THE HEADLINE READS “DECLARING INDEPENDENCE.”

THE HEADLINE READS “DECLARING INDEPENDENCE.” On the front page of the Sunday Sacramento Bee (7-8-12) the color photograph of five older adults laughing shows what the 82-inch story proceeds to tell. Among this friendly group of residents at the Eskaton Roseville Manor multiservice community, are Jackie and Bill Merz. When asked about offers from their kids to come live with them, Jackie exclaimed that as much as she adores them, “I told them we’d have somebody shoot us before we did that.”

“Most older adults tend to be a bit more euphemistic about it,” said Anita Creamer, the Bee’s senior writer who authored the feature on older adults living on their own. The desire to remain as independent as possible is a recurring theme with many residents of older adult communities. And not simply to avoid burdening their families.

More so, Eskaton residents point to the engaging lifestyle, friendships, activities, security, modern conveniences and healthcare when needed as reasons for choosing community living.