I interviewed Raymond Shainberg, my grandpa, on his experience in his retirement community in Memphis, TN. The purpose of interviewing this subject was to hear his motivation for voluntarily moving out of his home, despite him and his partner’s health and ability to live safely on their own. I focused less on his willingness to adopt technology, and more on the emotional/social factors that influence one’s desire to stay-at or leave their homes.
- Date: February 28, 2017
- Type: Phone Interview
- Location: Lives in Memphis, TN
- Team participants: Conducted alone
- User Characteristics:
- Post-retiree who moved out of his house voluntarily
- Gender: Male
- Age: 86
- Occupation: “Retired” Lawyer
- Started to phase out retirement when he was 82
- Retired at end of the year but still goes in about once per week to advise and to take care of clients
- Technically in senior council
- Education: Yale B.A. ’53, Yale Law ‘56
- Memorable Quotes:
- “It’s carefree living for the older people. We don’t have to do a damn thing!”
- “I could’ve retired earlier but what was I going to do? Stay home and do nothing? Once I came here 3 years ago, I was given alternatives besides sitting at home and twiddling my thumbs!”
- “These communities are getting more popular.”
- Key insights: Importance of the social factor
- Patterns: Choice, desire for activity, health
Where are you living now?
- “It’s a retirement community. I live in a private villa with Judy in a community of about 175 apartments”
- “If I get to the point where I can’t handle things myself, there’s 20 or so assisted living and dementia/Alzheimer’s units. Along with 70 or so full care facilities and a rehab unit for people who need help if they fall or something. Doctor every morning, nurse all day. There’s also a health club and trainer for people over the age of 86.”
- There’s a movie 5 nights a week at the theatre, a library to check out books, a pool, and more
- He is very passionate about the food options
- He eats most dinners at the facility (called the Big House), and breakfast and lunch in their home
- Wears alarm around neck that if pressed, will make people show up in 90 seconds
- Average age is somewhere in the 80s
What motivated you to make the choice to move out?
- “We moved out because of the services available to us here, if we needed them. There’s a medical clinic that you can go to any morning if you don’t feel good, and if it’s too bad, they’ll get you to a hospital.”
- “They’ll come and change a lightbulb or provide other kinds of maintenance in 10 minutes”
Do you like your neighbors?
- “Oh yeah! We eat almost every meal with people out here. You never have to eat by yourself.”
- “We knew a few people coming in but met a lot more. There’s always people to talk to.”
- “There’s a woman who is 101 and is active and walks, and a Rabbi who is 99 and active too”
What did you do today?
- Tai chi class in the morning
- Rode around in his golf cart
- “I took bridge lessons from 10-12. Four of us are learning from a teacher!”
- Lunch in the house
- Went to the office to take care of stuff for 2 hours
- Came home and relaxed
- Had dinner with 4 other people at the Big House
- Had a Mardi Gras meal in the main dining room and party from 6:30-8!
Are you technologically savvy?
- “Medium. I use a Mac an iPad and printer”
How often do you see a doctor?
- “I see my regular doctor generally once a year for a check up. Maybe a couple of times for sore throat. I see my heart doctor 3x per year to check the pacemaker”
- Has seen doctor annually last 20 years – since he was 65
Do you think about your health often?
- “Yes, I really do. It worries me now at 86. But it hasn’t always been that way.”
- Got bronchitis on cruise in Alaska last year and that started me worrying
- “We come from hardy stock, Jonah!”
Do you miss the house?
- “No, not at all. Life is so much simpler here”
How much does it cost?
- $5000 per month (including food), but they pay for all utilities, maintenance, and cleaning
Are you happy with your current surroundings?
“From 1-10, it’s a 10”
Takeaways: While health is a crucial factor that affects post-retiree’s ability to remain at home, it is not always the motivation to move out. The desire for companionship and activities are a huge draw for many, and retirement communities that offer healthcare services are often the answer. If our goal is to use the IoT to help post-retirees age in place, we will need to take the social factor into account. It’s not only about health monitoring.
