The 65th annual NAHB’s Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium was held in Philadelphia, PA, on April 28th.  Housing projects catering to older consumers that have excelled in categories of innovative design, marketing, and development are recognized each year in what is considered to be the building industry’s most prestigious award program in the nation.  Over 62,000 professionals from the building industry attended this year’s event, making this symposium a successful one even during a time when the housing market is said to be experiencing slowed growth. There were a number of categories recognized this year, and 41 impressive projects received gold awards and 39 silver award presentations. 

The 2010 International Builders’ & Nextbuild is scheduled for January 19-22, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and registration to attend will begin sometime in early July. Dates and locations for future events are already set for the next 10-plus years.  An abbreviated list of Gold and Silver award winners from the 2009 50+ Housing Symposium is listed below, along with a link to their site when possible. To read more about NAHB and the 2009 event, visit the NAHB website.

2009 50+ Housing Awards Announced

BEST REPOSITIONED 50+ HOUSING PROJECT -

• Westminster Village - Scottsdale, Arizona

BEST 50+ RENOVATED HOUSING -

• Sherwood Village Senior Apartments - Salinas, California
• WoodCrest Retirement Residence - Moon, Pennsylvania
• Olsen - Ionia, Michigan

BEST SMALL CCRC (up to 200 units)

• Varenna - Santa Rosa, California
• Judson Park Retirement Community - Des Moines, Iowa

BEST LARGE CCRC (over 200 units)

• Sun City Palace Tsukaguchi - Osaka, Japan
• Stratford at WestClay - Carmel, Indiana

BEST CCRC COMMON AREA

• Lenbrook - Atlanta, Georgia

BEST CONGREGATE/INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

• The Bellettini - Bellevue, Washington
• Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village - Cliffs Lodge - Bend, Oregon
• Avondell - Bel Air, Maryland

BEST ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

• Sunrise Senior Living - Monterey, California
• Isle at Watermere Assisted Living - Southlake, Texas

BEST MULTIFAMILY RENTAL 50+ COMMUNITY (MARKET RATE)

• Towne Club at Peachtree City - Peachtree City, Georgia
• The Conservatory Senior Living at Alden Bridge - The Woodlands, Texas
• Flatirons Terrace at Golden West - Boulder, Colorado

BEST MULTIFAMILY RENTAL 50+ COMMUNITY (AFFORDABLE)

• Victoria Park at Walkersville - Walkersville, Maryland
• Reunion at Redmond Ridge - Redmond, Washington

BEST ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (UP TO 500 HOMES)

• Parkview Court - Torrance, California
• Brookhaven of East Cobb - Kennesaw, Georgia
• Belvedere - Vallejo, California
• Reunion at Redmond Ridge - Redmond, Washington

BEST ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (OVER 500 HOMES)

• Sun City Festival - Buckeye, Arizona
• Del Webb at Lake Oconee - Greensboro, Georgia
• Trilogy Central Coast - Nipomo, California

BEST CLUBHOUSE AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (UP TO 8,000 SQUARE FEET)

• Traditions Community Center - Paso Robles, California
• Schuyler Commons at Colonial Square - Utica, New York

BEST CLUBHOUSE AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (OVER 8,000 SQUARE FEET)

• Heritage Todd Creek - Brighton, Colorado
• Sweetwater Summerland Hall - Jacksonville, Florida
• Sun City Festival - Buckeye, Arizona
• Trilogy Central Coast - Nipomo, California

BEST DETACHED HOME AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (UP TO 2,000 SQUARE FEET)

• Eskaton National Demonstration Home - Roseville, California
• Traditions of America at Silver Spring - Franklin - Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

BEST DETACHED HOME AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (OVER 2,000 SQUARE FEET)

• The Residences at Bulle Rock - Havre de Grace, Maryland
• Brookhaven at Johns Creek Ansley - Johns Creek, Georgia
• Shenandoah at Lake Frederick - The Windham - Lake Frederick, Virginia

BEST ATTACHED HOME AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (UP TO 2,000 SQUARE FEET)

• Valencia Terrace - Plan 2 - Corona, California
• Regency at Prospect Walnut - Prospect, Connecticut

BEST ATTACHED HOME AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (OVER 2,000 SQUARE FEET)

• Chester River Landing - Chestertown, Maryland

BEST MODEL HOME MERCHANDISING AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY (OVER 2,000 SQUARE FEET)

• The Boulevard at Lakeway - Plan 2556 - Austin, Texas
• Highland Meadows - The Case Model - Weston, Massachusetts
• Emerald at Plantation Bay - Emerald - Ormond Beach, Florida

BEST REPOSITIONED 50+ HOUSING PROJECT - ON THE BOARDS

• San Joaquin Gardens - Fresno, California
• Residences at Boulder Creek - Boulder, Colorado

BEST SMALL CCRC (UP TO 200 UNITS) - ON THE BOARDS

• Walnut Village - Anaheim, California
• Stoneridge - Milton, Washington

BEST LARGE CCRC (OVER 200 UNITS) - ON THE BOARDS

• Sun City Palace Showa Kinen Koen - Tokyo, Japan
• Danbery at Inverness - Hoover, Alabama

BEST CONGREGATE/INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY - ON THE BOARDS

• The Palace at Weston II - Senior Living - Weston, Florida

BEST ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY - ON THE BOARDS

• Warrington Senior Commons - Warrington, Pennsylvania
• The Residence - Wilton, Connecticut

BEST SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY - ON THE BOARDS

• Seasons at Compton - Compton, California

BEST MULTIFAMILY RENTAL 50+ COMMUNITY (MARKET RATE) - ON THE BOARDS

• NoHo Senior Artists Colony - North Hollywood, California
• Churchill Estates at Lake Highlands - Dallas, Texas

BEST MULTIFAMILY RENTAL 50+ COMMUNITY (AFFORDABLE) - ON THE BOARDS

• Echo Park  - Echo Park, California

BEST ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY - ON THE BOARDS (UP TO 500 HOMES)

• Maison du Lac - St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
• Luma - Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
• Athertyn at Haverford Reserve - Haverford, Pennsylvania

BEST CLUBHOUSE AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY - ON THE BOARDS

• Chatfield Farms - The Fieldstone Club - Beacon Falls, Connecticut
• Sun City Peachtree by Del Webb - Griffin, Georgia
• Athertyn at Haverford Reserve - Haverford, Pennsylvania

BEST DETACHED HOME AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY - ON THE BOARDS

• Denver Traditions Series at Stapleton - Emerson II - Denver, Colorado
• Old Hawthorne - Columbia, Missouri

BEST ATTACHED HOME AT AN ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY - ON THE BOARDS

• Gibson’s Grant The Chatham - Chester, Maryland

BEST LOGO AT A 50+ HOUSING COMMUNITY

• Windsor at Lewisburg - Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

BEST BROCHURE FOR A 50+ HOUSING COMMUNITY

• Glen Arden Retirement Community - Goshen, New York
• Luma - Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
• Trilogy by Shea Homes

BEST DIRECT-MAIL CAMPAIGN FOR A 50+ HOUSING COMMUNITY

• Del Webb Corporate - Infomercial Mailer - Irvine, California
• K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at New Kent Vineyards - New Kent, Virginia
• Walnut Village - Anaheim, California

BEST WEB SITE FOR A 50+ HOUSING COMMUNITY

• Luma - Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
• Trilogy by Shea Homes - Eight Communities throughout the western U.S. and Florida
• Providence at Heritage Shores - Bridgeville, Delaware
• Del Webb - Nationwide

BEST PRINT ADVERTISEMENT FOR A 50+ HOUSING COMMUNITY

• Luma - Your Dream to Retire Here - Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
• Front Porch - This is my Retirement - Burbank, California
• Luma - If your Soul Came with Directions -  Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
• Front Porch - Home is Where Your Life Is - Burbank, California

Paro is a robotic baby harp seal and is one of what is being called a "Mental Commitment Robot."  Beginning in 2009, more and more of these cute little robots will begin being introduced into retirement and assisted living communities in the United States with hopes that those residents with dementia or depression-related symptoms might enjoy the positive benefits often associated with pet companionship. These new robots are designed with the intent of providing three specific effects: 1) social effects - that communication among patients and their caregivers might improve; 2) psychological - relaxation and motivation; and 3) physiological -  vital signs would improve due to reduction in stress levels.

Elderly in Retirement Communities React to Paro

The positive effects of pet therapy on the elderly has received lots of attention and has become accepted as a way to help senior citizens cope with illness and loneliness.  Paro  has been tested in nursing homes and hospitals in Japan, Sweden, France, Italy, and the United States.  The reaction, both physiologically and psychologically, has been positive. Patients who had been withdrawn were starting to talk more to Paro and to others, and further testing showed decreased stress levels when time was spent with the furry robo-Seal.

How About a Dozen for Every Retirement Community?

Not so fast. Paro is not just a cute little seal pup stuffed animal with a clunky robot inside. The Paro being brought to market today is an 8th generation design that originated by the Japanese company, AIST. That’s years of research and development, and because of the advancements made in the newest release retirement communities or any other person wanting to own a Paro of their own can expect to pay in the neighborhood of $5,000-$6,000 dollars.  The cost may eventually go down, but those hoping to adopt in early ‘09 should expect to pay at or near full retail. 

Real Pet vs. Robotic -  Different & Same

Pet ownership can become difficult for residents of retirement communities or for senior citizens living alone. Dogs need to be walked frequently and may become afraid of other residents or other pets and may even become aggressive. Cats need to have their litter boxes changed frequently and leave hurtful scratches on owner or others. All animals need to be fed and have fresh water available. These things become troublesome for the elderly having trouble with memory or physical complaints.

What makes Paro so realistic is that she has five different kinds of sensors: 1) tactile - she can feel when she is being petted, caressed, or mistreated; 2) light - she can sense whether it is light  or dark which may cause her to nap or awaken; 3) audition - she recognizes when someone calls her name or greets or praises her, as well as the direction of the voice and reacts accordingly; 4) temperature; & 5) posture - she knows when she is being held upright.  The robotic seal can move its head multi-directionally, blinks its eyes and makes emotional facial expressions, imitates the voice of a real baby seal, can remember interactions and make adaptions in its reaction, will learn to respond to a new name after a short while, and can move its flippers.

The fur on Paro’s is soft and fluffy like that of a real seal pup, is anti-bacterial, soil resistant, and has an electromagnetic shield which makes it safe for seniors wearing pacemakers. Paro can understand and respond to both English and Japanese and comes with internal rechargeable batteries and a pink or yellow pacifier charger.

These little gals aren’t able to follow you around or come on command, but they have proven to be a viable pet alternative, especially for seniors living alone or in retirement communities where having a real pet may not be possible. Paro is also great for children confined with some type of illness.

To have a look at  some short videos about Paro, visit the Paro Robotics website.  Vinson Hall, a retirement community in Virginia, is one of the first U.S. retirement communities to bring a Paro into their retirement home. You may want to visit their website and see what their residents and staff have to say.

In the last couple of years, a new class of vehicle was introduced and began slowly emerging on American streets. Called the NEV, or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, this little car isn’t much bigger than a golf cart. The NEV can seat anywhere from one to four people, and offers many of the same features that cars do, like seat belts, air conditioning, heat, remote keyless entry, defrost, sunroof, rear-view mirrors, headlights, turn signals, windshield wipers, and more. The NEV can only travel at speeds up to 25 miles per hour, so you won’t see one on the highway; but in Canada and many U.S. states, wherever the posted speed limit is 35mph, like found in most active adult communities, college campuses, and urban areas, you just might spot one of these happy little cars.

NEVs Benefits to Seniors

The NEV, of course, is not for seniors only. Many people find owning a NEV as a second or third vehicle to be sensible. Still there has been lots of interest for the NEV among seniors, and here are five reasons why that might be:

1. Inexpensive fuel source, because it’s electric. The Canadian ZENN, for example, costs around 25 cents to recharge. Let’s do some math: Since the car can go 40 miles on a charge at 25 cents and the cost of gas is, say, $3.00 a gallon, comparatively that would make the ZENN’s fuel economy to be around 480 miles to that one $3.00 gallon. If you live in a retirement community where the bulk of your daily commute is to the clubhouse or a neighbors for coffee and a morning chat, you may go an entire month without charging up and never have to pull a credit card out to do it.
2. Easy to park, because it’s tiny. Few people dare parallel park these days; but with one of these, you might even give that a try. As far as drive-in parking, piece of cake. Remember Joni Mitchell’s, “They Paved Paradise?” Well, if enough of us drive NEVs, maybe they’ll leave more of paradise alone.
3. Lowered maintenance costs, because there are fewer parts to wear out. No need to change the oil, muffler, or replace a filter. You’ll still need to give it a good washing, but as Forest says, “One less thing.”
4. Quieter ride, because it’s electric - less moving parts. And wouldn’t you rather hear other things besides the car, like the birds chirping or tunes on your iPod. You may also hear a few horns honking when pedal to the metal top speed is still 25mph; but looking on the bright side, you won’t be hearing any police sirens.
5. Environmentally friendly, because you want to leave a cleaner world for your children and grandchildren. As a zero-emission vehicle, NEVs produce no tailpipe or evaporative emissions. The grandkids would think you’re cooler in a convertible sports car, sure, but they’ll thank you later.

Newest NEVs

There are several styles of NEVs available and more to be released in ‘09 and ‘10.

Chrysler recently announced the Peapod, a new NEV to be released in ‘10. The Peapod will come in a variety of colors as a one-seater, two-seater, or utility van at a starting price of around $20,000. A little steep possibly for a car that will reach a maximum speed of 25mph and has a 30-mile range per charge. Guess the market will decide if owning a car that looks like it’s smiling all the time is worth sticker price.

There is a Japanese-made version called the Flybo, which measures 102.3 inches long on a 71-inch wheelbase with a 45mph top speed and 70-mile range per charge. MSRP should be in the neighborhood of $12,950.

There is an Indian-made version as well called the Reva. The 2008 model (REVAi) has a top speed of 50mph with a 50-mile range per charge. Lithium-ion batteries are expected to be available for the ‘09 models, which is said to be an efficient battery in terms of acceleration, cost, speed potential, and is less affected by temperature variation.

There are a couple perhaps lesser known NEVs, but another already available and being put to use at some universities and military bases is the Canadian-made ZENN. An acronym for “Zero Emission, No Noise,” the ZENN has a top speed of 25mph with a 50-mile range per charge. Current vehicles sell for between $12,700 and $17,000.

Born Charles Philip Arthur George on November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace in London, England, Charles was only three when his mother became Queen making him, as her first-born son, next in line for the throne. Celebrating his 60th birthday now makes Prince Charles one of the longest-serving heirs to the British throne. After years of questionable popularity and personal discontent, Prince Charles seems to have at last found acceptance emerging among his fellow countrymen as within himself. While most people readying to blow out 60 birthday candles are nearing long-awaited retirement, Prince Charles has not yet attained his destined life’s position.

Week of Royal Birthday Celebrations

The birthday celebrations have been plentiful enough that they needed to be spread over multiple days. On Wednesday, the 12th, at the New Wimbledon Theatre in South London, a comedy show featuring performances by celebrities such as John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Bill Bailey, and Robin Williams was held in his honor. On Thursday, the 13th, a formal black-tie banquet, hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace, had around 400 guests in attendance. Friday morning, the 14th, Queen Elizabeth marked the day with a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park (a first in the Prince’s honor), and later in the day the Prince attended a children’s concert at the Royal Opera House. On Saturday, Rod Stewart graciously agreed to waive his typical $1,000,000 private party fee to perform at a more informal gathering at the Prince’s rural Gloucestershire estate. And somewhere in between all of hoopla of the birthday week, Prince Charles, along with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, paid a visit to the Beckton Community Centre in East London to launch Youth Week, one of the many charitable projects for which the Prince is involved.

10 Interesting Facts about Prince Charles

On the Telegraph.co.uk site, there is an article with 60 facts of interest about Prince Charles. Here are my favorite 10 (with some changes) from that list:

1. In May of ‘62, Prince Charles was enrolled at the Gordonstoun boarding school and describes his time there as very unhappy. (Apparently, even exclusive institutions of education such as Gordonstoun had its share of insulting and hurtful bullies.)
2. Prince Charles graduated from Cambridge in 1970 having studied anthropology and archaeology and later history, earning a 2:2 (lower second class degree).
3. In ‘71, already holding a private pilot’s license, he joined the Royal Air Force and attended RAF College at Cranwell, Lincolnshire, receiving his wings. Also, trained as a helicopter pilot in ‘74.
4. To date he has helped more than 500,000 unemployed young people obtain skills needed to find work.
5. The Prince is interested in architecture, inner-city regeneration, organic farming (grows and promotes organic food - even talking at times to his plants and has published a book on the subject), conservation and environmental sustainability, alternative medicine and holistic healing, Islam and the Middle East, and education.
6. The Old Man of Lochnagar, a children’s book, was originally written by Charles and then published in 1980 for his younger brother Prince Edward. Charles is an experienced watercolourist and has been painting for most of his adult life.
7. The Queen and Philip gave their son an Aston Martin sportscar for his 21st birthday present, which he still owns. He’s taken a keen interest and has collected numerous Aston models over the years and even has a “Prince of Wales” Edition that showcase his favorite color and trim combinations.
8. The Prince is said to “care deeply about issues such as the environment, architecture, inner-city renewal, and the quality of life.” He’s developed the village of Poundbury in Dorset, an eco-friendly “model” village based on a master plan of Krier. Along the same interest, he published a book and produced the documentary A Vision for Britain, and in ‘92 established The Prince of Wale’s Institute of Architecture as well as a magazine publication which eventually merged with another magazine and is no longer in publication.
9. Charles is patron or president of around 400 organizations and President of 16 charities.
10. (Most people are familiar with the romantic life of Prince Charles - his escapades, loves, and two marriages. So the tenth fact I chose will instead mention a new book dedicated to his 60th birthday and for which all proceeds will benefit his charity for children.) In celebration of Prince Charles’ 60th birthday, The Birthday Book, featuring a collection of beautifully illustrated stories and verse, along with entries from renowned writers such as J.K. Rowling, was released in early November. All of the royalties from the book will benefit the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts.

First, What Is A Kindle?

The Amazon Kindle is a portable wireless electronic e-book reader that allows users to download books, blogs, magazines, newspapers, and more. At a cost in the neighborhood of $350, it’s not inexpensive. What it is though is convenient. Real convenient.

Convenient: How?

Here are 10 reasons why purchasing a Kindle might be worth considering:

1. Easy to Handle - The Kindle weighs only 10.3 ounces, which makes it lighter and thinner than most paperbacks. That means the Kindle will fit and is easily managed with one hand. Hold a cup of coffee, walk on a treadmill, or rock your grandbaby to sleep with one hand and still comfortably read your favorite book, blog, magazine, or newspaper with the other. And it holds over 200 titles.
2. Built-in Dictionary - Over 250,000 definitions taken from The New Oxford American Dictionary are included in the Kindle, so you don’t have to stop reading to find a dictionary or miss the meaning entirely if one is not available. There’s even free built-in access to Wikipedia.org, so that in addition to word definitions, you also have encyclopedia access. No defenestration urge necessary with a Kindle.
3. Rechargeable Battery - The Kindle can fully recharge in two hours. Depending on usage, battery life may vary. As long as you’re not doing extensive online searches and just turning the Kindle on for reading, a charge could last as long as two weeks.
4. Whispernet Wireless Access - Except for Montana and Alaska, Amazon’s proprietary Whispernet technology enables cost-free wireless searches and downloads so that you can access and enjoy a wide variety of reading material - quickly.
5. Personal Virtual Library - Each purchased book that you read is backed up online in Your Media Library, so that you can refer back or re-read any of your favorites at your pleasure.
6. Easy Navigation - The ergonomic design allows for vertical page-turning on both left and right sides of the Kindle. As a "lefty," that is an appreciated feature.
7. Annotations and Bookmarks - Kindle keeps track of what page you are on, so that when you are ready to begin reading again, it knows just where you left off. And if you’re keeping notes or want to highlight key passages for a research project, book club, or just for your own personal reference, Kindle allows you to create marginal notes which you can edit, delete, or even export.
8. High-Resolution Display - With technology called electronic paper and by using electronically-displayed ink particles, reading on the Kindle will resemble the appearance and have similar readability of printed paper. There is no backlighting, so there is not the glare often associated with electronic displays, and the screen never gets hot. Excellent for reading at the beach or on the boat.
9. Large Selection - The Kindle Store offers a large selection of books (over 190,000) to choose from. Since it’s an Amazon product, you get the same benefits you’d expect from any Amazon book purchase. Search for books by title or author and read customer reviews, recommended book lists, browse some of the pages, and get great discounted prices on even the newest releases. Access top U.S. or international newspapers like The Wall Street Journal or Le Monde; magazine subscriptions like Reader’s Digest; or read your favorite of over 1000 blogs such as Michelle Malkin or TechCrunch. Amazingly, the prices are quite reasonable.
10. Adjustable Fonts - There are six adjustable font sizes to choose from making it easier for those of us whose enjoy reading the larger-font books but often can’t find them. Now even best sellers are available with larger font.

Check out the YouTube Kindle video below:

It’s understandable that many people prefer to remain in their own homes as they age. Not every area offers a selection of active retirement communities, sometimes such a move is unaffordable, and sometimes making a move to another town or state can mean leaving behind all that has become familiar over a lifetime: friends, family, place of worship, a yard and home thick with memories. My own mother is one of those whose deepest wish is to remain in the family home for as long as possible. "To the end," she always says, and I’ve come to respect the reasons she’s stated for her choice. After my father passed, I had hoped she would make the move to an active adult community. That was not to be. It wasn’t long before supportive friends and neighbors and new-found routines negated any consideration of starting anew as suggested by us kids. The choice of where to spend one’s seniorhood years is often made early in retirement, before neighbors begin to move and doctor’s appointments start becoming more frequent. For those who’ve made the choice to age in place, what happens when assistance becomes needed for medical appointments and other routine errands and family and neighbors, for varying reason, are no longer nearby?

Andover, Massachusetts Seeks Virtual Solution

Came across an article in the Andover Townsman where a subcommittee of the Council on Aging has proposed an innovative approach for their aging-in-place seniors called "retirement living without walls." A private, nonprofit organization would be formed to work cooperatively with the Council on Aging allowing seniors, with a yearly membership fee, to obtain access to services and amenities similar to those available to residents of assisted-living communities. Whereas an assisted living facility might cost upwards of $4,000 per month, research has indicated that similar programs run out of the home could cost as little as $800 to $1200 per month. This is a substantial savings for those on limited incomes. The "retirement living without walls" organization would have a central office, staffed with volunteers and full- and part-time employees. With an annual membership, members could receive transportation to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, attend exercise classes at a YMCA or local senior center. For an additional fee, other services such as therapeutic massage, home repair, laundry, pet services, and more would be made available through strategic alliance partners set up with the organization. Turns out this concept is not brand new. Beacon Hill, an affluent downtown community in Boston, actually came up with this concept in 2001 offering local residents an alternative to moving to retirement or assisted living communities. Their program, named Beacon Hill Village, is available to those 50 years or older and includes residents of Beacon Hill, Back Bay, West End, South End, North End, Charlestown, and the Waterfront. One of the major advantages of living in an assisted-living or retirement community is the organized attention given to the community members. There is strength in numbers, we know. With those aging-in-place seniors often sparsely spread throughout their community, they often lack a strong community voice. Concepts like this one need to "virtually" spread giving seniors added choice, care, and peace of mind throughout their lifetime.

Donald Trump’s proposed Scottish golf resort has finally been given the green light after two years of strong opposition from environmentalists and other area locals. Had Scotland not been the birthplace of his mother, Trump admitted that he probably would have walked away from the site. To be built just north of Aberdeen at a cost of around $2.3 billion, Mr. Trump has promised to build "the greatest golf course in the world." The new golf resort will be located on 1,400 northwest coastal acres and will include two championship 18-hole golf courses, some 950 holiday apartment homes, an eight story five-star hotel with 450 rooms and a conference centre and spa, and 500 private houses. Mr. Trump assures the people of Scotland that "everyone’s going to benefit." The project is expected to create 1,400 permanent full-time jobs and the region’s economy could expect in excess of $100 million a year in revenue. Regarding the environmental impact to the property’s pristine sand dunes and wildlife habitat (home to seven species of endangered rare birds), Trump told reporters, "I believe environmentally, when we are finished, the course will be better environmentally than before we started." Website: Trump International Golf Links Scotland

“You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth…” Chief Seattle

Guess I lead a sheltered life, because until recently I thought there were basically two burial options: traditional casket burial in an above or below ground cemetery or an incinerative cremation where remains could be scattered or placed in a keepsake urn. That is until I read a Sept. 5, 2008, Scientific American article that attributes “30 million board feet of casket wood (some of which comes from tropical hardwoods), 90,000 tons of steel, 1.6 millions tons of concrete for burial vaults, and 800,000 gallons of embalming fluid” along with thousands of acres of land used annually for conventional burial methods. The cremation incineration process has its own environmental downside as it emits toxic substances such as dioxin, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as well as mercury when cremation is performed on a person having dental amalgam fillings.

Simplicity has always suited me just fine, and I had been completely satisfied with having only two burial choices until reading this article. Intrigued by the idea that there were alternative, greener ways to be laid to rest, I began Googling to see what new methods might be out there. Here are the top five green burial alternatives found during that search:

1. Eternal Reefs - These reefs are made of cast concrete that can include the cremated remains of loved ones and are placed in the ocean as a 100% pH-balanced marine habitat for fish and other sea life. Family members and friends are allowed to participate in the casting of the Memorial Reef and can place hand-prints or inscribe messages in the wet concrete, which can be a valuable step for those trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. These reefs are designed to last over 500 years. (see YouTube video below)
2. Wicker & Other Biodegradable Caskets - Wicker caskets are hand woven from all natural and fully biodegradable materials such as Bamboo, Banana, Pandanus and Willow. There are also caskets made of solid pine wood that are free from stains, varnishes and oils, plastic, or metal components. One of the caskets called the Ecopod (shown right), made from naturally hardened, 100% recycled paper with a non-toxic natural hardener is actually quite beautiful looking.
3. Promession - Rather than cremation by incineration where toxic gases are released into the environment, there is a relatively new technique where a loved-one’s body is frozen to -196C in liquid nitrogen and then shaken until it disintegrates into powder. At that point, amalgam fillings, medical devices, and other potential contaminants are removed. This process is called “promession,” and has seen increasing interest in Europe where land is becoming less available for cemetery expansion. Not yet available in the U.S.
4. Biodegradable Urns - These urns are made of biodegradable materials allowing minerals and nutrients to return to either the Earth or sea. At sea, the urn will float momentarily and slowly sink fully degrading in approximately 2-3 days; on land, it will take around a year or less depending on climate for the urn to degrade.
5. Ashes to Diamonds - This is a process whereby high-quality diamonds are created from the carbon of your loved one. The diamonds come in a variety of colors and are molecularly identical to natural diamonds that you might find in a high-quality jewelry store.

*Most of the methods above are available for pet burial as well.

Below is a video showing the eternal reefs that have been in the water long enough to have matured into a thriving habitat for fish, turtles, and other sea animals.

This morning while reading through emails and news articles, I came across a piece in the Boca Raton News that was a refreshing affirmation of an often-missed positive of age-restricted communities: their charitable works. In this news article, we learn that the residents and staff members of Three Boca Raton ACTS Retirement Life Communities (St. Andrews Estates North, South, and Edgewater Pointe Estates) along with their corporate office for the southern division have generously collected and donated 1800 pounds of food for Boca Helping Hands.

There were nearly 13,000 ACTS employees and residents nationwide that participated in the drive. Some 26,000 pounds or 13 tons of food was delivered to food banks and soup kitchens in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

Eric Elfus, Executive Director at Edgewater Pointe, said, “We feel blessed to have the means to give back to those less fortunate. Residents want to do it again next year.” What a testament to the generosity of the residents and employees of the ACTS communities.

ACTS is a non-profit, faith-based organization that builds, owns and manages east coast retirement communities. ACTS is headquartered in West Point, Pennsylvania.

“…He surrounded himself with people who were good musicians and good people. Age disappeared. We all loved to make music together.” Sara Caswell

In a recent article in the Nashville Business Journal, there was a $95 million senior living center project announced that will cater to musicians 62 and older. The Crescendo at Westhaven will sit on 15 acres in the town of Franklin, Tennessee, and will offer 180 independent living residences, a full-skilled nursing facility and assisted living. A 70 percent presell of the residences will be necessary to obtain financing; and assuming all goes well, the project should break ground in 2011. Occupancy is currently anticipated in 2013.

One of the amenities making this community unique will be the on-site recording studio and performance venues. There are also preliminary plans for spacious areas and courtyards with a variety of dining choices from cafe and patio dining to high-end restaurant style dining. There are also plans for a music library and other music-related activities.

Blakeford Development Services will be the builder for The Crescendo at Westhaven and will manage the property upon completion. There will be a fund set up by the Crescendo Music Community, a non-profit organization, to provide assistance if needed to certain qualifying musicians retiring to The Crescendo. The CMC Fund is made up of volunteers from the music industry and community leaders. The Country Music Association, the Opry Trust Fund, Academy of Country Music, and the Reunion of Professional Entertainers came up with the initial seed funding.

According to Steve Buchanan, CMC Fund Board of Directors President, “This spectacular facility creates the opportunity for those in the music industry to continue to share and enjoy the camaraderie and relationships that shaped their professional life. And the Fund will be there to assist those who may not be fully qualified from a financial perspective.”

Should be exciting to follow the progress of this community.