Glenmeadow Announces Retirement-at-Home Program

04/22/2009

Glenmeadow Announces Nation's First Comprehensive Fee-for-Service Retirement-at-Home Program

Longmeadow, MA-Glenmeadow, a retirement community based in Longmeadow, has announced a significant expansion of Glenmeadow at Home, the nation's first fee-for-service retirement-at-home program.

Glenmeadow at Home is a comprehensive suite of services including housekeeping, handyman services, assistance with errands, personal care, service coordination, companionship, and much more. "The program is designed to provide everything people need to continue living wherever they wish," said Tim Cotz, executive director of Glenmeadow. "For example, our services can help people stay in their own homes, and can enable residents in independent or assisted-living settings to stay where they are instead of moving into nursing homes. We can even provide services to people living in nursing homes to enhance their quality of life and provide further peace of mind for their families. This is a very broad program, completely customized for each person and family served."

Glenmeadow at Home is designed to meet many needs. First, since the 60+ population is growing and living longer, there are more people who need extra help to make retirement living rewarding and worry-free. Second, these services support the needs of the "sandwich generation"-middle-aged adults struggling to give their parents support while also holding down jobs and raising their own children. One of seniors' major needs-finding opportunities to socialize-is addressed by Glenmeadow at Home's wellness offerings. These might help a senior find an appropriate exercise class, coordinate transportation to a lecture or concert, or provide a phone call every morning with a friendly hello. Third, this program meets families' need for affordable and flexible services, since people pay only for services they choose.

Because it appears that Baby Boomers are more likely than their parents to want to live in their own homes, the customized services Glenmeadow offers are likely to become even more sought-after in the future. (A 2006 study by AARP found that 90 percent of people aged 60 and over wish to remain in their homes as long as possible.) This is true even knowing that chores will become more difficult, finding and coordinating service providers will continue to be time consuming, and opportunities for socialization will become more limited without help such as Glenmeadow provides.

"When it comes to caring for seniors, the paradigm is shifting away from 'passive aging,' which leads to a reliance on medical care, toward helping people lead active and healthy lives," said Rick Cabral, Glenmeadow's director of community services. "We intend to stay on the leading edge of that shift, because with over 100 years of experience in caring for seniors, we know that when you nourish mind, body, and spirit, it is possible to help most people enjoy a rewarding and worry-free retirement."

Glenmeadow at Home was originally established in 2002 to ensure that residents living in independent-living apartments at Glenmeadow had options for receiving quality home health services. In 2004, Glenmeadow at Home broadened its client base by beginning to serve clients throughout Greater Springfield, but services were still limited to personal care and home health support. This expansion makes Glenmeadow at Home the first provider in the country to offer a comprehensive suite of services on an a-la-carte fee basis.

Glenmeadow has been redefining retirement living since 1884. It is an accredited continuing-care retirement community that provides independent and assisted living at its campus at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow, MA, and now offers an expansion of Glenmeadow at Home to provide the services people need in the place they call home. Glenmeadow is a mission driven, nonprofit organization that exists solely to provide quality services for seniors and their loved ones. It is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities-Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CARF-CCAC), which assures the public that there has been an external third-party review of quality and financial stability. Glenmeadow also serves small and medium-sized nonprofits across the country with consulting services through its affiliate, Glenmeadow Consulting, LLC. 

 

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