BY JAMISON

FOR DECADES NOW , SENIOR LIVING has followed one dominant paradigm in the United States : as one ages , one either moves to an institutional facility ( such as assisted living ) or a retirement community built around a shared interest ( golf , boating , RVs ) where one lives only with those aged 55 or older .

This paradigm , however , is shifting . As Boomers age — with Gen X right behind them — they ’ re shunning the typical retirement experience in favor for something that engages more holistically with their health : wellness communities with spa at the center of everything .

STOIKE

Defining the Concept

On the surface , the aim of a wellness community and a golf community might not seem that different . Many golf communities , like wellness communities , permit all ages , but generally comprise an older demographic due to the financial resources required to buy in . Similarly , both put something active at the core of the experience — for one , golf ; for the other , general well-being . And at the topmost level , both congregate people around a shared interest .

However , the similarities end there . The key difference is intention , and the way in which that difference in intent spirals out to affect the on-theground experience . First and foremost , wellness communities are defined by the Global Wellness Institute ( GWI ) as “ communities and buildings proactively developed with the holistic health of its residents , guest , environ- ment — both natural and built — and local community in mind .” In that sense , wellness communities ’ scope encompasses more than a simple shared interest : wellness communities are about a top-to-bottom consideration of all stakeholders ’ well-being . In other words , says Mia Kyricos — who served in the GWI group that produced that definition —” It ’ s a much more connected community , a much more intentional community , than those that have been built in more disparate ways .” Whereas a traditional retirement community is exclusive — often gated , with restricted visitor access — a true wellness community is inclusive , reaching out to and integrating with the existing community .

Although cost pressures mean that residents are more likely to be older , a true wellness community is also inherently multi-generational , a point made by Kyricos , Rancho La Puerta

CEO Roberto Arjona , and Contento Marketing Principal Nancy Griffin . Thus , the distinction between senior living and other types of living will likely disintegrate in the coming decades : a wellness community will also be a senior community ( and vice versa ) because multigenerational interaction is healthy for all parties involved , and the goal of a wellness community is to prioritize health for all .“ The research will tell you that [ traditional retirement communities ] are not the healthiest places ,” Griffin says . She further adds that “ having a purpose and interacting between generations are super important ” to over-

20 PULSE ^■ MAY 2021