Bridging the Generations
perrine bridge, real estate, the college of southern idaho,
When Doris Christison moved to Southern Idaho from trendy Folsom, Calif., several years ago, she had a lot of people to please.
Her elderly mother, a Hammett resident, was ill and needed Christison nearby. Her husband dreamed of a home in a rural setting, where they could garden and keep horses. His mother, who joined them from Arizona, needed a senior living community where she could make friends and maintain her independence. Christison hoped for a place her California grandchildren would be happy to visit.
“You have to go where you’re needed, and unfortunately it’s our generation that seems to be taking care of everybody else,” she says.
Christison’s predicament, though varying from the classic description, is similar to that of a mushrooming demographic – the so-called “Sandwich Generation,” comprised of baby boomers and others caring for both parents and children.
Christison is also representative of a growing number of people who are moving to Southern Idaho from states such as California, Washington and Arizona and bringing their extended families with them, says Camille Murphy, sales director for Bridgeview Estates.
Murphy has worked for four years at Bridgeview, which is now home to Christison’s mother-in-law. It offers a full “continuum of care” – independent residences, assisted living and medical care staff under one roof.
Despite expansion, all of Bridgeview’s independent living apartments have been snapped up. There’s now a waiting list, and developers plan a similar facility across town, Murphy says.
One reason is the comparatively low cost of living.
Christison and her husband settled in Buhl, a town of about 4,000 just west of Twin Falls.
“It’s much less expensive to live here,” she says. “When we sold our house in Folsom, we bought five acres and a larger house and paid for it, so that definitely helped in making the change.”
The region’s entertainment opportunities for people of all ages also appeal to extended families, Murphy said. Abundant stores, restaurants, parks and other amenities can be found in Twin Falls, a city of 34,000, while casinos and even skiing lie within a few hours’ drive.
Emblematic of the area as a generational crossroads is the Perrine Bridge, which spans the majestic Snake River Canyon fewer than 500 yards from Bridgeview. The facility’s residents can watch the mostly younger daredevils leap from the bridge, the only legal year-round BASE-jumping site in the nation.
“They call it ‘Bridgeview’ for a reason,” Murphy says.
But the area’s strong sense of community explains why so many families choose to stay.
Christison says her mother-in-law particularly enjoys Twin Falls’ weekly concerts in the park in the summertime and Bridgeview’s dinner club. Residents also enjoy the frequent fairs, festivals and parades.
The College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls provides both cultural entertainment and community support. Besides plays, concerts and art exhibits, it boasts a planetarium and one of the world’s largest handicapped-accessible public telescopes.
The college’s Office on Aging provides numerous free services for seniors and support for families. Its volunteers visit Christison’s mother-in-law at her Bridgeview apartment to draw blood as needed.
Christison says she has found something for everyone in the Twin Falls area, even a skate park for her 13-year-old grandson.
But what she enjoys most is the small-town atmosphere.
“Everybody takes care of everybody else,” she says.
Story by Chris Fletcher
Photo by Jeff Adkins
