I did my first presentation at a conference for senior living professionals – the LeadingAge Annual Meeting held in San Diego. I served on a panel where we discussed, “The Diversity Journey: Preparing Your Community to Become More Diverse.” Broadmead is only one of two continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) that has hired a full-time diversity officer. My colleague from Aldersgate and I shared the diversity journeys at our respective organizations, and presented alongside the president of Love & Company who covered demographic data about the racial/ethnic diversity of the older adult population.
Having worked in higher education where diversity work has been ingrained at many institutions, it has been eye-opening to observe senior living at its early stages of engaging in these conversations. I often liken the CCRC environment as a college campus for older adults. While everyone has their own space, it is still communal living. There is a dining area, a gym, a health center, and more. The residents are very active in organizations that they run (just like student activities), and they host a variety of activities, lectures, and other events. As on a college campus, there is support for diversity, resistance to diversity, and all that is in between. And just like diversity at a college campus, diversity is a journey at CCRCs as well.