara enjoys an outing to visit the alpacas
After moving to Bruceville Point almost four years ago, Barbara has continued to discover how living here provides her with autonomy. Most importantly, she enjoys the people. “For me, you can have a home or a house and it has all your things. But they’re things,” Barbara observed. “If you don’t have people, you don’t have interaction and motivation to move and do things.”
She remembers living with her son and daughter-in-law previously. Many days, she saw no point in getting dressed. She’d slip on a muumuu and call it good. Now, she is motivated to get up and get dressed. “It feels good,” she said. Getting dressed provides a sense of purpose and motivation to start her day.
Some mornings, she’ll go to the Cafè for breakfast. Other mornings, she takes her time, staying in her apartment longer. What she eats, when she eats, where she eats, with whom she eats—these are all options she has now. Usually, Barbara has a group of friends who join her for dinner in the dining room.
Barbara enjoys visiting with other residents at Bruceville Point. She plays cards with a group of friends a few times each week. And she also appreciates the option to stay in her apartment and have a little alone time. The choice is hers. “It’s social if you want it to be, and what’s nice is that you can stay in your room if that’s your choice.”
Barbara says “cheers” to the social activities at Bruceville Point
At Bruceville Point, the Events and Adventures team actively works to give residents choice in what they offer. For example, on Mondays they show movie trailers in the Theater and the residents get to vote on which movies will be shown during the week. Several residents asked for a matinee movie showing and that was added to the calendar. Barbara knows she can suggest restaurants she’d like to visit and the team will work to create a group outing there.
And while Barbara and other residents enjoy their privacy, they also enjoy the security of knowing they are not alone. The team members who help with housekeeping, lead fitness classes, organize outings, and provide care are wonderful, Barbara says. She praised the Executive Director, Eric, for being very picky when hiring new team members.
“It amazes me how the servers, after just a few days of being hired, remember your names and your room numbers. Okay, a name is one thing, but your room number? That’s impressive!” Barbara says of the dining team members.
Barbara also appreciates the choice in how she celebrates different occasions. She can decorate her apartment for the holidays (and has storage to keep the décor when it isn’t out!). Barbara notes with joy this freedom, one she didn’t have when she lived with family members. There, in a shared space, the décor was determined mostly by her son and daughter-in-law.
Talking with Barbara, I understood that choice was not just how you spend your time or resources. It was also in how she approached change. She chose to move and has appreciated the autonomy that change offered her.
“This is a new adventure, a new chapter in your life,” Barbara counsels new residents. For Barbara, and for many older adults, this new chapter comes with unprecedented choices, freedom, and autonomy. “They have such choices here. I’ve never seen a place that has the choices that you do here.”
Well-being is not about independence—or assistance, for that matter. What gives us each meaning, purpose, and joy is to have agency over our lives. To exercise the power of choice throughout our days is one of life’s greatest gifts. At Bruceville Point, people respect each other and honor their freedom to choose things—big and small—for themselves.
If you’d like to learn more about the choices available at Bruceville Point, please reach out to schedule a tour.
Curious to learn more? Find answers to your questions in our latest guide, FAQS: Answers to Your Questions from the People Who Make Tenfold Communities Amazing.
