It’s a Generational Thing at Baton Rouge Retirement Community

Retirement communities are far from just a place for your parents to live. St. James Place in Baton Rouge is proving that, as the number of second-generation residents is on the rise.

Couples like Lee and Barrie Griffin, both second-generation residents, are becoming more common. Lee and Barrie were involved with St. James Episcopal Church when the committee to build St. James Place was created. Barrie’s parents were one of the first couples to live at St. James Place in 1983. They lived there for nearly 15 years alongside Lee’s parents, who moved to Baton Rouge in 1986 to the place their son helped create.

The Griffins just recently made the decision to move to St. James Place themselves in the summer of 2019. “It was a no-brainer,” Barrie said. “Some people make the mistake of waiting too long before moving here to enjoy life and all there is to do.”

Guy and Mimi Riche decided not to wait. Both second-generation residents, they’ve been living at St. James Place since Thanksgiving 2018. The Riches say they’re following in their parents’ footsteps, greatly enjoying abundance of activities and overall culture at the community.

“St. James Place was the best gift my parents gave to my siblings and me,” Mimi said. “And now we’re are grateful that our children don’t have to worry about what kind of care we may need as we get older. It’s all right here at St. James Place, and our kids will now have the same peace-of-mind we did about my parents.”

The Griffins and the Riches aren’t the only second-generation residents at St. James Place. There are several others, including Linda Roy, whose 100-year-old mother is still living at St. James Place, and even a second-generation dog on the campus.