Episode 2:5 Lori Farris on What Entices Seniors to Leave Home

A foundation of care and safety is a must-have, after that it comes down to personal choice. Is it a high-rise tower with 5-star dining and theatre access, or country living with gardens, goats, and a chicken coop? Senior Living facilities are rising to new levels of personalization and luxury hospitality.

About Lori

Lori Farris is the founder of Senior Living Specialists Houston helping seniors and their families navigate the maze of Senior Living Communities. She is also the host of The Boomer Connection, a TV talk show that celebrates Boomers who are making a difference and helping others. Lori founded Senior Living Specialists Houston after going on the journey with her parents and their aging health problems.

Born in 1960 in Highland Park, Illinois, Lori graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. After owning and operating her own Chicago Style Restaurant in Dallas, Texas and working as a tour operator in New York, Lori met and married Efisio Farris, native of Sardinia. For the next 26 years she worked with her husband, opening five Italian restaurants in Dallas and Houston.

She sits on the board of Jewish Federation of Business Professionals Women’s Networking Group, the leadership team of the JCC book and arts festival, and is the Programming Director of the Senior Estate Concierge.

Key Takeaways

• Community living means retireess can go back to the things they love without daily concerns.
• Popular fitness and wellness activitiesinclude aqua aerobics, pilates, yoga, Tai Chi, aromatherapy, meditation, and virtual technologies such as simulated world-class golf courses (think Pebble Beach or St. Andrews Links® in Scotland.)
• Intellectual and cultural activities such as stock market club, book clubs, and culinary tours engage residents with like minds and interests.
• Best in class senior communities prevent isolation by offering a range of social activities for every level, from nature walks, doorway chair aerobics for each hallway and a roving ice cream cart (maintaining proper social distancing in the Covid-19).
• There is a trend toward “dying well” encouraging conversation around becoming “comfortable with the uncomfortable.”