Although we and other senior living professionals have taken many cues from the hospitality industry – which offers, for example, the Ritz-Carlton’s inspiring mantra of “ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen” – we seek a way that is unique to Paintbrush Assisted Living and Memory Care.
We believe that our profession, our calling, is to create meaningful experiences for residents and their families. While the hospitality industry provides a doorway into recasting services as memorable experiences, that model goes only so far. Hospitality meets us as we travel away from home or escape from daily demands; senior living creates a new home amid the daily joys and challenges of aging. So there is a unique senior living experience – or at least the possibility of such.
Senior living has always been founded upon relationships. That fact compels us to see that the healthiest relationships are formed in and through positive experiences.
The Experience
At Paintbrush Assisted Living and Memory Care, we firmly believe you and your families want peace of mind, security, and convenience even as you go through the evaluation process. Where a walk-in shower stall is a great feature, you really need to know how it makes the bathing process safer. While multiple dining options are attractive, you really need to know how they will affect your daily life. At Paintbrush, options such as these are carefully chosen and designed to facilitate freedom, flexibility and fellowship with your fellow residents. And behind each feature or option is a personal story.
Today’s Seniors Want One-Of-A-Kind Experiences
Creating one-of-a-kind positive experiences for residents and their families is Paintbrush Assisted Living and Memory Care’s number one commitment. We’ve been on a journey to define a new model for senior living. The Ritz-Carlton mantra mentioned above is unique to our profession. That’s why meaningful experiences of life at Paintbrush define our true value to you.
Senior Living Should Offer A Community
Senior living has always been founded upon relationships. From the sales process through residency, we offer community. That fact compels us to see that the healthiest relationships are formed in and through positive experiences.
In this series of “The Senior Living Experience” blogs, we propose reframing the work of senior living from “service provider” to “experience stager.” As background, we note two trends: first, the evolution of service toward experience; and second, the motivation of older adults to seek experiences that promote well-being and a sense of purpose.1
From there, we suggest that experiences will be facilitated by us, as senior living professionals, and realized by you, our residents. We conclude by considering three implications for senior living communities:
(1) The necessity of training for experience,
(2) The potential in personalizing services, and
(3) The importance of communicating memorable moments that inspire storytelling, as in “Let me tell you about my experience …”
Footnotes
1. B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore, The Experience Economy, Updated Edition (Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2011).
Read The Entire “The Senior Living Experience” Series!
Part 1 – An Introduction
Part 2 – Moving to an Experience-Based Model
Part 3 – In Search of Well-Being
Part 4 – Co-Creating Experiences
Part 5 – Implications of Senior Living Communities