YOUNGING: A Completely New Perspective On Aging.

Dr. Clotaire Rapaille, CEO and Founder at Archetype Discoveries, which uses cultural anthropology, biology, and advanced learning theories to uncover hidden cultural forces, says, “We are not living longer, we are living younger. Our biological age is more important than our chronological age. This is a major breakthrough in the evolution of humankind.“

MorseLife: Transforming Perceptions of Longevity

MorseLife has always been the enlightened leader in caring for older adults, but with “younging,” we’re transforming the way we view longevity. Keith A. Myers, President and CEO of MorseLife says, “Younging: this is where our emphasis is and must be…at the forefront of this new frontier in attitudes toward aging. People don’t accept the “inevitables” of growing older the way they once did. For individuals over 70, this is a remarkable time of vitality, choice, and freedom. “Younging” is a paradigm shift away from the conventional view of growing older. And it’s long overdue for our culture as a whole.“

Age Isn’t A Number Anymore.

At MorseLife, “younging” means living youthfully and smart; and it represents a sea change in the way we think about growing older. The fact is that, thanks to advances in health care, diet, cultural imperatives, individual choices, and the growing awareness of the value of fitness, engagement and community, age no longer matters. But the way society characterizes age may still be problematic.

Senior Living: Why Not Just “Living”?

The word ‘senior’ as well as its many synonyms goes far beyond linguistic controversy to cultural meaning, referring to a group that MorseLife sees increasingly defying the stereotype.  Even as the years accumulate chronologically, the term “senior” becomes less and less attractive, or even accurate, as it is associated more with decline than with what is really afoot, which is a renaissance of youth, vitality, curiosity, adventure, and excitement…in other words “younging.” Dr. Linda Fried, Dean of Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, states, “We are in the process of defining what we want our lives to look like in our seventies, eighties, nineties, and beyond.”

Retired But Not Retiring

At MorseLife, Dr. Fried’s observation is something we see and support every day. We’ve discovered that our residents want to be carefree but still connected. They want to do fun, new things, and they’re looking anew at their future. They’re optimistic and excited about opportunities opening up to them, and about being in an environment, whether Independent Living or Assisted Living, that understands and encourages a new conceptual framework for mature life.

Where once, growing older meant their worlds’ might shrink, now our residents want more: more fantastic food, more fun with family and friends, more freedom and a more enriching future. They want life to be like life aboard a luxury cruise ship: pure indulgence without worry.

Recognizing the paradigm shift away from conventional views of aging has inspired us to reshape life at MorseLife Residences, whether at the Levin Palace Independent Living, Tradition Assisted Living or Memory Care. (Yes, it is true that, concerning Alzheimer’s, choices take on a new dimension, but even here we’ve implemented innovations that make a huge difference in the quality of life, relationships and time for our residents.)

It’s Not Your Grandparents Old Age Anymore.

At MorseLife today, it’s not just life. It’s More Life – outstanding food shared with friends, having fun, and celebrating family milestones like anniversaries, birthdays, a grandchild’s wedding, a great grandbaby’s birth or a resident’s new puppy. It’s the freedom to explore new interests you may not have had time for earlier in life. It’s laughter, music, dancing, learning, and doing. It’s younging.

As a community, we are pioneering this new idea of “younging,” not only because it reflects our model of innovation, but also because it is the way of the future. And how much more exciting and enlivening to look forward to “younging” rather than aging!

We are not just living longer; we are living younger – this is our philosophy and commitment at MorseLife.

The Second Time Around:
Sol and Edith Branman Making Life Worth Living

It was 1979.  Sol, an engineer from Sacramento, was legally separated from his wife and Edith, a librarian in Queens, had been divorced for many years.  A friend of Edith’s knew Sol and suggested the two meet for a blind date when he was visiting New York City.  They met at “Windows of the World” for dinner – he called her the next day – and according to Edith, “that was it!”  They married in December of that year.

After almost 40 years of marriage, the couple note that after so many years, they both make life worth living for each other.  Sol just celebrated his 100^th birthday on March 19^th and Edith will be 90 in June.  “What keeps me alive is Sol,” noted Edith.   “For all of these years, he has been both my physical and emotional support during the good and bad times.”

Sol notes that one of Edith’s traits is caring for others.  “She is always thinking about others before herself,” he said.  “She has always done that, in her work as an outreach literacy advocate for the library system in Queens, and personally, in the attention she pays to me, family and friends.”

After marriage, Sol and Edith Branman lived first in New Jersey and then bought a home in Queens, and years later, moved back to New Jersey when they both retired to live closer to his children.

“One nasty winter nearly 25 years ago, we decided we were sick of shoveling snow,” Edith noted.  “My daughter and son-in-law already lived in Miami, and we decided to buy a home in Boynton Beach.”

The Branman’s lived in their home for 15 years, and then thought it would be better to live in an all-inclusive senior community like The Tradition at MorseLife that would offer services and amenities, and help if and when they needed it.  “We thought the Tradition was ‘the best of the lot’ when we toured around,” she said.  “What got me first was the beautiful Jewish art work in the front lobby – just observing that upon entering, we knew we were home.”

Nine years later, the Branman’s enjoy their life together, and feel fortunate for the circle of friends they met at The Tradition right from the start.  “We enjoy playing cards, going out when we are well and participating in the activities,” Edith said.  “It is a lovely, supportive community.”

As for Sol’s secret to living to 100 years, he quips that it is “not dying.”  Edith notes that after almost four decades, they love each other like they did when they first met – always supporting each other and “making every day worth living.”

To learn more about extraordinary living at The Tradition at MorseLife and The Levin Tower, call 1-888-387-2372.

Recalling the Laughs and Fun of Long-Lost Friendship
Old Friends Reunite at Levin Palace

Residents Ted and Irene Neuvelt thought two younger women touring the Levin Palace one afternoon looked familiar, but initially they couldn’t place them.  Then, Ted realized who they were – the daughters of old friends the couple had not seen in over 40 years.

On the next visit, the young women brought their mother, Ethel Muschel, and when she laid eyes on Ted and Irene, the memories of the fun and laughter they shared when her husband Sam was still alive immediately came back to her.

At that moment, Ethel said her mind was made up — she was definitely moving to the Levin Palace– and coincidentally, she had already chosen in advance an apartment right across the hall from them.

The Neuvelts, who moved to the Levin Palace four months ago, noted that they met Ethel and her late husband Sam 55 years ago at the Nassau Beach Hotel in the Bahamas.  “We were among five couples who became friends on that vacation,” Ted said.  “We all shared similar interests and backgrounds and enjoyed each other’s company.”

The Neuvelt’s lived in New Rochelle and the Muschel’s lived nearby in Oradell, New Jersey.   Ted noted that among the couples they met in the Bahamas, he and Irene immediately connected with Ethel and Sam and become very good friends.   Ethel said that Ted “made me laugh.”

Over nearly ten years, the couples traveled to each other’s homes and one year, went to Barbados.  “We had wonderful times together over these years,” noted Ted.  “We, however, all drifted apart as time went on due to changes in our lives, but we never forgot the fun we had.”

Ted said he and Irene moved to Orlando 35 years ago where she was offered a job working for a publishing company, and he had already retired, later moving to Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens.   Ethel and Sam moved to Boynton Beach over 35 years ago and he passed away over 30 years ago.

Fast forward to their meeting at the Levin Palace, Ethel recalls the day they met in the dining room she said excitedly: “oh my God,’ it’s Ted!”   “The beautiful memories – the fun and laughter we all shared came immediately back to me, and I couldn’t wait to move here,”  she said.

The three friends now meet for dinner and enjoy activities and events together at the Levin Palace.   What’s most important, according to Ethel, is that they can relive the best times of their old friendship 50+ years ago and today make new memories!

At Levin Palace, you never know who you might connect with – renewing old friendships and making new one!