R E T I R E M E N T L I V I N G
S P E C I A L F E A T U R E
Community
Living at Its Finest
Today's retirement residences offer much more than a home
R
etirement living is subject to all
sorts of stereotypes and myths.
Today's retirement communities,
however, are nothing like the
staid, sterile environments of
the past. With people living
longer than ever, progressive
communities that oer everything from
tness classes to stimulating excursions are
helping residents age well, and live longer.
"There's often a perception that
people are just sitting around with nothing
to do," says Howard Johnson,
CEO of
Baptist Housing, a faith-based non-prot
organization with senior living communities
throughout B.C., including Shannon Oaks,
South Vancouver's all-inclusive, premier
independent living residence. "That couldn't
be further from the truth."
Several elements help make a retirement
community a home. Foremost is the
residents' ability to personalize their suite.
Independent Living +
Your path to healthier living.
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No one likes the idea of moving to a
new place and having to abandon their
favourite furniture and decor. At Shannon
Oaks residents don't have to.
"It is important for all of us to
surround ourselves with those personal
items that give us a sense of comfort and
belonging," says Johnson. "At Shannon
Oaks, residents make it their own
apartment by bringing with them their
favourite chair, their familiar paintings
and photos, even the family piano
that brought the joy of music to many
generations. People's possessions are
their memories and history."
Shannon Oaks oers one-bedroom,
one-bedroom + den and two-bedroom
deluxe suites. The bathrooms are
equipped with grab bars and sit-down
showers. Also, many suites have patios
and balconies that look out into the
inner courtyard that is lined with two
golf putting greens, water features and a
gazebo. A favourite feature at Shannon
Oaks is individual locked glass curio
cabinets located just outside each suite's
front door, which residents use to place
treasured mementos.
"It says who they are and personalizes
the entrance to their suite," says Gillian
Fullerton, sales and marketing manager
with Baptist Housing.
The hospitality services at Shannon
Oaks include all meals served in
an elegant dining room, weekly
housekeeping and linen service, 24-hour
emergency response, and a variety of
recreational activities, as well as exciting
movie nights, picnics and day-long trips.
Research has proven that social
isolation results in poorer health
