McLean, Va Senior Living
June 13, 2019
Resources for Senior Living in McLean, Va
Recently, the knowledgeable Jeanina DiVittorio of Grand Oaks, an Assisted Living Residence in Washington, DC, spent time with a few neighbors of Chesterbrook Woods to talk about Senior Living.
Jeanina says, "While we aspire to age in place, being aware of our choices in case something changes is a strong proactive move. Making important life changing decisions under duress can be very stressful, even traumatic. It is important to be self aware and proactive as we get older. Life can change in a day."
If you do your homework ahead of time, in a proactive manner, you improve your quality of life. We make these decisions to move to live longer, not to die.
Did you know?
It is reported that McLean has a disproportionately larger senior population. Nearly a third (33%) of McLean residents are above the age of 55, compared to Fairfax County which is reportedly 24%.
There is a wonderful resource in McLean called the McLean Community Village Association (McLeanCVA).
What is the Village Movement?
The Village Movement is designed to help people age in place and help those stay independent as long as possible. In the Greater DC-area, the Capitol Hill Village is one of the oldest in the country next to Beacon Hill Village in Boston. Indeed, we are fortunate to have a thriving Community Village in McLean!
McLeanCVA seeks to “make greater McLean a friendly, connected, and supportive community for all, while recognizing the interests of our 50+ community and adults living with disabilities.”
The premise of McLeanCVA is “The wisdom and experience of a fully engaged senior community enhances the lives of all in the neighborhood.”
The McLeanCVA website has information about membership and about the village movement, events, volunteering, and more. www.mcleancva.org
"Did you know that there are over 3,000 Home Care agencies in the DC Area?
"Do not do your research in a vacuum," Jeanina says.
Senior Living can be a quandary of terms and titles. There are navigators and advisors who help you through the vetting process of finding the right and reputable services you need.
Some Senior Living titles and job functions are...
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)
Eldercare and estate planning attorneys
Aging life care manager
Senior Move Manager
Home care provider
Daily money manager
Geriatrician and physician (some make house calls)
Personal Assistant Concierge
Therapists, physical, occupational and speech, cognitive who specialize in issues of aging
Chef
Gerontologist
Concierge services - personal assistance and move management
Specific navigation company
Jeanina can be reached to ask for a referral or recommendation or explain a job title.
There are also stigmas of senior living.
Question: What about the stigma that Nursing Homes are rooms with hospital beds in sterile clinical environments?
Today's Retirement Communities could not be further from this stereotype!
With spacious and luxurious apartments, they are vibrant communities with events, field trips and fine dining. Food is prepared by an executive chef. Residents take Uber, they go to the beach house with the children, they come and go as they please. It is today's worry free living... the idea that it is restrictive or refining is false.
McLean and surrounding offers several retirement villages.
Grand Oaks, an Assisted Living Residence - 5901 MacArthur Blvd, NW, Washington, DC 20016 www.grandoaksdc.org
Grand Oaks, an Assisted Living Residence - Grand Oaks combines the comfort and amenities of gracious living with a range of care options for seniors. “We deliver excellence and compassionate care – every resident, every time.”
The Mather Tysons - Senior Community being built in Tysons will redefine senior living. Tysons is offering a brand new Luxury Retirement Community called The Mather.
"The Mather enhances the lives of those 62 and better with exceptional programs, services and amenities. But the true luxury lies in the peace of mind that comes with living in an extraordinary Life Plan Community." www.themathertysons.com/
Jeanina's Pearls of Wisdom
Life Changes in a Day
Don't do your research in a vacuum
Use a mediator when communicating with your children
Make your life great
Make Senior Living a time of joy and not worry
Maintenance Free Living - focus on things you want to do versus worrying about taking care of a home
Letting go of emotional attachments
Right-sizing - (formerly downsizing)
Isolation - A must to address (social)
Nutrition - receiving proper nourishment
Excellent Websites and Recommendations
McLean Village Community Association
Silvernest – Share your home
Aging Life Care Association
https://www.aginglifecare.org/
Memorybanc – Practical Solutions for Organizing Life
www.ToughConversations.net – Solutions through Compassionate Conversation
Care Patrol - Senior Living Advisors
Book Recommendations:
Love’s Way - Living Peacefully with Your Family as Your Parents Age
Carolyn Miller Parr and Sig Cohen, authors
Sky Above Clouds - Finding Our Way through Creativity, Aging, and Illness
Wendy L Miller and Gene D Cohen with Teresa H Barker, authors
Being Mortal
Atul Gawande, author
Organizing/Decluttering/Moving resources:
Potomac Concierge – personal assistant, home organization, move management
Transitional Assistance and Design – senior move manager – relocation/downsizing
https://www.helpseniorsmove.com/
Elder Nourish – visiting chefs and nutrition specialists
info@eldernourish.com
571-234-1135
Jeanina DiVittorio can be contacted to offer a recommendation or referral to a reputable business or association in Senior Living. She can also explain a title, job, function or personnel of senior living.
Jeanina, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
About Jeanina and Contact Information:
Jeanina is a friend of neighbor Lizzy Conroy and works as Director of Sales and Community Development for Grand Oaks Assisted Living Community in Washington, DC. She does external business development for Grand Oaks. Jeanina can be contacted with questions about Senior Living or local recommendations by phone and email.
Jeanina DiVittorio – Phone 1-202-345-9665
Email - Jdivitt1@jhmi.edu
Lizzy Conroy is the Principal of the Huckaby Briscoe Conroy Group which consistently ranks as the #1 team in the #1 real estate office in McLean. Lizzy has served as a residential real estate professional since 2009 and has worked with hundreds of clients over the last 15 years. Lizzy and the HBC Group specialize in providing a full-service, concierge level experience for home sellers and buyers moving to, from, and within the dynamic and diverse DC area real estate market.
Prior to her career in residential real estate, Lizzy held business development positions with Kalmia Construction, a Maryland-based commercial construction company, and Newmark DC, a commercial real estate firm. She also served as a marketing manager with MicroStrategy of McLean and in the international trade group of Hogan Lovells. Lizzy is a graduate of Georgetown University with a B.A. in Economics and has lived in Washington DC and Northern Virginia for 30 years.
Lizzy currently serves on the board of the McLean Project for the Arts and the board of FCA Greater Fairfax. Lizzy is the 2017 American Mothers, Inc. Virginia Mother of the Year® and the 2005 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society National Woman of the Year. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Washington and is a devoted member of her church, Trinity United Methodist. She is a member of River Bend Golf & Country Club, Great Falls, VA. She and her husband, Steve, live in McLean, Virginia with their two children. Lizzy enjoys working out, spending time with friends and family, hiking, traveling, and exploring unique cultural experiences in the DMV.
Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland
