Five Misconceptions About St. James Place
St. James Place is Baton Rouge’s only Life Plan Community. The campus, hidden behind a thick mass of trees and a security gate, gives a certain air of exclusivity to many who have never experienced the community. Over the years, this has created a number of misconceptions about St. James Place throughout Louisiana. Hopefully, this article will amend some of those misconceptions. Let’s talk about some of the more egregious ones.
Misconception #1: St. James Place Is a Community for the Rich
This one just won’t seem to go away, no matter how many times we address it. The reality is that you really don’t have to be rich to live here. The folks who live at St. James Place come from all walks of life. We have retired ministers, teachers and farmers. And, yes, we also have retired executives, doctors and lawyers as well. When you look at the truth, the reality is easily apparent — there really are no cookie-cutter people you can point to and say, “See, they’re all rich.” Some of the wonderful things about St. James Place are the diverse backgrounds of the people who live here and how they’re able to come together to create a community where everyone is equal and able to enjoy all the aspects of life here.
Misconception #2: St. James Place Is Just A Nursing Home
Although St. James Place does have skilled nursing on campus, it’s really not a nursing home. Most of the members of our community are active, motivated people, who want to enjoy and savor every minute of their lives. Here, retirement isn’t an end — it’s simply a new chapter.
Wellness also plays an important role in life at St. James Place. To that end, our state-of-the-art 5,000-square-foot fitness center and covered heated swimming pool both offer residents a wide range of classes. We also have a dedicated staff of certified professional trainers who can help design personalized fitness programs for everyone. St. James Place offers more options, from Pilates and yoga to our special Brains and Balance classes, than most communities can dream of.
Beyond that, there’s always something going on for residents to enjoy. Continuing education for seniors via the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program in association with Louisiana State University (LSU) as well as travel to local (and not-so-local) events are just two of the numerous programs offered at St. James Place. How about our annual Mardi Gras parade, or the various holiday celebrations throughout the year? Or, if you enjoy walking, why not traverse the beautiful trails that wind through our 52-acre campus? And did we mention happy hour, which takes place every Wednesday through Sunday at 4 p.m.? Here, residents gather to meet, chat, laugh and enjoy tasty (often non-alcoholic) libations. It’s also a place where some great friendships are made.
Misconception #3: St. James Place Is a Closed-off, Exclusive Community
This myth seems to stem from the fact that once you enter the gate at St. James Place, you’re trapped and will never be able to leave. The fact is that nothing could be further from the truth. The numerous trips our family of seniors take to places around Baton Rouge, New Orleans, the country and sometimes the world easily dispel this misconception.
The people who live at St. James Place are among the warmest, friendliest and most welcoming you could ever hope to meet. Our residents like to have fun. They travel to events off-campus. They host parties — a lot of them. They’re involved in their community and always strive along with the staff to make newcomers feel welcome and at home. They care about each other and the world around them. They create deep, meaningful friendships. And sometimes people move here to join lifelong friends already living at St. James Place. Many residents are involved in as many off-campus activities as on-campus activities. If you’re still feeling somewhat skeptical, just come for a visit and see for yourself.
Misconception #4: The Homes Are Too Small. Downsizing Worries Me
Many seniors worry about downsizing, especially if they’re coming from large homes. But downsizing doesn’t have to be painful. Many of our residents have found that downsizing helps make life much easier, especially when you realize how all the home maintenance that drove you crazy for years is over. A maintenance-free lifestyle means that whether inside your home or around the grounds, it’s not you who has to fix the pipes or mow the lawn.
Beyond that, our independent living options include spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments. Additionally, our campus features garden and patio homes up to 1,670 square feet so you really won’t feel cramped at all.
Let’s also remember the amenities. We have clubs and classes. Our two on-campus restaurants serve delicious food. Numerous events, celebrations and performances are planned throughout the year. With so much to do and so much available on campus (like our state-of-the-art fitness center and heated pool), downsizing your current home starts to feel much easier. All of St. James Place becomes your home, which ends up giving you more space, not less.
Misconception #5: What’s the Point?
I’ll Just Have to Move Again if I Ever Need Additional Care.
St. James Place is a Life Plan Community (also known as Continuing Care Retirement Community). In fact, it’s the only one in Baton Rouge. While we work diligently to help our residents stay active and healthy as long as possible, the benefit of a Life Plan Community is that if your healthcare needs ever change, we’ve got you covered with top-quality on-campus care available 24/7.
It's also important to note that if you move to St. James Place while still living independently, you can seamlessly transition between Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing if you ever need to. With your Life Plan contract, you’ll have access to all our outstanding amenities and an engaging community. You’ll also receive the type of care you need when you need it. All this comes with the advantage of predictable monthly costs, providing peace of mind to you and your family. It should also be pointed out, if you don’t move to St. James Place while still living independently, access to Assisted Living, Memory Care or Nursing Care cannot be guaranteed so it’s in your best interest to make the move now.
So, there you have it. Five major misconceptions all dispelled in short order. It’s amazing how things change when you know the truth. And in this case, the truth is that you won’t find a better, more active or more fun place to retire than St. James Place.
Still not convinced? Why not visit St. James Place and experience it for yourself? Simply call (225) 314-5857 to arrange a personal tour.