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Several Good Companies, One Great Idea
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 An aerial view of the VMRC Wellness Center, designed by The Troyer Group and constructed by Nielson Construction. |
The new state-of-the-art Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) Wellness Center is an exceptionally beautiful and functional facility, but the story behind its development is the real wonder. The partnership of The Troyer Group, Nielson Construction and VMRC's wellness director, Greg Yost, is a unique case study, which may serve as a model for wellness programs in assisted-living and retirement communities. The Troyer Group contributed architectural planning for VMRC's new wellness center; Nielson Construction supported the physical development of the center; and Yost, a holistic wellness professional, guided by Montague, Eippert and Associates, brought in a program based on the six-dimension wellness model. The six-dimension model incorporates a focus not only on physical needs, but also intellectual, social, educational, vocational and spiritual. Such partnering for facility development is a precedent in the construction of assisted-living wellness facilities, since this was the first time the six-dimension model of wellness dictated the actual physical development of the facility.
"I think what's interesting about the Wellness Center, from our perspective as designers, is that you have a team that understands the six dimensions of wellness," says Pat Case of The Troyer Group. "There is no greater thrill than when a facility owner can team with an architect who understands what that means, and delivers--and for that matter, a firm like Nielson Construction who can construct the vision." Case adds that the focus was on the people the facility serves.
 Residents enjoy the swimming pool in VMRC's Wellness Center. |
The VMRC Wellness Center opened in June and features outcome-based lifestyle management for its patrons, with comprehensive physician-referred health screening, complemented by senior-specific programs, service and equipment. All members receive a complete wellness assessment and health-history review, followed by three personal orientation sessions. Membership fees are set up for monthly payment, which seniors tend to prefer, according to Yost.
"We're also open to the community, those 50-plus. We get a lot of resident referrals," says Yost.
While the center itself is beautiful and busy, its design contributes to the comfort of the participants. "It's important to have cozy smaller spaces where people don't feel like they're on display. People feel more comfortable with high-touch direct service in small areas that do not take on a medical feel," explains Yost. "We've come so far from 10 years ago when we would have just taken a small room and put in a broken-down treadmill and someone's donated Nordic Track." Yost began his work with the VMRC Wellness Center in August of '99, guided by Jan Montague of Montague, Eippert and Associates. Montague had been working closely with VMRC vice president Keith Gnagey when Yost came on board. Gnagey had worked with Montague in the mid-'90s to carve out the conceptual design, bio-psycho-social model and feasibility studies. Yost says he followed the groundwork Gnagey had laid. "We would not be here if it weren't for Jan Montague," claims Yost.
Yost came to the VMRC with a background in retail fitness and hospital-based fitness. His experience with holistic wellness principles, that Montague has advocated, shapes his current commitment to offer a different type of fitness program for elders. "I fully understand the changing demographic. The population is going to triple in the next 15 years. We have people retiring who are, as the result of technology and early-retirement opportunities, more savvy. They have greater expectations for amenities and services that they're exposed to." Yost adds that the VMRC Wellness Center wants to be held to a very high standard of service.
Case is realistic. "We're all going to be there someday. What we've done has been about keeping the focus on a good experience and good wellness for seniors. That's meant having a clue about the six dimensions of wellness and having an idea how programming delivers against the objectives for wellness, and then having a facility that delivers against the program objectives. This has been about: How do we help people lead fruitful, purposeful and meaningful lives to the extent of their lives?"
In addition to the state-of-art-facility the team created, Yost has determined to make holistic wellness a central focus for retirement communities. He created the Retirement Community Wellness Alliance, a nonprofit organization offering a quick-call member hotline, newsletter, convention discounts and cutting-edge networking. Information on the alliance can be found at www.retirementwellness.com.
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