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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)
An Innovative Concept in Aging Beyond Belief - "Repriorment" Instead Of Retirement: The Mathers Lifeway Approach To REAL Wellness
One of the many fringe benefits of being a rock star celebrity wellness guru adored for my youthful good looks, dynamic personality and intellectual dazzlement is that I am invited to interesting places. OK, maybe some aspects of the previous sentence are a little over the top, not based on evidence or shared by impartial observers. However, one part of that opening sentence IS true -- I do get invited to interesting places, rather often. I spent last week between Carmel and San Francisco; a month ago, I toured spas and universities in Austria and Germany (lecturing and consulting). Yet, those experiences pale in comparison with the exciting opportunity coming up at the end of this month -- I'm going to Evanston, IL!
At first blush, Evanston may not seem exotic or super-appealing, but let me explain why the upcoming trip there is quite special. I am spending the day learning about, discussing the future of and sharing ideas with the leaders of a progressive, REAL wellness institution, namely, Mather LifeWays.
Mather LifeWays is named for Alonzo Mather, a descendant of the Puritan Mathers (including Richard, Cotton and Increase Mather). Most Americans know of Cotton Mather, who was mixed up with (i.e., instigated!) the infamous Salem witch trials. However, other Mathers have atoned for Cotton's zealotry. One or another of the Mathers are credited with the founding of Yale and Harvard Universities, with the first printed book in America, with promoting the National Park Service and with all manner of other positive educational and other developments.
Alonzo was a noted humanitarian, philanthropist and patron of the arts. The first Mather facility, established in 1941, was created as a home for "ladies of refinement" who lost their way financially when their husbands died. That home evolved into something very special, from a wellness perspective. (Presumably, today's ladies of refinement have 401K plans and other measures to protect against the fiscal travails of widowhood.)
The Mather facilities (including state-of-the-art, neighborhood-friendly designer condo-style residential suites), and Age Well programs offered, reflect the institution's philosophy and activities. They would very much appeal to anyone interested in or committed to a wellness lifestyle.
Today, Mather LifeWays entails a complex of senior residences and community programs in several locations (including one in Arizona called "Splendido") that facilitate, support, provide and promote a mindset consistent with exuberance and healthy, enjoyable aging. At Mather Lifeways, the focus is on a model called "repriorment" - described as a state of mind, a positive alternative to retirement.
Basically, daily life for seniors who live at Mather facilities or anyone who drops in and participates in Mather programs is designed to inspire. People are guided in developing their wishes, visions and/or dreams that connect with their priorities and passions. A menu of suggested elements to promote aging well is available, and supported by the Mather culture. The basic idea at Mather's is to address the needs, interests, and optimal well being of older adults while making the surrounding neighborhoods better places for all who live, work, learn, contribute and play therein.
One truly cool feature of the community initiatives at Mather LifeWays are the coffee shops! Called "More Than a Café," they are found at locations throughout the Chicago area. The cafés are mini-communities that provide networks for continuing education in whole person excellence. While enjoying a cup of coffee, tea and/or a meal, clients can peruse educational activities of a varied nature, including programs, classes and day trips.
Extensive surveys and research over several years have enabled Mather's to fashion a wellness experience "that makes the adventure of aging better." Most people do NOT think of aging as a positive adventure, but it's something Mather's seems to have taken seriously without getting grim about it. Mather's offers a continuum of living and care for residents while seeking to make neighborhoods better places to live, work, learn, contribute and play. A desire to make wellness practices as progressive as possible has led Mather's to connect whenever possible with workforce issues, memory care support and programs for empowering caregivers.
Mather's features a seniors-oriented "Whole-Person Wellness Survey" and much else as part of the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging. Two features caught my attention when I came upon the Mather's website. One is a wellness song (not too many of those - most song lyrics are about dying young, broken and/or cheating hearts and other rather morose topics). The song is the winning entry from a wellness song contest that Mather's sponsored. It can be heard at the site -- I think it is quite clever, sensible, tuneful and non-mushy.
The other feature I liked a lot at the website is a video of a Mather's resident discussing his "wish list." The author is a resident named Tom De Mint. Even before I encountered Mr. De Mint's wish list, I liked this fellow, because he quoted Vachel Lindsey, a past poet laureate of Illinois, to this effect: "We've survived adversity but may not survive prosperity." Just so. Anyway, Mr. De Mint came up with the following 10-item wish list. I think all ten are right on the money, so to speak, as wellness insights to encourage and promote.
- Let's look forward to looking forward.
- Let's be honest about what we really need.
- Let's live amongst our things without being ruled by them.
- Let's be green without envy.
- Let's never let a day pass without laughter.
- Let's all remember that old age is always 15 years older than I am.
- Let's eat like kings.
- Let's keep our hearts unwrinkled.
- Let's fool gravity.
- Let's not have to worry about the little stuff.Â
Mr. De Mint prefaced his list with this comment:Â "Maybe we all wish for a special place that so few ever find. A place that when the time comes to grow old gracefully, we can continue to raise a toast to our blessings of life, love, and laughter together."
If you are going to go around the sun 62 or more times or have already done so a few or many times more than that, you might want to read about Mather LifesWays -- it just might be the kind of special place that you can create wherever you live. Of course, enjoying such a space would be quicker with less effort if you lived in Evanston - or another Mather Lifeways location. For more on this interesting wellness innovation, go to http://www.matherlifeways.com/.
Be well. Look on the bright side of life.
Domain: physicalSubdomain: appearance and aging
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