WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009 | SECTION 7 | PRIMETIME | CHICAGO TRIBUNE
time
INSIDE Primetime
Life:
Prime
Part two
Joining a senior
club is just one of the
many ways to stay
healthy and active.
Page 3
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Sailing into
the future
The next generation of senior
communities will have more
amenities than a cruise ship
D
building slated to open in downtown Evanston in October, even
the advertising is different. Sara
McVey, vice president and experience director, says the company aimed to set a different
tone with an edgy marketing
campaign.
“Instead of mellow, smiling
Not exactly what you’d expect
seniors we started with a
to find at a continuing care respokesperson
tirement comwho was a remunity? Weltired creative dicome to the furector and copyture, says Linda
writer. He’s sitHollinger-Smith
ting in a chair
of Mather Lifewith purple
Ways Institute on
socks on and no
Aging.
shoes. He calls
A recent surhimself a ‘writer,
vey of 435 senior
sailor, water colliving communiorist and
ties in 13 states
footwear
found these
avoidist,’” McVey
trends and more.
says.
“It will not be
Some of the
business as usual
taglines in the
in the years
campaign inahead,”
cluded: “Let’s be
Hollinger-Smith
green without
says. And its not
envy” (referring
just about winAn artist’s rendering of the
to The Mather’s
dow dressing. A
Wellness Center and Club
3.5 acres of garsincere desire to
Room at 850 Lake Shore
den space); “Let’s
increase resident Drive.
eat like kings”
independence,
(seven themed restaurants on
wellness and environmental
site); “Let’s keep our heart wrinfriendliness is steering the ship.
kle-free” (10,000 square-foot fitThis sea change is part of a
ness center and day spa, with an
generational shift in the senior
indoor pool).
population. The so-called
Like at most CCRC’s, residents
“silent generation”—those
pay a fee to move into The
born between 1924 and
Mather, but they don’t own their
1942—is the next group movapartment. (The Mather requires
ing in, before the Baby Boom
$350,000-$1 million up front, degeneration, Hollinger-Smith
pending on the size of the unit.)
says. “The total number of indiNinety percent is refunded to the
viduals is much lower than the
resident or their estate if they
GI generation. Senior living orleave or die. Residents also pay a
ganizations will need to idenmonthly fee that varies dependtify their niche to stand out
ing on the care plan they choose,
from other communities.”
and whether they’re in an indeChicago has a lot of marketplace leaders in senior living that pendent living or assisted living
are already riding the wave.
SEE AMENITIES PAGE 7
At The Mather, a luxurious
ay spas.
Aquatic centers.
Cyber learning labs.
Activity hubs. Green
roofs. College courses. Themed
restaurants. Wellness gardens.
Smart home technology.
photo illustration by Justin Goode
© 2009 Jupiterimages Corp.
1
WEDNESDAY,
WEDNESDAY,JULY
JULY15,
15,2009
2009 || SECTION
SECTION 77 || PRIMETIME
PRIMETIME || CHICAGO
CHICAGOTRIBUNE
TRIBUNE
AMENITIES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
unit. Like a cruise ship, it’s an
all-inclusive lifestyle with food,
housekeeping, maintenance,
activities, and some utilities included.
The Mather’s urban location
will integrate residents into
the community, McVey says.
“It won’t be just a place where
old people live. It will be a
place where people are doing
things that working people
wish they could do.”
time
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Life:
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Living in the future
17
Part two
Joining a senior
club is just one of the
many ways to stay
healthy and active.
Page 3
Residents at The Mather participate in an exercise class -- one
of the many amenities residents have come to expect at senior
www.chicagotribune.com/primetime
Bill and Betty Boyd of
living properties.
Northbrook, the quintessential future residents of The
Mather, bear this out. Both are
in their early 70s and healthy.
They decided to move into a
senior community before they
really needed to, in order to
take advantage of all The
Mather has to offer.
“We wanted to make the
decision ourselves, and not
put the burden on our two
sons later on,” Betty Boyd says.
“We are planners, and have no
trouble living in the future.
That helps us be optimistic
and excited for this move.”
The Boyds say The Mather’s
proximity to Northwestern
University, Lake Michigan, the
El, the public library, and all
the shopping, dining and entertainment in the heart of
Evanston will open up new
vistas.
“It’s important for us not to
be in isolation in suburbia,” Bill
Boyd says. “We wanted to enjoy an urban environment,
which we never have had. It’s
exciting for us to think that we
can just walk downtown to
everything.”
The North Shore couple had
active careers in education for
many years, then ran a travel
business leading European
tours. And they have no intention of slowing down. Betty is
looking forward to using the
spa and exercise facilities
three times a week, and Bill
plans to buy a bicycle after
they move in. They’ve already
gotten busy organizing day
trips for fellow future residents, and have gotten involved with Northwestern
University.
“We’re in good health now,
but it’s comforting to know
LLC. The building is going for
that everything we might
silver LEED certification, a high
need is in the building,” Betty
environmental standard.
Boyd says.
Smart home technology
Smith Senior Living, located will be the norm by then,
in Beverly, takes a similar tack.
Phillips says. All the units will
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009 | SECTION 7 | PR
“Overall, our philosophy is a have wireless Internet access,
holistic approachAMENITIES
for all asand they will be hard-wired
pects of living,” says
Mike
into
the building’s
information
CONTINUED
FROM
PAGE
1
Flynn, CEO. At the newly redesystem.
unit. Like
a cruise ship,
it’s an will have touch
veloped Smith Village
campus,
“Residents
all-inclusive
with
mind and body are
given lotslifestyle
pads
to food,
contact others outside
housekeeping,
to do. Smith Village
also maxi- maintenance,
their unit if they need help, or
activities,
and
some
utilities
in- a wristband or
mizes its proximity to nearby
they can wear
cluded.where
Saint Xavier University,
pendant. This is more user
The Mather’s
location
residents frequent classes
and urban
friendly
than the old pull cord
will integrate
into
cultural events. Back
at home, residents
systems,
” Phillips explains. The
the community,
McVey
says.
Smith Village’s computer
lab
building
will also feature a
“It won’t“High
be just a wireless
place where
fosters lifelong learning.
entry system with
• Maintenance-free Living
people
live. It fobs
will be
a to those that unschool volunteersold
come
in and
similar
place
are
teach residents how
towhere
use people
lock
cardoing
doors. “They tend to
• Spacious Floor Plans
working
computers if theythings
don’t that
know
be people
easier than traditional
• Balconies or Patios Available
wish
they
could
do.
”
how, but it’s amazing how
keys,” Phillips says.
Residents
exercise Center
class -- one
many already do,” Flynn says.
The common space
was at The Mather participate in•anFitness
Living
in
the
future
building slated to open in downmany amenities residents have come to expectay
atspas.
senior
Smith Village’s health club
cleverly designedoftothe
bring
town Evanston in October, even
Aquatic
centers.
• Community
Parks
with Fountains
and Betty
Boyd
of together.living
properties.
program, Senior Fit,Bill
enjoys
a
people
“About
half
the advertising is different. Sara
Cyber
learning
labs.
Northbrook,
whopping 85 percent
partici- the quintessenthe space on the first floor—
• Convenient
Location
Near
Transportation
Activity
but it’s comforting
to know
LLC. The building is going
for hubs. Green McVey, vice president and expefuture
residents
of The
pation rate. “Thistial
allows
them
10,000
square feet—will
be a
roofs.
College courses.
Themed rience director, says the comOne-of-a-kind
Opportunity
that everything
silver •
LEED
certification,
a high
Mather,
Both center/lounge.
are
to get around more
freelybear
for athis out.
wellness
This we might
pany aimed to set a different
restaurants.
Wellness gardens.
need is in the building,” Betty
environmental
standard.
their
early 70s and
longer period of in
time,
” Flynn
will healthy.
be an interconnected
tone with an edgy marketing
Smarttechnology
home technology.
says.
Smart
home
They
into a
says. “It really works.
” decided to move
area containing
aBoyd
large
aeroCome
see how valuable we
really are
campaign.
Smithspa,
Senior Living, located will be the norm by then,
senior communitybics
before
they
room,
fitness room,
at
Belle
Plaine
Commons!
“Instead of mellow, smiling
Not
exactly
what
you’d
expect
in Beverly,
takes a similar tack.
really needed to, in
order
to theater
Phillips says. All the units will
and
movie
that
seats
Incorporating
green,
seniors we started with a
to find
at a continuing
“Overall, our philosophy is a have wireless
take advantage of60,”
all The
Internet
access, care rePhillips says. “Having
spokesperson
comsmart tech Mather has to offer.
holistic
approach for all asand they tirement
will be hard-wired
them adjacent makes
a hub
who was a remunity? Welpects
living,” says Mike
into the building’s
information
“We
wanted to of
make
the because
activity,
it’softhe
Further out on the
horizon,
tired creative dicome to the fuFlynn,of
CEO.
system.
ourselves,
and notand activity
liveliness
theAt the newly redean upscale CCRCdecision
at 850 Lake
rector and copyture, says Linda
veloped
Smith Village campus,
the burden
onresidents
our two that makes
“Residents will have touch
these
Shore Drive is setput
to open
in
writer. He’s sitHollinger-Smith
mind and body are given lots
sons
laterLake
on,” Betty
Boydreally
says. special.”
pads to contact others outside
places
2012. By then, the
former
ting in a chair
of Mather Lifeto do.
“Webuilding
are planners, and
have
no room
their unit
ifwalk-ins
they need help,
or Judy Westerberg for an appointment
Model open
forWays
or
call
The
dining
willSmith
have Village also maxiShore Athletic Club
with purple
Institute on
its proximity to nearby
trouble
living
future.
they can wear a wristband or
classic
touches ofmizes
yesteryear,
will have been gutted
and
re- in the
socks on and no
Aging.
Xavier University, where
helps us be optimistic
pendant. This is more user
such as restored Saint
light fixtures.
fitted from stem That
to stern,
shoes. He calls
A recent surfrequent classes and
and
friendly than the old pull cord
It’smove.
large”enoughresidents
to seat 180,
while maintaining
theexcited
historicfor this
veyCenter
of 435 senior
Sales
Open The
Saturday-Wednesday 10am-5pm.himself a ‘writer,
cultural
Thetwo
Boyds say The
Mather’s can dine
systems,
” Phillips
explains.
so residents
on aevents. Back at home,
Beaux Arts façade and
living
communieastfeature
of Western,
1 block north of Irving Park. sailor, water colSmith
proximity to Northwestern
buildingJust
will also
a
reservation system,
andVillage’s
not computer lab
1920s interior rooms.
orist and
ties in 13 statesBrokers welcome.
fosters
lifelong
learning.
“High
University,
Lake
Michigan,
the
wireless
entry
system
with
be limited to two seatings.
This adaptive reuse is about
footwear
found these
• Maintenance-free
Living
volunteers come in and fobs similar
El, the
and more
all we school
to
those
that
uncan satisfy
as green as you can
get,public
says library,“The
avoidist,’” McVey
trends and more.
residents
howDeveloped
to use
“They
tend
to
the shopping,
and en- theteach
our residents,
better
off
Matt Phillips, president
of In- dining
by:lock car doors.
•
Spacious
Floor
Plans
says.
“It will not be
Developer license #1647104
North
Center Associates
LLC traditional
if they don’t
know
tertainment
heart
be easier business
than
be,of
” Phillips computers
says. ■
tegrated Development
Groupin thewe’ll
Some of the
as usual
• Balconies
or Patios Available
how, but it’s amazing how
Evanston will open up new
keys,” Phillips
says.
taglines in the
in the
years
many already do,” Flynn says.
vistas.
The common
• Fitness
Center
campaign
inahead,”space was
Smith Village’s health club
“It’s important for us not to
cleverly designed
to bring
cluded: “Let’s be
Hollinger-Smith
• Community
Parks with Fountai
be in isolation in suburbia,” Bill program, Senior Fit, enjoys a
people together.
green without
says. And“About
its nothalf
whopping 85 percent particiBoyd says. “We wanted to enthe spacejust
on about
the first
floor—
Location Near Tran
envy” (referring
winAn artist’s rendering of the• Convenient
pation rate. “This allows them
joy an urban environment,
10,000 square
feet—willA be aWellness Center and Club
to The Mather’s
dow dressing.
• One-of-a-kind
Opportunity
to get around more freely for a wellness center/lounge.
which we never have had. It’s
3.5 acres of garsincere desire toThis Room at 850 Lake Shore
exciting for us to think that we longer period of time,” Flynn
will be anincrease
interconnected
den space); “Let’s
resident Drive.
says. “It really works.”
can just walk downtown to
area containing
a large aeroCome
see
how valuable we re
eat like
kings”
independence,
everything.”
bics room,
fitness and
room,
spa,
(seven themed restaurants
on Plaine Common
wellness
environmental
at Belle
The North Shore couple had Incorporating green,
and movie
theater
that
seats
site); “Let’s keep our heart wrinfriendliness is steering the ship.
active careers in education for
60,” Phillips This
says.sea
“Having
kle-free” (10,000 square-foot fitchange is part of a
smart tech
them adjacent
makes ashift
hubin the senior
many years, then ran a travel
ness center and day spa, with an
generational
of activity,
because it’sThe
theso-called
business leading European
Further out on the horizon,
indoor pool).
population.
liveliness“silent
and activity
of the
tours. And they have no inten- an upscale CCRC at 850 Lake
Like at most CCRC’s, residents
generation”—those
residentsborn
that makes
these
tion of slowing down. Betty is
Shore Drive is set to open in
pay a fee to move into The
between
1924 and
special.”
looking forward to using the
2012. By then, the former Lake places really
Mather, but they don’t own their
1942—is
the next group movopen (The
for walk-ins
or call Judy Westerber
The dining
room
will the
haveBaby Boom Model
spa and exercise facilities
Shore Athletic Club building
apartment.
Mather requires
ing in,
before
classic touches
of yesteryear,
three times a week, and Bill
will have been gutted and re$350,000-$1 million up front, degeneration,
Hollinger-Smith
such as restored
light
fixtures.
plans to buy a bicycle after
fitted from stem to stern,
pending on the size of the unit.)
says. “The
total
number of indithey move in. They’ve already
It’s large enough
tomuch
seat 180,
Ninety percent is refunded to the
while maintaining the historic
viduals is
lower than the
Salesestate
Center
Open Saturday-Wednesday 1
resident or their
if they
so residents
can dine on Senior
a
gotten busy organizing day
GI generation.
living orBeaux Arts façade and two
Just eastalso
of Western,
1 block north of Irv
leave or die. Residents
pay a
ganizations
willnot
need to identrips for fellow future resireservation
system, and
1920s interior rooms.
Brokers welcome.
monthly fee that varies dependniche to stand out
dents, and have gotten inbe limitedtify
to their
two seatings.
This adaptive reuse is about
ing on the care plan they choose,
fromwe
other
communities.”
volved with Northwestern
“The more
can satisfy
as green as you can get, says
and
Chicago
has aoff
lot of marketUniversity.
our residents,
the better
Matt Phillips, president of InDeveloped
by:whether they’re in an indeDeveloper license #1647104
North
Associates
LLCassisted living
pendent
living or
place leaders
that Center
“We’re in good health now,
we’ll be,” Phillips
says. ■in senior living
tegrated Development Group
photo illustration by Justin Goode
are already riding the wave.
© 2009 Jupiterimages Corp.
SEE AMENITIES PAGE 7
At The Mather, a luxurious
Sailing into
the future
VISIT OUR FEATURED CONDOMINIUM
ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIAL O
New Condominiums for those 55
nextfrom
generation
senior
andThe
better
the $of190s
communities will have more
amenities than a cruise ship
D
2335 West Belle Plaine
773.442.6995
New Condominiums fo
and better from the
BellePlaineCommons.com
2335 West Belle P
773.442.6995
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