Sponsored Post by Bryan Johnston, Director of Community Relations, The Village at Broadview
In the 1960s, the Zippo Lighter Company created a hugely successful ad campaign by asking a simple philosophical question: “What do you give the man who has everything?”
Anyone who has aging parents has faced this dilemma every time a birthday or Christmas rolls around. My dad’s 94, so I’ve struggled with it myself. “I don’t need anything,” he’d say. Truth be told, at this stage in life, the last thing he needs is another Thing. So, I needed to consult the experts. And by that I mean, others from his generation. Luckily, I have a wealth to draw from.
Words of Wisdom
I’m the Director of Community Relations at The Village at Broadview assisted living community, formerly Foss Home and Village. One of the greatest joys of my job is spending time with the residents, chatting, listening, and drawing from their experiences. These were the people I needed to talk to.
The Village is a unique community in that it’s not one big building with long hallways, but six quaint cottages around a village green, ideally suited for walking and talking. One of our residents and I were strolling the walking paths around the green, listening to the birds, and watching the squirrels, and I told her of my challenge. What does someone at this point in their life want? She said, “What I most cherish is the time I spend with my family.”
How Do You Give the Gift of Time?
Theophrastus, a Greek Philosopher, circa 300 BC, said, “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” I’d never heard of Theophrastus, but he was clearly pretty sharp. Over twenty-three hundred years later his words still ring true.
I vowed that my gift to my dad would be to spend more time with him. So I committed to a “Boys’ Night Out” once a month. Over dinner, my brothers and I dive into stories of our youth, of building forts, racing Schwinn Sting Rays, and playing Little League. My dad is usually the quietest one at the table, content to let our laughter fill the room. He just sits back, taking it all in with a constant, quiet smile.
Creating Space for Connection
These nights changed how I look at my work. Often, when we think about senior living, we think about the logistics of care. But at its heart, a boutique community like The Village at Broadview is really about creating the space for these meaningful moments to happen.
By living in a smaller, intimate cottage setting, our residents find a sense of peace that’s hard to capture in a large, busy facility. This environment doesn’t just benefit our residents; it benefits their families, too. When you visit, you aren’t walking into a high-traffic institution; you’re walking into a home. Whether you’re sitting on the porch or strolling the village green, the setting is already primed for a good conversation.
Which takes me back to time with my dad.
The Payoff
At the conclusion of our most recent Boys Night Out, the ride home was peppered with little comments from my dad like, “I remember that football game you were talking about,” or “That trip to Cannon Beach was special.”
When we reached his home, he said something I will carry with me for the rest of my life: “Best present ever.”
Turns out a Zippo lighter isn’t the perfect gift for the man who has everything. It’s you.
If you’re looking for an assisted living community built for quality time, give us a call. The conversations are waiting for you.
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The Village at Broadview
13023 Greenwood Avenue
Seattle Washington, 98133
Phone: (206) 834‑2522
