{"id":17812,"date":"2017-05-11T05:00:25","date_gmt":"2017-05-11T12:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=17812"},"modified":"2026-02-22T15:33:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T23:33:45","slug":"old-fashioned-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/old-fashioned-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Old-Fashioned Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Jimmy Buffet and Alan Jackson famously reminded us, it’s five o’clock somewhere! Many senior living communities are hosting cocktail parties and happy ho\"shutterstock_221823316\"urs to encourage conversation and bring a sense of community and connection to their residents.<\/p>\n

In the US, approximately 70%<\/a> of assisted living residents drink alcohol regularly, with most imbibing at least once per day, and those numbers are on the rise<\/a>. With so many older adults accustomed to rounding out the evening with a nightcap or enjoying friendly conversation over a pint, cocktails are on the menu at several senior living facilities. Not only do these on-site happy hours encourage a sense of community, but they also help make residents feel at home. Running the gamut from wine-pairings to Oktoberfest blowouts, these spirit-forward gatherings provide residents with the chance to mingle.<\/p>\n

“We want the residents to continue to enjoy what they’ve enjoyed in the past,\u201d Judi Donovan, Executive Director of GreenFields told<\/a> the Chicago Tribune. \u201cThis often times includes wine, beer and or cocktails. Residents are invited to enjoy alcohol within their apartments and at meals, cocktail parties and happy hours.”<\/p>\n

“Our cocktail parties and happy hours are wonderful ice-breakers giving people a time to chat with old friends and meet new ones,” Donovan continues. “It’s about encouraging fellowship. We have a very friendly community. Social hours sometimes give people who might not otherwise interact with each other, a chance to do so and make new friends.”<\/p>\n

The Brew Crew<\/strong><\/p>\n

While famous concoctions like martinis and Manhattans still rule the roost, beer and wine are making inroads within the senior demographic. In Bend, OR, for example, members of the Aspen Ridge Retirement Community\u2019s \u201cBrew Crew<\/a>\u201d concoct 13 different types of beer, including popular favorites like Machine Maggie Imperial IPA and their award winning Angels Breath Stella\u2019s Bock<\/a>. Lucky visitors even head home with a complimentary six pack.<\/p>\n

Recently, the Brew Crew even prepared 300 gallons of beer to benefit Alzheimer\u2019s research<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“This is Bend\u2019s version of a bake sale,\u201d says<\/a> local brewery owner James Watts. \u201cIt\u2019s about embracing the cause (and) the charity and giving them a novel platform to raise some funds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Happier Hours<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meanwhile in England, Cocktails in Care Homes <\/a>dispatches volunteers to nine different senior living facilities throughout the country for cocktails and conversation. What began as a simple pilot project in 2011 has now morphed into a well-respected organization responsible for 91 parties serving 370 residents over 3500 beverages. But the organization’s primary function involves helping residents maintain social relationships.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we attempt to do is address this problem of isolation that care home residents face,\u201d says<\/a> Clea House, Development and Volunteer Manager for Magic Me, the organization behind Cocktails in Care Homes. \u201cIt\u2019s all about the conversation. Generating a conducive and fun atmosphere for that to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Cocktails in Care Homes participants, the events help create a sense of connection and continuity while also allowing them to retain a sense of their own identity.<\/p>\n

\u201cAge and illness, that\u2019s why they\u2019re here, but that doesn\u2019t stop them from being who they are,\u201d says Marcia Forsythe, Care Home Manager for Silk Court, a participating community. \u201cIt really does a lot for their wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the parties because it brings everybody together\u2026.it\u2019s lovely,\u201d says Silk Court Resident Jean<\/a>. \u201cBecause you\u2019re on your own quite a lot, so when you get a bit of company you realize it\u2019s not so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drinking Responsibly<\/strong><\/p>\n

While alcohol doesn\u2019t play well with many prescription medications, most senior living providers are keen to keep residents safe and happy by balancing consumption with care. Clinical staff keeps an eye out for any possible hazards, but ultimately the residents remain responsible for monitoring their intake.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor our residents, happy hour is a social event, not in a drunken context,\u201d Francesco Tardio, director of dining services at The Clare tells Food Management<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a time to get together, share life experiences, look for commonalities\u2014it\u2019s a time for bonding. Their drinking habits are definitely different from younger crowds.\u201d<\/p>\n

“The residents are all adults,” Donovan reiterates. “And, no one is getting in a car and driving home, which is the beauty of a retirement community.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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