photo credit Oak HammockAs the baby boomers reach retirement age, institutions across the United States will have to find creative solutions to accommodate their burgeoning numbers. Despite this growing need, a retirement community on a college campus might not seem to be a great idea. It’s not difficult to imagine late-night police calls from seniors who think midnight is entirely too late to be playing loud music, or are appalled by the undergraduates who trample the beloved garden of a 90-year old during their late night escapades. But Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, Inc. has created just such an unlikely pairing, a relationship in which university administration, students, senior residents, and other stakeholders have found a lot to like.  

Although the idea to establish a retirement community had been floating around the University of Florida’s campus for years, Dr. Gorden Streib, a sociology professor at the University, spearheaded the effort after researching the emotional and health benefits older residents would enjoy if university resources were made available to them. In 1997, Dr. Strieb and the director of the University’s Institute for Gerontology, Dr. Ray Coward, met with the University’s president and other leaders to propose a University-sponsored retirement community. The meeting resulted in the formation of a committee to investigate the possibilities, and eventually led to the creation of Oak Hammock at the University of Florida as a nonprofit corporation.  

With the support of a development team led by PRAXIS, LLC and FORCE Financial, LLC, the facility opened its doors in the spring of 2004. Since then, Oak Hammock has been extremely successful, and now has a long waiting list. Unlike many other town-gown partnerships, the Gainesville, Florida, community has witnessed a thriving reciprocal relationship between the aging community and the University. The University and Oak Hammock have created an environment that is appealing to both young and old alike.

 The partnership between the University of Florida and Oak Hammock allows residents to participate in lifelong learning and take advantage of the rich arts and cultural environment that the University has to offer, while the University enjoys a number of educational and financial benefits from its association with a much older demographic than is the norm.  Living on the University campus gives senior residents access to sporting events, the performing arts, and libraries, among other amenities. They can also take classes on site at Oak Hammock, venture to the campus to listen to a lecture or class, or teach and mentor students themselves.

In addition, the retirement facility serves as a convenient hands-on classroom for students. The College of Health and Human Performance, for example, helps run and maintain Oak Hammock’s state-of-the-art fitness center, and the College of Dentistry staffs an on-site dentist office. The College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy provide consultations and lectures on health. Important to many residents, the University College of Veterinary Medicine can treat the Oak Hammock community’s pets. The University of Florida also has the opportunity to develop the loyalty of these older residents, many of whom have considerable discretionary income or are beginning to think about their legacy.

Oak Hammock is located just off the University of Florida campus, so it is sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the University, but is still close enough to take advantage of the resources it makes available. The facility’s 136-acre lot includes woodlands, bike and walking paths, and gardens, in a resort-like setting and is designed to help seniors make the most of their later years. A variety of living situations are available, including apartments and free-standing homes, all with designs that accommodate the mobility needs of older adults.

Oak Hammock serves as an important model for universities across the country, as they begin to rethink their relationship with their communities. Oak Hammock at the University of Florida has demonstrated that unusual partnerships and innovative thinking can fundamentally change the role institutions play. The connection to the University enlivens the social and cultural environment for its residents, while the presence of older adults contributes to the college experience of students. 

More information can be found at Oak Hammock's website