The Live Together® Community concept is longevity in action – providing a training and research center for those organizations brave enough and committed to changing how we serve and care for our elders.  Training to support not only organizations, but individuals, including residents from the community at-large, residents from a group home setting, and students that would like to pursue careers in aging or related vocational services that provide purpose and meaning to both students and the older adults living within a new community. 

Imagine an “Engagement Center” that provides older adults and younger residents to come together to communicate through creative expression.  Imagine a viable retail establishment within easy walking distance run by elders partnering with youth to create job opportunities, provide a service to the local community, and teach life skills for successful outcomes.  The provision of ball fields, farm to table gardens, and walking trails that support the needs of the community at-large, while a multi-generational housing and services community care model is provided for younger residents, older adults, and their families. 

Older residents desire most the opportunity to have purposeful lives and an elder – focusing on their capabilities and desires versus seen as merely a diagnosis.  Envision an elder as a unique individual that has knowledge, wisdom, and valuable experience to share; providing meaningful relationships, caring, and love to young people. 

Where do we start to support education of young people as a part of workforce development?

Originally it was thought to be high school, but the new reality is providing after-school programming for middle school age children is part of the success story. This is being championed by the Rodham Institute in Washington, D.C.— supporting careers in health, sciences, and design. Local community college programming for front-line healthcare workers partnered with Live Together® for apprenticeships and internships increase competencies, pay scales, and career growth trajectories for students.

Why aren’t we at a tipping point for providing person-centered settings that support longevity?

Part of the reason is the absence of younger people understanding there are careers and employment opportunities in the field of aging and another part is organizations desiring change, but not having a place to learn new care models to promote and maximize quality of life for young and older residents living within the same community.