Senior Living Residences

Tadd Clelland, President and CEO

New England-based Senior Living Residences (SLR) has been a leader in the seniors housing industry for more than 30 years and is known for their innovative approach to caring for seniors. Their service offering spans several layers of the senior care continuum, including Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Support Assisted Living.

SLR was founded on, and continues to live by, a unique philosophy they refer to as “The Right Values” — Resident Quality of Life, Valued Associates, Integrity, Innovation and Discovery. This Right Values philosophy underlies everything they do, and motivates the organization to continually strive to find new and better ways to serve seniors, their families and the associates who carry out this mission daily. Central to this belief system is a focus on helping seniors stay as independent as possible, for as long possible.

“We believe there is a right way to do senior living. Any model, especially Independent Living, should aim to help residents maintain their independence for as long as possible because that fosters feelings of autonomy, self-confidence and a sense of belonging, which are key indicators of quality of life,” says Tadd Clelland, SLR’s President & CEO.

The Truth Behind “There’s No Place Like Home”

Many individuals may be putting off moving to a senior community so they can stay at home longer. With a wealth of companies focused on helping seniors stay in their homes for as long as possible, living at home has a reputation as being the best possible scenario, even as someone’s needs change over time. However, there’s a harsh reality to this trend.

It is not uncommon for a person to want to stay as long as possible in the home they have lived in for most of their lives and perhaps raised their families in, however it may not be the most successful and supportive option as a person ages. Typical challenges include the ability to navigate stairs or continue a social lifestyle. For some, driving and/or access to reliable transportation becomes an issue, so it becomes harder to get out of the house to see friends, get to a doctor’s appointment or go grocery shopping. Seniors who choose independent living communities have neighbors right outside their apartment doors. They have people around to be social with, to attend events with, to look out for their well-being. Research shows that regular social interaction is essential to aging well and can even lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (National Institute on Aging).

“In documentaries like the recently released Blue Zones, placing elder loved ones in community settings is approached differently around the globe. But, when there is no real infrastructure or support system for taking responsibility of elder loved ones while also caring for your own children and having a full-time career, independent living communities can give seniors the socialization, attention and community setting they need to thrive, and many seniors actually do better there.” -- Tadd Clelland, SLR’s President & CEO.

Research shows that maintaining a connection with your community and peers can improve your quality of life and extend longevity. A study published in Neurology stresses that socially isolated older adults may be at increased risk of developing dementia. This study is joined by a cohort of other research that suggests that individuals who have more regular social opportunities are at lower risk of developing several age-related conditions like osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, depression and even some forms of cancer. Moving to an Independent Living community brings socialization, new friendships, and also comes with better access to nutrition, reduced stress, and access to a helping hand should you need it.

A lot of the work SLR does across the senior care continuum is centered around educating families and eldercare professionals that a move to a senior community does not mean a loss of independence. This is exactly why Independent Living is an option, and it is designed to protect seniors’ independence while giving them a better quality of life. Many of the social interventions SLR offers to independent living residents, like social events with friends, intellectual programming and fitness classes, are powerful in staving off cognitive decline and chronic illnesses.

Today’s seniors want choices, and SLR has designed their communities with this in mind. People who are looking for senior housing options may be coming in at different care levels, but they are all looking for a few basics: companionship, someone to do the cooking and cleaning, and wellness opportunities. “Seniors looking at a community setting usually want to maintain their independence without sacrificing socialization. Most of our communities also offer higher care levels, so residents are able to age in place and not move away just because they need additional care.” - Tadd Clelland, SLR’s president and CEO.