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ELDERLY OPTIONS

acob Cohen, 87, lives at The
Trowbridge and sometimes
doesn't want to be alone.
"I was alone too much
before and it was a problem getting
around in the winter. Now I have
transportation whatever the weather;
if I want to see people I can walk
down to the lobby or attend an ac-
tivity, and if I want, I can be alone in
my apartment," says Mr. Cohen.
Fortunately, one issue that enjoys
support regardless of political view-
point is that the elderly should have
adequate housing and sufficient sup-
port services to promote and prolong
personal independence. It has long

34 HOME

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BY RUTHAN BRODSKY

been recognized, for instance, that
where one lives is a central factor af-
fecting the quality of one's life. A per-
son's home is intertwined with aspira-
tions about family and friends,
evidence of one's power to choose
and to exercise autonomy. It is a place
of memories and hope, a place of
identity.
The fact is that fewer older people
live with their children and less than
10 percent of the elderly are in nurs-
ing homes for the long term. As a
result, the variety of special housing
types and special housing arrange-

ments for the elderly have expand-
ed in recent years to adapt to the
growing trend toward independent
living arrangements. This is certainly
true in the metropolitan Detroit area
in which non-profit and private sec-
tors are recognizing that some elderly
people have support needs that can
best be met by certain types of hous-
ing arrangements.
"Developing and operating a hous-
ing facility for the elderly is a service
industry," says Walter Cohn, develop-
er and owner of The Trowbridge.
"Naturally the site is important — be-
ing close to family and in a pleasant
residential setting — but it's the ser-

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GLENN TRIEST

J

Senior citizens have multiple housing
choices in Oakland County.