Argentum: The Story Behind the Pictures
Cue Hotel Lobby Talk
“What are you in town for?”
“I am here for a senior living conference.”
“Oh gosh, like helping people not die. Are there 65+ plus people at the conference?”(insert sarcastic chuckles and a feeling of extreme pity on me that this is actually my life’s work)
“No, actually it is an industry that works to provide the best experiences and care for people who move into a senior living / retirement community at any age or level of care.”
“Oh okay (still not fully comprehending), that sounds interesting.”
The next line happens every time, like clockwork…
“My grandmother, my mom, my aunt, my dad, my uncle…” (someone they know has moved into some type of community)
Their understanding of the entire continuum is most likely based on one experience of that one person. People are so quick to judge the entire continuum from one experience.
Why Do We Stay Up Way Too Late, Like Open Bars and Let Loose?
When you attend a senior living conference, you are with your people. The people that understand you, your mission, your company, your why and your passionate love affair with this space. We can quickly build friendships and get to deeper talk because we do not have to explain all the stuff of this company or that company. It feels like an instant connection. Overheard often is “why are senior living conferences so wild?” I am starting to think immediate friendship and understanding is the first part of the why.
Second, senior living can be heavy on the heart. Emotions are intense. The challenges are numerous and we do a pretty substantial job focusing on our deficits in an attempt to be better. I am convinced we are our hardest critics. But that criticism comes from a pure and authentic well that is insistent on proving to the outside world just how much life and “good stuff” happens inside the four walls.
The Story Behind the Pictures
It’s more than fun. Maybe I am starting to have different conversations after years of attending conferences, or maybe conversations after age 40 look different than they did in my early 30’s? But, I honestly think something is changing.
The common theme of every conversation I had was aspiration; personally and professionally.
What do you want to do next? Decades into the future, what do you want to achieve? It is as if the idea of retirement or stopping at some point in life is not what people in this group want to do. People want to keep learning, growing and counting possibilities. There were talks about encore careers, what would your next degree be, your next certification or training, how you see your company in 10 years.
We know that in order for residents and older people to live with purpose and joy for the day, there needs to be a plan. A goal. Something to look forward to. Something to train your body and mind in order to complete. We are on the cusp of something great and I know it is 100% possible, because we are already doing it ourselves.
The evolution to move beyond seeing residents as who they were in their past life; what they did, where they worked, how many children they raised, number of years married, where they lived, church attended, or community duties performed is just beneath our noses. We are so close.
Why does this matter? Think about the ratio of your conversations on a daily basis. How much more do you talk about the future state vs the past state? How many conversations did you have at Argentum that addressed the future vs reliving or recounting a past experience? The past absolutely shapes us as people, but it prepares us for the future and the next step on the path ahead.
Aspirational Transformation
If we can emulate this same naturally occurring conversation amongst residents and team members then the paradigm shift towards “what’s next” opposed to “what was” could transform senior living into an aspirational living and working experience. Motivation to engage and participate in community and organizational mission is directly linked to relevance in one’s life. Why should I do this? What is in it for me? Does doing X, Y or Z positively impact my life? When we are fixated on the future, we operate in growth mode. Growth that looks like extension, broadening, magnifying, flourishing, blooming. Growth that is rooted in future endeavors, not past pursuits.
If you want a different culture and experience, future aspirations for those directly involved in the community is an easy place to start. It does not require a new process, just asking different questions about tomorrow and next month, not merely collecting information from the past.
One tip - Don't ask questions that limit people or add a parameter of what you want to do “here” where you live or work here. Remove the caveat that ties someone to an organization or setting. If a staff member wanted to use your company as a career step and springboard to bigger things, would you still hire them knowing they would give you their absolute best for 6-9 months?