Dynamis Advisors

Access to affordable housing, particularly for the most vulnerable members of our society, stands as a critical social determinant of health. This challenge grows more complex with each passing day, especially as demographic shifts, such as the increasing senior population, intensify the demand for affordable and innovative housing options. A 2019 report in Health Affairs foresaw that over half of middle-income seniors in the decade leading to 2030 would be unable to afford necessary senior housing. The shortage of healthcare workers catering to seniors only exacerbates the issue. In several cities, positive strides are being made through changes in zoning laws, as highlighted in a February 17 NPR article. Addressing this issue requires bold strategies, such as departing from the exclusionary origins of zoning laws and returning to town planning principles that foster communities embracing a multi-generational and multi-income approach. https://lnkd.in/eV7XN-d8

After reading the article "Why Americans suddenly stopped hanging out" published in The Atlantic (https://lnkd.in/ekQWRvmx), I've come to realize that this societal shift is contributing to increased polarization and the erosion of communal spaces for the exchange of ideas and innovation. The provision of healthcare, being an inherently personal service, holds the potential to serve as a crucial place where community interactions can dismantle barriers and contribute to a sense of community. A poignant illustration of this potential lies in a story shared by a Catholic priest who served as the longstanding Chaplain for St. Alexis Hospital in Cleveland. St. Alexis Hospital, established in 1884, was among the first members of the Catholic Health Association and the second hospital built in Cleveland. In the early 2000s, during interviews for the hospital's planned transition out of the healthcare business as part of a Healthy Village transformation, the Chaplain recounted an incident involving Ted Kennedy. Many years earlier, during Ted Kennedy's visit to the hospital while supporting Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign, an elderly Polish woman, who spoke broken English, sat in a wheelchair in the cafeteria. Ted Kennedy, trailed by the hospital CEO and staff, reporters, and photographers, engaged in conversation with her.  She explained in a heavy Polish accent that she was there for an appointment and had been at the hospital for over two hours.  The CEO and staff looked nervous, and the reporters hovered sensing a story.  However, upon further inquiry, she explained "You don't understand. My appointment is not until later this afternoon. I come here to see my friends." This story serves as a poignant reminder that, amidst our increasing screen-centric lifestyles, healthcare settings continue to be vital hubs where people gather. In our pursuit of progress and technological advancement, it is essential not to overlook the enduring importance of these physical spaces in fostering human connection and community.