In partnership with Dr. Sue Song, a commissioner on aging for Howard County, Md. and president of the Korean American Senior Association, the first-of-its-kind ‘culturally focused social living community’ opens to Korean American seniors in Maryland.
Lorien Health Services, in partnership with Dr. Sue Song, a commissioner on aging for Howard County and president of the Korean American Senior Association, opened Golden Living Apartments, a new and innovative residential option for Korean Americans in Howard County, Maryland.
Dr. Song noticed an unsettling trend over the past couple of decades among retirees in her community. Her friends, neighbors and clients had spent their lives in America: working hard, running businesses and sacrificing to give their kids the best opportunities America had to offer. When this group retired, they found themselves alone and cut off from their cultural identities. Song saw some that considered an unbearable decision: to leave their families in America and return to Korea.
Koreans want to keep their independence, identity and elements of Korean culture, like their native language and foods,” Song said. “They want to be close to their families while living this next phase of life enriched with friendship and camaraderie. The seniors I worked with weren’t finding opportunities to connect with their culture in this way when the time came to retire.”
Song approached Maryland-based Lorien Health Services to find solution for this community. Lorien Health Services CEO, Lou Grimmel Sr., listened to Song’s concerns and saw an opportunity to respond, taking her vision to a new level.
Grimmel said Lorien Health Services created ‘Sue Song’s’ Golden Living apartments to allow residents to enjoy “socialization and connection living with people who share the same culture and time in life.”
The apartments offer a cohort-living setting for Korean seniors where each person or family will have their own private apartment while the common areas will embrace the cultural features of Korean life. Song envisions the possibilities for social connections: “They can watch Korean movies, play Korean games, cook Korean food, have discussion groups and book clubs centered on Korean issues” in the community kitchen, living and activities rooms.
Song added, “The entire local Korean community is welcome and invited to mingle and attend events at Golden Living.”
Golden Living Apartments is located near Lotte Plaza Korean shopping area, which offers Korean groceries, clothes and other traditional Korean items. In addition, residents can participate in social activities at the local senior community center less than three miles away. If they do not have a car, Golden Living can assist in arranging transportation through a share ride service or a shuttle.
Grimmel said there are no long-term lease commitments. “People can go month-to- month and stay as a long as they are happy.”
Socialization is a longevity factor that has historically been undervalued in elder care, but the statistics support its importance. Numerous research studies from the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Aging have definitively linked social isolation and loneliness with health problems such as cognitive decline, depression and even heart disease.
The concept behind the apartments is such a unique idea Grimmel said he had trouble figuring out what to call it. “It’s not a traditional independent, senior or retirement” community,” said Grimmel. “The terms, ‘social adult living community,” or ‘culturally focused social living community,’ would probably fit better.”
Song agreed, saying: “This is a first of its kind community. There are communities centered around the same religion, but not culture. We wanted to create an environment in which seniors can be geographically close to their families while creating a culturally welcoming community and life of their own. This business model that caters to middle income seniors like this did not exist until now.”
According to Song the new apartments are the result of grassroots efforts in Howard County’s large Korean population, saying: “Lorien listened to our community needs and we’ve formed a great Asian community and private sector partnership.”
This was also not the first time that Lorien Health Services heard the voice of the community and acted. Nearly a decade ago, Song approached Lorien Health Services to find retirement and care solutions for this community. Grimmel listened to Song’s concerns and saw an opportunity to respond.
A long-term care unit that catered specifically to Korean Americans had never been built in Maryland, but Grimmel added, “we thought it was a really forward-thinking idea.”
In 2013, the company opened Howard County’s first long-term Korean care unit. Lorien Health Services’ gamble paid off: in its first three months the facility tripled in size. The endeavor was so successful Lorien Health Services was able to open a second unit in Baltimore County.
“Meeting the needs of the diverse communities that make up America just makes good business sense,” said Grimmel, “but the goal is to make people happy. The business aspect of these apartments is secondary. If we do it right, the demand will be there.”
About Lorien Health Services
Lorien Health Services is a family-owned nursing home and assisted living company. An industry innovator, Lorien operates nine facilities in Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties, as well as two additional services, Lorien at Home and Lorien Kidney Care, as an extension of the local community. Lorien believes in knowing its neighbors and designing facilities and services to support them. The company employs more than 2,078 Marylanders and strives to be the employer of choice while helping to sustain Maryland communities.
Lorien was voted “Best Elder Care” company in The Baltimore Sun and “Best Assisted Living Facility” and “Best Health System” in The Daily Record. It was also named a “Health Care Hero” by The Daily Record for its advancements in nursing care and received the top recognition nationally in McKnight’s “Excellence in Technology Awards” for its emphasis on quality care. For more information please visit: https://www.lorienhealth.com.
