It’s the new age of enlightenment, where 60 is the new 40 and 70 is the new 50. Advancements in healthcare and the prioritization of well-being now allow people to live longer, healthier and more active lives, and societal expectations are shifting as a result. The generations that span the baby boom years through the millennials are converging in their focus, with an underlying emphasis on the enjoyment of life experiences versus the collection of material things.
In response, a pioneering concept in next-chapter living is taking hold across the country—in the form of luxury residential communities that recognize the needs and preferences of a generation that is healthier, more active and more engaged than its predecessor.
Located in the bustling Washington, D.C., suburb of Tysons, Virginia, The Mather is a brand-new residential community designed to blend the best of luxury living with comprehensive wellness, unique cultural experiences and future long-term healthcare in one central location.
“Baby boomers are intentionally redesigning their lifestyle,” says Gale Morgan, senior VP of sales for The Mather. “They’ve achieved success and appreciate the opportunity to purchase an amazing lifestyle today that maximizes fun, wellness and cultural experiences, and gives the peace of mind of having preplanned for their future.”
Designed for individuals from age 62 and up, The Mather offers the opportunity to plan ahead for the future in the form of luxury living coupled with amenities and long-term healthcare in a financial package designed to safeguard each resident’s estate.
“Demographically, the boomers are a whole different generation,” Morgan says. “While the silent generation lived in the gated, self-contained retirement communities, the boomers want multigenerational living where they can dine at a variety of restaurants, and take advantage of a fitness center, day spa, indoor pool and bar on-site. But they can also walk next door to the coffee shop or take a class at the cardio bar a block away. They can interact with the energy outside of the community and not change what they love about their life.”
THE RESIDENCES
Within a pair of beautiful multistory buildings situated in the heart of Tysons, The Mather offers 300 one- and two-bedroom residences spanning 850 to 3,300 square feet. Designed by award-winning architects, each space is configured to be as elegant as it is functional, and is fitted with high-end finishes and modern appliances. An in-house designer is on hand to assist in the selection of each home’s particulars, from lighting and flooring to countertops and appliances. Each residence offers the latest in smart-home technology, and numerous opportunities for customizations are available, from radiant floors and lighting upgrades to custom closets and gas fireplaces.
THE AMENITIES
Numerous amenities augment The Mather’s elegantly designed community, each purposefully intended to maximize a life lived to the fullest. From the indoor pool, cardio studio, day spa and fitness center—fitted with Keiser training equipment preferred by professional athletes—to a variety of healthful and fine-dining venues as well as a bar and lounge, The Mather facilitates its members’ passion for life.
A library, rooftop terrace, and golf simulator enhances the variety of social, intellectual and cultural experiences offered on-site, which also includes live music, art and technology seminars and lectures to art studio workshops, dance classes, walking clubs and more.
The Mather also provides a concierge resource dedicated to everything from valet parking, scheduling member services and handling errands to securing behind-the-scenes access and tickets to exclusive events and arranging for memorable excursions to enjoy everything the Washington, D.C., area has to offer. Not only do members enjoy the walkability, shops and restaurants of Tysons , but they also enjoy access to a variety of sporting events, museums, boating, hot air balloon rides, golf and more.
THE DIFFERENCE
The Mather is much more than a luxury residential community, however. What sets this community apart is the access to on-site health care services if ever needed.
Situated on the community’s fourth floor, The Mather Life Centre offers assisted living in spacious one-bedroom apartments equipped with emergency-response systems with 24-hour professional nursing services as well as a full-service restaurant providing three meals a day. Private memory-support suites, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation will also be available.
THE PLAN
The Mather is based on a residency agreement, and there is no deed of ownership. Instead, each residence is secured through a one-time entrance fee based on the apartment homes size and location within the community, 90 percent of which is refundable to the resident or to the resident’s estate.
A monthly fee covers all living expenses, from utilities, housekeeping and property maintenance to amenities, culinary packages and future long-term care. Multiple fee structures offer a range of options for residents to maximize the type of lifestyle they seek. A 90-Day Plan provides up to 90 days of care at The Mather Life Centre, while a Life Care Plan provides members with an unlimited amount of additional care in the Life Centre at a set monthly fee, regardless of the level of care needed. Couples, for example, can choose different plans, which would allow one spouse to move into The Mather Life Centre and the other to remain in the apartment home for the same monthly fee.
Potential residents must qualify not only financially but medically as well. “If you think that you move to a retirement community only when you need care and support, you might not qualify to live at The Mather,” Morgan says. “We have a 63-year-old fashionista social-media influencer, a couple who retired at 50 and have their own YouTube channel, and a couple of depositors who are waiting until their kids are launched.”
The entire concept is the vision of the not-for-profit Mather organization, which was founded 80 years ago by Alonzo Mather, an entrepreneur who funded the first Life Plan Communities (as they are now called) in the nation. Their organization’s vision is to change the way society views aging, and they are focused on their mission of creating Ways to Age Well.
“About 70 percent of the people who have made a deposit are under 74,” Morgan says. “Ten years ago, no one would move into a retirement community until they were 80. But that’s a sign of the new generation. They don’t view this as ‘I can’t do this anymore’ or ‘I can’t take care of my home anymore’; they simply don’t want to. They don’t want to be tied down to their sprawling home. Instead, what’s important is traveling, socializing or taking a class at George Mason. They are seizing their next stage of life.”
The Mather in Tysons is projected to open its first phase in 2023, and Phase 2 is planned for late 2024. Priority reservations are being accepted through June 30, which provide members with placement in line to be among the first to reserve an apartment home.
