Our Treplus Communities family understands that being in the 55+ housing business is not just knowing what features and amenities empty nesters want. A critical piece of the senior housing business is taking part in the conversation about downsizing. That is why we partner with organizations like Downsize Columbus, which helps empty nesters navigate the twists and turns of the downsizing process.
Perspectives on Downsizing for Empty Nesters
Downsize Columbus hosts two seminars each year in May and September, as well as presenting Transition Tuesdays, a regular event that brings older adults together with industry experts in such fields as finance, real estate, home organization and health care.
5 Areas TO Focus ON When Downsizing
According to Downsize Columbus founder and CEO Kathy Chiero, there are five areas to consider when thinking about downsizing:
- Residential – valuating the home, understanding the current real estate market, and affirming the steps needed to prepare the current home for sale
- Emotional-getting rid of stuff, parting with the family home and moving to the next chapter of life
- Legal – the importance of a Will and Trust, considering long-term care, and how to deed the last home
- Medical—looking at residential health care and determining the right time (if necessary) to enter a retirement community or long-term care facility
- Financial-discussing wealth management, maximization of Social Security income, supplemental Social Security insurance plan options, and understanding overall insurance needs
Treplus Designs HOMES for Downsizing Families
Treplus Communities founders Ann Arthur Cook and Jane Arthur Roslovic regularly participate in Downsize Columbus events. These events are designed to help empty nesters make the smartest choices when it comes to transitioning from the family home into active adult living, senior apartments, retirement communities and beyond.
Sisters Ann and Jane partnered to create the Treplus 55+ luxury apartment concept based upon what they know as Baby Boomers, and what they’ve learned about needed alternatives in the active adult housing market. And they are able to share what they’ve learned over the years with other Baby Boomers and empty nesters considering downsizing. This is not only to acquaint downsizers with their 55+ luxury apartments, it’s an effort to share knowledge and experience with others who are going through the same transitions as they have. One of the key topics of senior housing is the incorporation of Universal Design features. Treplus has done this with beauty and style in their new ranch style apartment homes.
Hawthorne Commons in Dublin is the first of several 55+ apartment communities being developed by Treplus Communities in Central Ohio. Redbud Commons, a 95-unit luxury apartment property for 55+ households, is currently under construction in Pickerington and expected to open its first units in September 2018. Treplus Communities is currently planning its third community, to be located in the Delaware, Ohio area.
Transition Tuesdays-A More Intimate Downsizing Conversation
Speakers and vendors at Downsize Columbus events mix with the hundreds of older adults that attend the events twice a year at the Easton Hilton Columbus at Easton. Kathy created Transition Tuesdays to enable smaller groups of downsizing empty nesters to talk with the same housing, health care, finance and home organization industry experts in a more intimate setting. At the Transition Tuesdays events, groups of 30 to 40 empty nesters discuss the best ways to approach this major life transition with speakers, who share their expertise in short three-minute presentations. Participants engage in discussion afterwards, asking questions and getting firsthand opinions on their specific situation.
These events are held (you guessed it!) on Tuesdays at the Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty office at 1 Easton Oval, Suite 100 in Columbus, unless otherwise noted. Click here to read more and to enroll in one of the Transition Tuesdays events.
Tanna from Treplus Talks Universal Design
Tanna Cornett, community ambassador, leasing specialist and longtime member of the Treplus family, recently shared her expertise in Universal Design at the June 2018 Transition Tuesdays event. Tanna oversees the marketing and leasing operations for Hawthorne Commons, Treplus’ Dublin, Ohio 55+ luxury apartment property.
Other presenters at the Transition Tuesdays events include Nancy Dreyer and Nancy Edwards from Staging Columbus, Tiffany Affolter, in charge of Senior Living with National Church Residences and Chris Davis from Auction Ohio.
At the June Transition Tuesdays event, Tanna discussed the advantages of having Universal Design within the overall design of an active adult community such as Hawthorne Commons, and explained why these features are important for communities designed for adults of many ages. Within active adult communities and condos for rent, Universal Design just makes life easier in addition to enabling seniors to live in those spaces longer and more comfortably. Universal Design features are an absolute necessity within retirement communities, because these serve tenants who generally cannot live independently. But these features mean less stress on active adults as well.
While Treplus Communities will have different looks and materials at each location, all apartment homes will be designed as single-story, no-step units with open floor plans—all elemental components of Universal Design. Another feature that is common in retirement communities is grab bars in bathrooms. While this Universal Design feature may seem like overkill in an “active adult” community, it’s important to remember that these days, there are 80-somethings who are still living their lives as active adults. And they may just need a little help with balance in the shower. Treplus Communities provide the infrastructure to add these elements when and if necessary. Universal Design is just that – a design aesthetic that addresses the needs of people of all abilities with materials and looks that are not only functional, but also visually and tactilely appealing.
Levers, another key Universal Design feature, are superior to knobs for opening doors and cabinetry as well as turning faucets on and off. Treplus Communities has created apartment homes that incorporate beautiful fixtures that are also friendly from a user needs perspective. Electrical outlets set further up on the walls to make them easier to reach. Treplus active adult apartments really have the quality and “high design” elements that are more like those in 55+ condos for rent, rather than 55+ apartments.
Our great Universal Design features enable residents to live in Treplus Communities comfortably, for a long time. The Treplus family is dedicated to giving our residents the utmost in livability in all of our communities.