NIMBY And Memory Care in Woodbury, Minnesota
It's been interesting - and sad - to watch how some people in one Twin Cities neighborhood are reacting to the possibility of having seniors with Alzheimer's living near them.
What kinds of communities and neighborhoods do we want as we age?
It's a question for all of us in this era when a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's every 70 seconds.
Today the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio looked at the story of the proposed housing and the neighbors' reaction. (Ecumen has been a consultant to the Woodbury developer). Both insightful stories. Bob Collins' MPR piece provides a video story from a Duluth TV station at memory care at Ecumen's Lakeshore community in Duluth. It's a great look at life in memory care.
We'll all benefit if our neighborhoods and communities are neighborhoods and communities for a lifetime.
2 Comments
Hi James, Thanks for your note. If and when this goes back to the planning commission, I'm sure they will address a number of those concerns regarding what can go in that space and what would happen if such housing were to leave. I can tell you that senior housing communities we operate do well and add a great deal to a community and to a neighborhood. And we're proud to be part of those communities.
Source such as the Star Tribune hardly covered the concerns I have heard as a neighbor to the proposed Woodbury site. 1. I do not believe residence should disagree with the proposal on the Not-In-My-Backyard argument. 2. I have not seen a petition although I can see the proposed facility. 3. I have not been asked how I feel. 4. Having read responses from the developer it is obvious he is interested in 'completeing' his development with whatever he needs to. 5. You may be there for 1, 2, 3, years but once this facility is allowed then what could move in there next? In the worst case ??? group home for prison releases, or some other offender program that falls under a medical type category. 6. Driving by and looking at the facility generates a 'that doesn't fit here' instant reaction. Lastly, there is a lot that could be done to insure the 'use' of this facility will not change in the future and other contractual aspects that would insure safety and security of the surrounding area but I have seen or heard of none of that. Just a few of my random comments. We are all aging and many of use will or are experiencing memory issues. I am sensitive those needs and am considering all aspects in my objectives to this project. Thanks for listening.
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