What
follows is neither census nor a report for Sociology 101. This information is based on insights and clues from conversations at dinner, in the library, around the
bridge
table, the pool table, the swimming pool, and the reading table in the main lobby or chats during activities or other functions in Old Main Village. The figures
are from the Resident Directory issued monthly.
Among a few insights on Old Main Village and its residents...
- There are 70 units ranging from efficiency units to several with three bedrooms. There are two guest suites
- There are 77 of us at last count with two new ones coming next month and one departing.
- There are 57 women, 20 men.
- Of the 77 residents, 24 are couples, 53 live singly.
- Of the 53 living singly, 49 are women, 4 are men. Three of the four men have wives receiving full care at another facility in the community.
- Our ages range from the mid-60s to 96. Nine of us are in our 90s. A median age would be about 75; an average about 80.
- It is inevitable that women will outnumber men and singles will outnumber marrieds. These figures appear consistent with survival rates for this age group.
- As one would expect most of the residents come from a fairly localized area of south central Minnesota, perhaps two-thirds from the Mankato area including towns (and farms) within 40 miles or so.
- They are predominantly Scandinavian and northern Europeans. Many are from farm family backgrounds, a few from the professions – teaching, medicine, dentistry, nursing, the clergy, law. Others are from business and finance.
- Almost without exception anyone from outside the immediate area has a connection of some kind to the area – family, friends, a former home here or perhaps a connection with MSU. Two couples have children on staff at MSU.
- Relative to MSU connections, seven are former staff members (or spouse), ten are former students at MSU; two went all the way through MSU, elementary and secondary from the Campus School and finishing off with college work from MSU.
- For most residents Old Main Village is their first experience with "senior living." They are aware that it is not a permanent arrangement and will remain here as long as they are able to care for themselves and remain reasonably mobile with the knowledge that one day they will need to move on to a facility with greater assistance. As can be expected there is a higher turnover rate for a "senior living" facility than for a regular apartment complex.
- Perhaps a half dozen of us use a cane, four depend on a walker, another four have motorized carts. None of us use the standard wheelchair. But we are determined to remain self-sufficient and mobile.
Yes, Old Main is a busy place again. It is host to a segment of the population in contrast to the swarms of eager students it once served. It is filling a niche in present life not well addressed by present institutions as the nation struggles to plan and provide for its rapidly expanding older population. Our hats are off to the group of entrepreneurial citizens who had the vision and obtained the financing to rescue the deteriorating Old Main and bring it again into the mainstream of life in our area in the form of Old Main Village.
As I end this story of Old Main I feel again that sense of the ceaseless flow of time. My window now looks on the snow of early winter. The early evening lights of the cities are already showing against the fading light. College classes and activity are in full swing on the hill above. The sesquicentennial celebration is over. Now a threat of war dominates our news. Nothing is forever, but we often cling to those things or events that link us to our past or hint of our future. Old Main does this for me.
Jim Nickerson
2003
Dr. James Nickerson is President Emeritus of MSU. An abridged version of his essay appears in the fall 2003 TODAY at Minnesota State. The complete essay was printed previously in Vitality Plus (St. James Publishing).
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