#8. Building Vibrant Communities: A Conversation with Ann Lindsay on Rural Healthcare, Aging, and Life in Humboldt County

Scott Hammond: Welcome everybody, and welcome Ann Lindsay.

Ann Lindsay: Thank you for having me.

Scott Hammond: Thanks for, thanks for coming in. Um, I

earlier, I said, "I don't know a lot about Ann, more about, uh, what, uh… who are you, what brought you to Humboldt?"

Ann Lindsay: [laughs] The real story is we came here on vacation, my husband

and I, we never left.

Scott Hammond: Ah. [laughs] How long ago was that?

Ann Lindsay: 40 years ago.

Scott Hammond: Is that right?

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: Where, where did you live before that?

Ann Lindsay: In San Francisco.

Scott Hammond: And just came up to the redwoods?

Ann Lindsay: Yep, we came up to visit friends, and, um,

both family physicians.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And we knew s- somebody who worked at Open Door Clinic,

we went to a party. It was actually potluck party, and th- people from Open Door Clinic, and we didn't realize it

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: Oh, that's funny.

[laughs] You didn't see it coming. Was that with Herman Spetzler and when he was-

Ann Lindsay: Right

Scott Hammond: … part of that.

Ann Lindsay: Herman and Cheyenne Spetzler.

Scott Hammond: Wow. Now, has he passed?

Ann Lindsay: Yes.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, he was amazing founder, right?

Ann Lindsay: He and Cheyenne and a lot of other people worked hard and-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … built it into quite an empire.

Scott Hammond: So Humboldt 40 years ago, that's about the time when we came up,

Humboldt State in '78. I'm sorry, stand corrected. Cal Poly Humboldt.

Ann Lindsay: Okay.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, gotta get that right now. That's the, the new brand.

Anyway, so, um, tell me about… So were you raised in the city in San Francisco?

Ann Lindsay: No, I'm from New England.

Scott Hammond: Oh.

Ann Lindsay: From Massachusetts.

Scott Hammond: Okay. And did you go to school there?

Ann Lindsay: Um, I went for the first 17 years of my life I

went to school there, and I went to college in outside of

then-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … um, medical school in Cleveland.

I worked my way west and did my-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … uh, family practice residency training at-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … San Francisco General Hospital.

Scott Hammond: Wow. And then wound up at Humboldt,

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

I kinda wa- I… You do look familiar 'cause [laughs] all students went to Open Door back in the day it seems like. A lot of us anyway.

Ann Lindsay: Well, I, I worked there for about two years,

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … um, my husband and I, uh, set up a, a private family

practice in Arcata.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, for the first 10 years we split one job.

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So we could… Because we had two children by that point-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and we co-parented.

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So, uh, that was a real pleasure to be able to do that.

Scott Hammond: I bet, yeah. Where were you in Arcata in the day?

Ann Lindsay: Right across from what's now Wildberry's, 13th and H Street.

Scott Hammond: Oh, right there. The big, the big house.

Ann Lindsay: Big brown house.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. It had been student housing before.

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: Right. Right. Yeah, I know the house actually. I was a…

Before I was a good neighbor, I was in advertising at,

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm

Scott Hammond: … Arcata was my, uh,

my sales territory, so I knew all, all the local business owners and folks and miss it a lot, but changed a bit.

Ann Lindsay: It was a, it was a real pleasure. Um, you know,

28 years.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: I got to know them and their… You know, at, within

s- I don't know, f- six months we were-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … full.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: So, um, we really stuck with the same…

You had to either marry into the practice or be born into it.

Scott Hammond: Wow. So you had a, a, a really solid practice.

Ann Lindsay: Really solid practice. A, one family who, we had five generations,

um-

Scott Hammond: That's wonderful

Ann Lindsay: … it was quite a treat to get

to work with people and get to know people in the community.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. Yeah. Everybody, um, everybody…

Let me rephrase. Many people don't understand Arcata even back in the day, but I always found it wonderful connection and some really beautiful, fun, local variety of people. Especially the business community was really great. So let's, let's go back in time, if you will. Uh, who, who were you, Ann, at 15?

Ann Lindsay: I grew up in a small town in, uh, southeastern, um,

Massachusetts.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So I was a high school student, and, um, I was a third

of four children. My parents were both quite active in the community-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … so I, that was a role model that

Scott Hammond: Nice.

Ann Lindsay: But I, you know, I was eager to get out of there.

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm. [laughs] Miss the snow? [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: No, I don't know. The, no, it was just, y- you know, small town,

Scott Hammond: Oh, yeah

Ann Lindsay: … you know everybody and all their business, so I was, uh,

looking forward to college.

Scott Hammond: Came west like many of us, yeah. Actually, I came north.

I was from San Diego via Iowa.

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: So,

um, 825 miles away. Uh, how, who were you, what were you doing at age 20? College?

Ann Lindsay: I was in college.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Or actually, um,

yeah, I went to, uh, [laughs] ended up out of a small town to a small college.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Uh, Swarthmore College-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … outside of Philadelphia, so I

was able to, um, finagle that into some travel. I t- I studied in, uh, the Free University of Berlin in Germany-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … and University of California San Diego-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … all along my way, and then returned to-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … Swarthmore, uh, to graduate as a philosophy major.

Scott Hammond: Wow. Before going on to med school.

Ann Lindsay: Right.

Scott Hammond: So UCSD is great.

Did you live in La Jolla or around the campus there?

Ann Lindsay: Um, Del Mar.

Scott Hammond: Del Mar? Better.

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah, it was beautiful then.

Scott Hammond: Great area. Oh my gosh.

Ann Lindsay: Now there's 5,000 houses on the Mesa.

Scott Hammond: Oh, yeah. It's, it's just different.

I was raised there, and it's just, it's so hard to go back 'cause it's so crowded.

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: I was raised in National City, which is kind of the-

Ann Lindsay: Right

Scott Hammond: … the other side of town. [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Right.

Scott Hammond: But it was great. The '70s, it was way, way fun, and rock and roll,

beach, and be a crazy person before going to

[laughs]

Ann Lindsay: [laughs] Yeah, well, I was supporting myself and going to school.

I didn't have many crazy times, but-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … I did enjoy the weather.

Scott Hammond: Del Mar is amazing. It's so-

Ann Lindsay: And you can bicycle anytime.

Scott Hammond: Oh, right. Yeah. It's all, yeah, it's all right there,

they call it? North County, going up the beaches.

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: My father lived in Oceanside for many years.

We used to go up there a lot. Um, so at age 30, what were you up to 10 years after that? You were probably in practice by then?

Ann Lindsay: Um, at 30 I was still in San Francisco.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: I had a private practice there with…

And, um, my daughter was born that year.

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So she's 30 years younger than I am.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: And, uh, she came to work with me. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: So, uh, it was before w- I, a-and,

um, things were different in medical practice.

Scott Hammond: Hmm, right.

Ann Lindsay: People did their own billing.

Scott Hammond: Right. [laughs] Times they have changed.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. How many… So one daughter. Other, other kids?

Ann Lindsay: I have a son-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … uh, who was born after I moved up here.

Scott Hammond: Okay.

Ann Lindsay: So.

Scott Hammond: Nice. Are you a grandma?

Ann Lindsay: I have four grandchildren who all live in Humboldt County, yeah, so.

Scott Hammond: Lucky. Look blessed. Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Yep.

Scott Hammond: That's cool.

Ann Lindsay: They're wonderful.

Scott Hammond: So I always ask grandmas this. I asked a lady today in Florida, you know.

So she came off the beach for this phone call with her family, and she said the grandkids are… I go, "So what do the grand babies call you?"

And so-

Ann Lindsay: Nana

Scott Hammond: … you're Nana. Okay, that's funny, 'cause she's Yiayia.

Ann Lindsay: Oh, okay.

Scott Hammond: She goes, "That's Greek, Greek, I guess." And so I go,

"Okay." I go like, "I like Yiayia. That's cool." So, so we have nine kids, soon to be 10 grandkids, and so, uh, I'm not sure what Joanie's called right now. I think we're just Grandma.

Ann Lindsay: How about you?

Scott Hammond: Um, Papa, Pops, uh, Grandpa. I don't know.

Ann Lindsay: All kinds of things.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. A lot of them don't talk quite yet.

[laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: I think the oldest is five or six, so I should know that.

Brecken is six years old, Joanie. Don't… I know it. Um, so vacation brought you here, and then you stayed, and you guys practiced in Arcata. And so what happened after? Did you go to work for the county after

Ann Lindsay: Well, as I said, we were splitting one job,

older,

um-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … we didn't… They didn't need us as much or, you know,

um, actually the county needed a health officer at the time.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, I filled in temporarily-

Scott Hammond: Hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and that turned into an 18-year

Scott Hammond: Wow. So for County of Humboldt?

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

How did you like it?

Ann Lindsay: I really enjoyed… It was a fantastic job.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: It, it was a real blend of, uh, community activism and

medical science.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, uh, the staff, the people who are,

bo- both on the local and the state level are very dedicated-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … you know, for the common good-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … and promoting health of the whole

You know, on the one hand, I continued the medical practice, and with individuals.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Uh, but I was able to also work on community

times-

Scott Hammond: Hmm

Ann Lindsay: … th- they would inform, uh, you know…

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: You know, things would come up.

Scott Hammond: Right.

Ann Lindsay: And you say, "Okay, this needs to change."

Scott Hammond: Yeah. Boots on the ground over here. Yeah,

So, um, what, um, y- we… So you're the, the officer for during CO- early COVID?

Ann Lindsay: No.

Scott Hammond: Okay, you were gone before that.

Ann Lindsay: Gone before that.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah, actually, um,

when… Uh, was it in 20… I can't even keep… remember now. T- I think it was in 2011, actually, I left and-

Scott Hammond: Oh

Ann Lindsay: … um, my husband, Alan Glassoff, and I got offered

a professorship at Stanford School of Medicine, which was, um-

Scott Hammond: Really?

Ann Lindsay: … quite a treat. So it was a big change for us,

um, uh, worked for six years on a special project that was challenging and rewarding-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … and, uh, but when the contract came up for renewal,

to Humboldt.

Scott Hammond: Hmm. Did you live in Palo Alto?

Ann Lindsay: No, I can't afford to live there. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Are you kidding?

Ann Lindsay: I lived in, uh, actually Emerald Hills, which

side of Redwood City.

Scott Hammond: Okay.

Ann Lindsay: So, uh, but, um, we, we… It, it was very nice, actually.

It was a way… We were hired to set up a clinic for Stanford employees and their dependents,

Health plan.

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, people who came to the clinic had multiple

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And we offered primary care to them, so it was a way of, uh, you know,

we drew on a whole lifetime of our experience and were able to design a clinical setting with, um… It really worked. It, you know, we, with team care and-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … really had time to listen to people. We…

'Cause we weren't billing for every minute we worked.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: We just got a, a monthly allocation for every patient in

practice, so w- we'd do whatever we needed to do,

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … care and offer services. Like, we had a physical therapist and a

licensed clinical social worker and-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … a pharmacist and, um, a dietician and-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … all right there, you know. So, um, it was all one-stop shopping for

them.

Scott Hammond: And your customers, clients were, were Stanford employees

Ann Lindsay: And, and their families, yeah.

Scott Hammond: Wow. So the care for the caregivers?

Ann Lindsay: No. Well, they, they were pr- all kinds of things.

They might have-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … washed the floors or, or-

Scott Hammond: Okay. So everyone, yeah

Ann Lindsay: … taught English or, um, been in the medical profession as well.

Scott Hammond: Could have been anything.

Ann Lindsay: But Stanford is dominated by the medical system, but-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … there's a lot of other people who work

Scott Hammond: So this is for the university at large.

Ann Lindsay: For the whole university, right.

Scott Hammond: Okay, got it. Okay. Yeah, I, um,

I have, uh, two new hips from Stanford.

Ann Lindsay: Right. Congratulations.

Scott Hammond: Which are no longer new.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: I had bi- bilateral hip surgery, uh,

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. I'm gonna get up and dance real quick. Do you mind?

Ann Lindsay: Nope.

Scott Hammond: Oh. [laughs]

Nick's going-

Ann Lindsay: Demonstrate your hips

Scott Hammond: … Nick's going, "Please don't stand."

[laughs] So yeah.

Ann Lindsay: You gotta stay next to that microphone.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, just, yeah, stay, stay close.

So I would like, um… I think Stanford can't get enough kudos 'cause it was really a really good experience for me. It was just world-class to doUm, the experience there was just really one of the best things I've done in terms of, um, anything medical, which has been pretty minor.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah, I, I think when we got there, um, I'd say it

I didn't-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … think that they, they– it was sort of in the medical system,

of physician-centered as opposed to-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … patient-centered.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, we were very vocal at trying to turn

and, um-

Scott Hammond: [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: … I think things I– from what I hear from people who've been

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … changed quite a bit for the good.

Scott Hammond: Se-seems like it.

Ann Lindsay: For the good.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: You know, the-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … the, uh, that, that, you know,

You have to listen to people, and be polite, and on time, and communicate well, and all

of that.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: So, um-

Scott Hammond: Yeah. We, um… Quick story.

My wife, who's a runner and very fit, Joni's 62 and had a stroke 12 weeks ago.

Ann Lindsay: Oh, I'm sorry to be-

Scott Hammond: Yeah, it was really weird. Um, she was the last person on the list to get

stroke and did. And, um, so we've been, uh… She was better the same day. Her left side came back and-

Ann Lindsay: Oh, wow

Scott Hammond: … good. It's

mostly good news. The, the weird journey, and this, this has come up in a thread in multiple podcasts now, [chuckles] is we're in this medical desert we call Humboldt. My, my son dubbed it that and it's not 100% true, but it's just getting, getting people to respond and, like you inferred, people that care and make a connection and, and get proactive. You didn't say those words. I inferred them, you've gotta really, you know, get on the phone and really bother people it's… And, and maybe she's okay, and they, they're not concerned, there's just not a lot of communication.

Ann Lindsay: Well, y- y- you know, to, to tell you the truth, at, um,

had people in our practice had inc-incredibly complex medical conditions.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: I mean, things I'd only heard about

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, they, they had a lot of… I mean,

one condition was specialitis. They had almost too much care.

Scott Hammond: [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: And, and had the same thing of issues of

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and, and, um, coordination and all.

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, and

they r-relied heavily. We had, um, care coordinators wh- or medical

assistants-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … who had their own panel of patients who

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … and, and really helped them navigate the

something that, um, you know, it's a lesson I- that we developed there or a model we developed there, and I-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … one I hope that can be more widely, uh, you know…

It is being more widely adopted, but-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … there's room for that up here.

Scott Hammond: So you came back to Humboldt, and what, what'd you do then?

Ann Lindsay: Well, um,

that's an interesting story. [chuckles] I, uh, uh, way back in

1973, I-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … I had visited a, a Quaker life plan community, which was

where, um, older people live in independent living

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … get care of assisted living

it.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, it– I, I was blown away. It was a beautiful day,

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and it looked like a college campus and-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … there was a string quartet playing and a-

Scott Hammond: Of course

Ann Lindsay: … poetry reading and, [chuckles] and I thought right then,

"Oh, my. Okay."

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: "I wish I could move in now," but I was a little too young.

Scott Hammond: Where was this at?

Ann Lindsay: In, um, Kennett Square in Philadel-

Scott Hammond: Really? Okay.

Ann Lindsay: It's, uh, Kendal Community.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, then, so when I came back to Humboldt, I,

um, I re- I realized… You know, I had been in the Bay Area and, and,

um, I didn't really feel connected there. I mean, I would've had technical aspect to, healthcare, but I need-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … it's the whole care environment-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … that was, um, sort of missing and, and, you know,

in my medical practice of 28 years, I saw a number… I grew– As I grew older, so did my patients.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And there were a good number of them that ended up living alone,

not able to drive.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: You know, their kids had moved away.

Their partner, spouses had died and, and it was really… They were unconnected.

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, and not all that– It didn't, doesn't make you happy to

be like that.

Scott Hammond: Right. Right. No joy.

Ann Lindsay: Even if you can afford to hire somebody to take care of you, it's not,

uh, not your friends.

Scott Hammond: Right.

Ann Lindsay: Um, you know, so I came back here

thinking with that idea of the Kendal Community-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and the connectedness there and, um-

Scott Hammond: What year was that, Ann?

Ann Lindsay: Uh, well,

I came back in 2017. It took me a little while to, you know, figure out how to go from there.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And in 2019, I really seriously connected with other

vision of things could be different for older people in Humboldt County.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: 'Cause there's no life plan community,

that for 200 miles.

Scott Hammond: Right.

Ann Lindsay: And I certainly didn't wanna move.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: You know, 'cause at the time, my daughter was in– my son

daughter was in Portland, and I didn't really wanna go leave my Humboldt roots. I had a lot of connections-

Scott Hammond: Connections, yeah

Ann Lindsay: … here, and I didn't wanna leave those to go live

know and-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and so, um, some people, a

number of hardworking people have, since 2019, have, uh, been working on Life Plan Humboldt, and

we-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and, uh, we're getting there.

Scott Hammond: I think we're gonna talk about Life Plan Humboldt here for a minute

[chuckles]

Ann Lindsay: Well, it's what I'm doing now. [chuckles]

Scott Hammond: [chuckles] I wanna hear about that. So I did a little homework.

I saw the Rogue Manor, um, uh, up in-

Ann Lindsay: Rogue Valley Manor-

Scott Hammond: … Rogue Valley

Ann Lindsay: … in Medford. That's the closest.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I have kids that live by there and,

uh, so know about it and-

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm

Scott Hammond: … the facility a little bit. I've just seen it. It's pretty prominent.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah, it's a pretty fancy place.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, it's pretty, pretty amazing.

I've never been on the campus, but, uh, probably will.

Ann Lindsay: I think, uh, a thousand people live there

Scott Hammond: That's amazing. Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Uh-huh.

Scott Hammond: And that's– Uh, we really like Medford itself.

Um, tell us a little bit about Life Plan

Ann Lindsay: Right. Well, we, um, started the effort, first we wanna–

study to see whether there's the need for a community here.

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: I mean, there had to be a reason why there wasn't

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … here, right? And it turns out it's just 'cause we're

But there are plenty– There's 17,000 people who live here-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … who are over the age 65, and that population's gonna grow for the

or 30 years.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, so the market [chuckles] study said there

room for it.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: We do– We're fortunate to have assisted living

some, um, senior housing opportunities. Not enough, but some. But there's still room-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … for that. And, and we certainly know that, um,

nursing is not ideal.

Scott Hammond: Right.

Ann Lindsay: Um, you know, so that there's room for improvement in that-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and certainly, in that and memory care.

So, um, then we s- did what's called human-centered design, interviewed… So the people who became Life Plan Humboldt interviewed 14 local, um, older adults for two or three hours-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … just to figure out, you know,

What, what-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … what the issues are. And what we learned

in terms of a Life Plan community.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: They had no idea. That m-mo- all but one of them–

Uh, one person out of that had what I call a well-formed plan-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … for what they might do-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … as they older and if, if they become disabled-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … or whatever. Thirteen of them said, "Uh,

and hire somebody to take care of them if they need it-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … and hopefully they'll die quickly, and it-

Scott Hammond: Yeah, no plan

Ann Lindsay: … it won't be an issue." [chuckles]

Scott Hammond: No real plan, yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. So, um, we realized then that there was an

opportunity here that we could have a community, and yet we had a lot of education to do. So we formed a non-profit, and, um, as Life Plan Humboldt. And then we started, um… This is– Then COVID hit, and we started, um, having, uh, what we call house parties with people on

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … to talk about aging.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: You know, and to introduce people to the idea of-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … what a Life Plan community is.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: I must have done 50 of those, 'cause-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … people were home and had nothing to do.

[chuckles]

Scott Hammond: That's right.

Ann Lindsay: Initially it was a great actually for community

You couldn't see them face to face, but-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … thank goodness for Zoom.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, could've done the Zoom call.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. Yeah. [chuckles] And, uh, and that's grown into,

um, now we have, um, you know, 1,200… over 1,200 people on our, get our newsletter.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: We've got 70 active volunteers.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: We're, um,

got a business plan and, uh-

Scott Hammond: Good.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. [chuckles] And potential f-financiers of the thing

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … are close to purchasing property in our,

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And now b-back, getting back to the Kendall story.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So, um, I– they were going to be affiliating with Kendall.

I went back and visited-

Scott Hammond: That's in Phil-

Ann Lindsay: … the same community I'd seen in twen- nin-

Scott Hammond: In Philly.

Ann Lindsay: In-

Scott Hammond: Outside of Philly

Ann Lindsay: … outside of Philadelphia, and I went back and visited them four

ago.

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: And it was even better than I remembered actually, 'cause, um-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … there was a woodworking shop

master weaver who'd set up a studio that had 40 looms. And there were people of all different skills, learning how to weave, you know? So-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … the idea is you can share your knowledge-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … but continue to learn-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and be engaged-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and social and connected, um,

you know, i-in a way that I didn't see-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … the older people I took care of in

you know, the homes, their three-bedroom homes they raised

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: …

and, um, were not connected.

Scott Hammond: Right.

I love your connection

connection.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. [chuckles]

Scott Hammond: 'Cause I get it. I, I, I totally understand that.

I think, uh, we've looked at leaving Humboldt, but there's too many of those relationship connections.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: And it's, it's really important.

talking to the choir here, but, you know, to, to know… You know, I know Nick, who knows 17 people I know, so we're, though I don't know him real well. We don't eat out or anything, but it's, um… And it's unique to this area. That's come up a lot, that the seven layers of Kevin Bacon, one or two layers of Humboldt. You and I know Patrick together.

Ann Lindsay: Right.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. And, um, is he part of this in some way too?

Ann Lindsay: He's on– Patrick Cleary's on our board of directors.

Scott Hammond: Okay.

Ann Lindsay: I mean, one thing by virtue of being in medical

time and being a, you know, a public health official in the

county-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … I got to know a lot of people who, uh,

positive influences-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … on the community. So we put together-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … a board of directors, and we have, um, Joyce Hayes, who

Resource Center and-

Scott Hammond: Okay

Ann Lindsay: … started the PACE program

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … while she was there. And Joanne Schuh, who's a,

a kitchen designer, but she has great-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … uh, uh, worked on the, um, North Coast Village, you know,

um, effort to support people in their homes-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and as they age. And Pat Gerse, who is very

active in the nursing program at, uh, Cal Poly-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … and also, um, worked with the health, uh, programs

at College of the Redwoods.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: And Patrick Cleary, who, you know, who-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … with, at the time, he was with the Humboldt Area Foundation-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and he's with, uh, Lost Coast Communications.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And very well connected. Kirk Gerard was a former planning

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … of Humboldt County. Greg Orsini was the director of the

district in-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … uh, McKinleyville. And George Williamson was with Plans West,

also a planner.

Scott Hammond: Right.

Ann Lindsay: And then Mark Chatten, who was IT.

Scott Hammond: Hi, Mark. Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Uh, well, he had a lot of business experience,

with, uh, um, Re- Redwood Capital Bank.

So-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … we have a g-Uh, I hope I haven't left anybody out,

Scott Hammond: Mark and Beth

Ann Lindsay: … Oh, oh, and Patty Berg.

Scott Hammond: Patty Berg.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. Don't forget Patty.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Uh, she started the Area One Agency on Aging-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … and, uh, served as assembly member

Scott Hammond: Hmm

Ann Lindsay: … in a lot of pots around here.

Scott Hammond: So are all these people still local?

Ann Lindsay: All of them are local, yeah.

Scott Hammond: They are. Yeah, okay.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah, and they're all working. I mean, it's a very active board.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Um, but they're all, uh, spending quite…

They're all retired-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … almost.

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: And, uh, they get pulled back to their old jobs-

Scott Hammond: Sure

Ann Lindsay: … from time to time, but they're, they're every…

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, uh, so far we're all volunteers and-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … really moving this project along.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

So, so what, what is… Tell me more about the what is the pro… What, will it be in phases? Will it be… Is it 100%, um, live-in? Is it, is it, is there a farm involved?

Is there-

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: … community se… I mean, what, so what, what are the pieces of it?

Ann Lindsay: Well, um, the essence of it is it's independent living.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And we're actually gonna be partnering with, uh, um,

a rural community housing development corporation to include affordable senior housing on the campus.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: But, um, what, then they'll have 30 to 60 units,

and then Life Plan Humboldt is gonna have 144 residences

at-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … well, a combination of apartments and, uh,

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: And we'll provide assisted living level services to people as they

it.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, we're gonna have memory care

people, and I'm really excited about that because there's all kinds of new

models-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … of memory care emergence, and we have both the responsibility,

privilege of really designing state-of-the-art-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … or even better than state, you know, the best thing possible.

Scott Hammond: Right.

Ann Lindsay: So we're looking at all kinds of models.

There's a Montessori model of dementia care, and there's one called the greenhouse, which is really, like, home-like-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … living.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So, um,

uh, that, that's gonna be really fun putting

Scott Hammond: So there's new stuff when it comes to al- memory care that's-

Ann Lindsay: Yep

Scott Hammond: … breaking, breaking news, n- news.

Ann Lindsay: News and, uh, and, you know, my mother had Alzheimer's, and I…

She went through a number of living situations-

Scott Hammond: Uh-huh

Ann Lindsay: … which were okay, but they could have really been much

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … for her. And, and, uh,

so I, I think that, that we can do better.

Scott Hammond: I love it. So there'll be various stages where

starting to get memory issues, they could-

Ann Lindsay: You, you don't have to move out of the

Scott Hammond: … you stay on campus. You're in the community.

Ann Lindsay: You're in the community, and-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and the people, you know, you don't have to…

and nobody has to drive to come see you. They're right there.

Scott Hammond: Pretty valuable.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, I love it.

Great. Hey, so I always do a thing kind of to break I'm gonna ring my bell. Please don't be alarmed.

Ann Lindsay: Okay. [bell rings]

Scott Hammond: So this is the part of the show where I'm gonna ask you a couple of

like about Humboldt. So we're just talking county now.

Ann Lindsay: Right.

Scott Hammond: Where, where do you like to eat when you eat out?

Ann Lindsay: I hardly ever eat out. I like my, to eat out of my garden.

Scott Hammond: Eat out of your-

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: [laughs] Go out to the garden. What do you grow?

Ann Lindsay: Uh, cucumbers and berries, and I have 50 fruit

trees.

Scott Hammond: Oh, wow.

Ann Lindsay: Um, and-

Scott Hammond: You must be out, like, Fieldbrook or somewhere.

Ann Lindsay: McKinleyville.

Scott Hammond: Okay.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Where they can grow.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, we don't-

Ann Lindsay: It's, it's sunny there. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: We don't grow much at Dow's Prairie, trust me.

[laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Lettuce and cherry to- you know-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … tomatoes in my greenhouse.

Scott Hammond: So, okay. So you're-

Ann Lindsay: All kinds of-

Scott Hammond: … you like to garden.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: What kind of trees do you have?

Ann Lindsay: Mostly apple trees.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Uh, and, uh, no, no two are the same there.

Scott Hammond: Gotcha. So if you were to go out on a trail right now

hours, where, where would you go walk, for a walk?

Ann Lindsay: I go walking every day with my dogs.

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: Where do you, where do you typically h-

Ann Lindsay: Um

Scott Hammond: … hit to walk?

Ann Lindsay: Hiller Park in McKinleyville.

Scott Hammond: Sure.

Ann Lindsay: Um, then Alf Murray Road.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: You know, the whole… That's the extension of the Hiller-

Scott Hammond: Oh, right

Ann Lindsay: … Trail.

Scott Hammond: Oh, the new trail down by the river?

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. Joni took me there. It's fun.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. Uh, I went to r- to the marsh earlier-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … today-

Scott Hammond: Gotcha

Ann Lindsay: … in Arcata.

Scott Hammond: Do you go on the Hammond Trail?

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. Well, the… Yeah, the, but the Hammond Trail,

leash. I, I really like-

Scott Hammond: You should go

Ann Lindsay: … the, um, Hiller Park 'cause it's, uh,

dogs run free.

Scott Hammond: And the dog… It's a dog park.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, nothing makes my most

wonderful, peaceful wife more crazy than folks with dogs on, not on a leash, like-

Ann Lindsay: Uh-huh

Scott Hammond: … at Redwood Forest or on Hammond Trail. They just,

I guess some of them-

Ann Lindsay: Right

Scott Hammond: … must have a pass.

Ann Lindsay: Well, Hammond Trail, you're supposed to have a leash.

Scott Hammond: You're supposed to, yeah.

Ann Lindsay: You know, I, I pay attention to that.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. No, I, um, what about, um,

I don't know, what, what if you were to go out for coffee? Where do, where do you go for coffee?

Or do you?

Ann Lindsay: Uh, not much. I, you know, Brio often.

Scott Hammond: Brio's good.

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, they have the-

Ann Lindsay: But r- really what I like about Humboldt

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … here, and, uh, um, I play… I'm a musician, so there's-

Scott Hammond: Ah

Ann Lindsay: … active music scene, and-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … there's something there. You can actually go play places here,

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … in the Bay Area it wasn't, didn't feel quite that privileged.

Scott Hammond: Right.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Right. So what do you play? Who do you play with?

Ann Lindsay: Um, I play standup bass.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And-

Scott Hammond: Did you bring it today?

Ann Lindsay: No. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: You can't play it. You need a whole band.

Scott Hammond: You need a band. Mostly bluegrass or…?

Ann Lindsay: No. Um, c- it's called country blues,

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … sing. So they tell stories, but they're-

Scott Hammond: Sure

Ann Lindsay: … a blues f- format. Not, not like Chicago blues, which is li-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … electric. It's acoustic.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Uh, we have Frank Anderson plays harmonica.

Patrick Cleary plays mandolin.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Uh, Kat Coskun, um, play, uh, sings and plays, uh-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … washboards and percussion.

Scott Hammond: Nice.

Ann Lindsay: And Alan Glassrof, my husband, plays guitar.

Scott Hammond: Very nice. Are you guys gonna play in the, uh,

Ann Lindsay: Not this year.

Scott Hammond: Oh, but you have-

Ann Lindsay: But we're playing Friday night at the Fieldbrook Market.

Scott Hammond: Okay.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: I was gonna say, we might come and see you.

We- I think we have a, something at the Larrupin, but, um-

Ann Lindsay: 6:00 to 8:00.

Scott Hammond: 6:00 to 8:00.

Ann Lindsay: 6:00 to 8:30 at-

Scott Hammond: It's a great venue.

Ann Lindsay: It's a great venue.

Scott Hammond: And their tri-tip is delicious.

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: It's just good food there. Um, we've, we've taken to going to the,

really enjoyed that.

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: Have you played at that venue?

Ann Lindsay: We played at the winery also. We have, yeah-

Scott Hammond: Oh

Ann Lindsay: … that's great.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, it's fun out there.

Ann Lindsay: It… Actually, the winery hosted a, um, a, was a site

for a, um, fundraiser for Life Plan Humboldt.

Scott Hammond: Okay.

Ann Lindsay: We had dinner there and music and-

Scott Hammond: At the winery?

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Oh, very nice.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah, it's a beautiful venue.

Scott Hammond: So you know Judy and Bob and-

Ann Lindsay: Uh-huh

Scott Hammond: … yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Judy, uh, Judy's a great supporter of Life Plan

Scott Hammond: That's wonderful. She's… I really like Judy.

Ann Lindsay: I mean, she realized, like the rest of us,

it, you have a big, beautiful house and property and gets harder and harder

to maintain.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: And be… My mantra, actually, getting ready to move into

Life Plan Humboldt community is, if something goes wrong, like the plumbing screws up or the-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … roof leaks, just call maintenance.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. [laughs] Just, it's one call.

[laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Yeah, just call maintenance. It's not-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … you know.

Scott Hammond: Funny, sh- she said that she and Bob just had moved to the

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: In that same vein, same point.

Ann Lindsay: Yep.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, very fun. So w- Fieldbrook, uh, Store, where else can

we catch you guys playing this summer?

Ann Lindsay: Uh, we're gonna be at the Blackberry Festival.

Scott Hammond: West Haven.

Ann Lindsay: In West Haven, J- July 30th.

Scott Hammond: That's a big…

[laughs] That's, you know what, that's a long-term thing,

Ann Lindsay: Yeah

Scott Hammond: … 60, 80 years, right? It's been-

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, the pies are delicious.

Ann Lindsay: Pies are delicious, and they use just the regular kind of,

n- not the Himalayan blackberries. They're purists.

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: Right, they go with the old, regular blackberry.

Have you played Bad River Brewery back in the day or…?

Ann Lindsay: Uh, no.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, everybody used to play that,

Well, so, um,

just that-

Ann Lindsay: And we play at Arts Alive-

Scott Hammond: Okay

Ann Lindsay: … you know, in Ar- in Arcata and Eureka.

Scott Hammond: We'll have to go see you guys sometime.

Ann Lindsay: And I kinda, and then, uh, we play at the Clam Beach-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … Tavern.

Scott Hammond: Oh, yeah.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Have I got a story about that.

[laughs] We, we never set foot in, in that 'cause we always considered it the Clam Beach Tavern. It's like a dive bar. So we went in with two friends, six of, there were six of us, and it was Waylon, Aaron Jennings, just, he just hot off tour from Heim Palm, and, uh, Garberville.

Ann Lindsay: Oh.

Scott Hammond: He's a single yodeling cowboy.

Ann Lindsay: Oh.

Scott Hammond: And he had to have about five hot toddies to get his voice right,

and then he did a show for, like s- 10 people that was amazing. [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: It was f- it was a memorable night there.

I think they have something else in there.

Ann Lindsay: Uh, they reopened, I believe.

Scott Hammond: Okay, good.

Ann Lindsay: I don't know, haven't… You know, COVID kind of cut into-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … our career, so we only play in venues, uh, I mean,

that, um, are pretty much out- well-ventilated or outside, so.

Scott Hammond: Yeah, yeah.

So yeah, I'd love, love to come see you Friday. So, uh, Um, I always ask two questions, and they're, they're c- could be metaphorical, could be as deep or as shallow as you want. Who is Ann Lindsey, and what do you want?

Ann Lindsay: [laughs] Yes.

Scott Hammond: These are Joni's father, Joni's father was amazing guy.

Um, Tom was wonderful. Hi, Tom. Uh, who, who are, who's Ann

Lindsey?

Ann Lindsay: Um, an older person that

still working on things to try to be a good family member and-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … make the community

grow.

Scott Hammond: Love it. [laughs] Good. It's, is, that's kinda what you want.

What, what, what do you want? What else do you want to see happen?

Ann Lindsay: Well, uh, yeah, right now, a big thing I'm o-

Plan Humboldt.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: It's just to give an option to, um,

people in Humboldt of, you know, that's, we're trying to keep it affordable f- for mid-income and on.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, you know, allow people to downsize and,

and s- live in community.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. So is property purchased, or

I saw that s-

Ann Lindsay: Oh, we are so close. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: I saw that spot in McKinleyville.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: It's a pretty good space.

Ann Lindsay: Well, um, we're south of Hiller. It's 14.6 acres.

Scott Hammond: Wow. Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: We're, uh, Ann Pearson owns it, and we're-

Scott Hammond: Sure.

Ann Lindsay: I thought we… Uh, we're, uh, every week I think we're really close.

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: So we're, we… Well, she wants to sell it to us,

Scott Hammond: Seems like she should be on the board.

[laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Well, she's been a big supporter.

Scott Hammond: Oh, she's great, yeah, and then I know you have the goat.

Is it Sea Goat, the, the f- the f-

Ann Lindsay: Right

Scott Hammond: … farm share?

Ann Lindsay: It's just beyond there, yep.

Scott Hammond: Behind there, yeah, where the Methodist or whatever

Ann Lindsay: Mm-hmm.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. Yeah, no, that'll be great,

Ann Lindsay: That's, uh, what w- we've, um, surveyed, actually, and

people can go on our website, Humboldt, uh, lifeplanhumboldt.org-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and participate in a survey,

community-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … uh, how a life plan community works

think-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … should be there, and then, um,

that we've actually gotten input from o- over 700 people as to what they'd like to see-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … in a community 'cause we don't wanna build

for the community. We wanna build it with the community

Humboldt-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … flavor and, you know, what people want.

So, um, that's m- so that, you know, they want outdoor spaces, and they-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … want, um, they w- wanna be,

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … you know, a, a gorgeous spot that's not near anything.

They wanna be able to-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … and the, uh, actually McKinleyville Town Center has

got an amazing array of, uh, things that are-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … walkable right there-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … pickleball courts and the library and the senior center and-

Scott Hammond: That's right

Ann Lindsay: … liquor store and several grocery stores, and-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … you can buy a car and, yeah.

Scott Hammond: It's all… E&F is right there.

Ann Lindsay: Sell your house [laughs] and be, yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. We're going to Azalea

Ann Lindsay: You can even get, there's physical therapy and s-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … counseling and dialysis even you could walk to, so.

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: There's trails right there, Hammond Trail.

Ann Lindsay: And trails, yep.

Scott Hammond: Yep. We're going to, uh, Hiller Park, not Hiller Park.

Is it Azalea Park or is it Pearson? It's Pearson Park.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: We're going tonight for the live music.

Ann Lindsay: Right. Right.

Scott Hammond: They do that every Thursday.

Ann Lindsay: That's every Thursday night all summer they have really n-

Scott Hammond: You'll know

Ann Lindsay: … and we, we, Life Plan Humboldt had a bake sale there.

Scott Hammond: Oh, okay.

Ann Lindsay: And actually, that was really kinda funny.

We said, uh, made a big sign that anybody over 55 could get free

Scott Hammond: Oh, nice.

Ann Lindsay: And so it was a way to getting people over and-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … uh, talking to them about, you know-

Scott Hammond: What is this thing?

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: 'Cause it takes a while to get your mind around-

Scott Hammond: Sure

Ann Lindsay: … um, you know, most people, as I said,

think about it, first of all.

Scott Hammond: Right. Right.

Ann Lindsay: So that's, by default the plan is

I'll die quickly. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: It's, it's funny how much denial we have.

I was, uh, blogging this morning and I, I wrote, "I remember when I was 18, and two weeks later now I'm 63." [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Yeah

Scott Hammond: … time goes by faster, you're having fun, or kids

So, um, I think Joni and I are right around the corner, so we wanna be supporters too.

Ann Lindsay: Right.

Scott Hammond: Um, so speaking of which, how do we,

how do we as a community come behind what you're doing now and ongoing? What would we… What, what are the top three things we could do to be part of the team?

Ann Lindsay: Well, it's really helpful for p-

for updates and-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and, uh, complete the survey so we know what you

community.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Um, we, if we-

Scott Hammond: [clears throat]

Ann Lindsay: … are having a volunteer training next

[laughs]

Scott Hammond: Oh, wow.

Ann Lindsay: You know, we have, um, actually about now 35 people who've

trained as ambassadors.

Scott Hammond: Oh, wow.

Ann Lindsay: A- and it's the easiest job in,

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: I mean, you just have to learn about what a Life

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and how it works and how you buy in and all of that,

and neighbors about it.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: You know, be a, a community resource.

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: Spread the word. And then, um, w- we also

gonna have to f- we're gonna, uh, finance this by-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … private bond funding-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … ultimately, but there's a lot of…

We have to raise, uh, it- we've raised quite a bit of money so far,

or borrow another $2 million to get to the point where we can get our bond

financing.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So, um, that donations or-

Scott Hammond: So donations don't hurt.

Ann Lindsay: Donations don't hurt.

Scott Hammond: Show me the money.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Yeah. No, it's-

Ann Lindsay: It's tax deductible, I guess, if you pay-

Scott Hammond: They-

Ann Lindsay: Give us enough.

Scott Hammond: Sure.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: No, a- and I think that people wanna give,

it's just a matter of giving intentionally.

Ann Lindsay: Well, we've had over 280 people donate so far.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: So, um-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … and some of them donate $10.

Scott Hammond: Sure.

Ann Lindsay: But we'd be helpful to have somebody, more people donate 50,000 or

100,000, so.

Scott Hammond: Or 10 million.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: We don't even need that much-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … but yeah, it wouldn't hurt.

Scott Hammond: It would. [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: [laughs] No-

Scott Hammond: Just-

Ann Lindsay: … the more we can raise now, the lower we keep our prices,

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … if you have to borrow money, it,

cost.

Scott Hammond: That's a great point.

Ann Lindsay: And it's, you know, we are a nonprofit, but that-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … doesn't mean you don't have a, run a,

a, a level business.

Scott Hammond: Right. And I think there's some legacy givers out

and need to know about th- this program and hear about it be introduced to it, and I, I'd like to think there's people that have a really giving spirits they're tired of what they've given to and it hasn't whatever, and they, they're ready for a change, and maybe this would be a new outlet for

Ann Lindsay: Well, um, we got a lot of support. Uh, it's,

time has come, and I think we've done our homework in

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Actually, on the survey that we do that, um, now the-

Scott Hammond: [clears throat]

Ann Lindsay: … in recent, in the last two or three, two years,

the survey say they consider a Life Plan Community in their future.

Scott Hammond: Wow. S-

Ann Lindsay: And about 70% of them say they'd likely or very likely to wanna

move into Life Plan Humboldt.

Scott Hammond: Hmm.

Ann Lindsay: What we… People in Humboldt don't wanna leave

Scott Hammond: Right. Right.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs] You know, that, this gives you an option to-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … stay here. And, uh, you know,

lot of, um… I mean, I cared for my, uh, my mother, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, you know, right,

hands-on.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, uh, that takes a lot of work.

Scott Hammond: Oh, boy.

Ann Lindsay: Um, and, you know, uh, w- several of our board members have had

major family caregiving responsibilities.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, uh, for one of our board members,

about seven years.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: And she wasn't really happy with some of the options-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … here, and that's inspired her to go on

But what the… A side effect of that is that her Social Security, she wasn't working outside the home either, so her Social Security payments are much lower than they might've been if she kept working.

Scott Hammond: Working.

Ann Lindsay: So-

Scott Hammond: In the workforce, yeah

Ann Lindsay: … you know, that kind of family caregiving has a,

of, uh-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … in, in the next generation-

Scott Hammond: Good point

Ann Lindsay: … too. And, and so we wanna, um…

Even though y- you have, it costs money to enter a Life Plan means that your, um, costs for your future are relatively stable, uh, you know, predictable.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, your needs are taken care of,

family in a pleasurable way-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and not, not in a way that causes them anxiety and anguish.

Scott Hammond: I like it.

That's really neat. So just to digress for a quick sec, is a n- a national thing. It's a model.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: And, and is it, um… I, I realize it's not cookie

cutter and you're not talking cookie cutter language at all today, but is it, there a model for that that you've clearly adopted? W- what, what are the elements-

Ann Lindsay: Right

Scott Hammond: … of that model? I think you said-

Ann Lindsay: Right. The, the, the core of it is independent living.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And, um, they're generally, you know, anything from

a-A, a small studio to a

two-bedroom-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … cottage.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And you buy in and we're, um…

You were planning the buy-in to correspond to the home values in Humboldt County.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So basically you sell your home-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and buy in. Um, there's two levels of buy-in, so

the higher level, when, when you pass on, where your estate will get 80% of the buy-in back.

Scott Hammond: Wow.

Ann Lindsay: You're not actually a homeowner,

taxes and, you know-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … all of that, and the utilities and all of that stuff.

Scott Hammond: Mow the lawn. [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: You don't have to mow the lawn. Right.

And then there, there's a monthly fee that covers, you know, there'll be, um, you'll have a kitchen and all, but there'll be a, a meal plan-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and, um, assistance and some transportation assistance-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … and, and, yeah, maintenance and landscaping and-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … uh, cleaning service and things like that to help you, um-

Scott Hammond: Oh, I love it.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: And you can stay in Humboldt.

Ann Lindsay: And you stay in Humboldt.

Scott Hammond: Next to the kids, the grandkids, the great-grandkids,

Ann Lindsay: Yep, whatever. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Or whatever connection you have there it is.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. And it's close to the beaches.

Ann Lindsay: Right.

Scott Hammond: And Arcata, and whatever else. Yeah. I love it.

Ann Lindsay: We do have a– Uh, we- actually, um, Life Plan Humboldt has a,

an agreement with the university, actually. 'Cause, you know, one, one of the-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … things that we hear from people and

be an isolated senior community-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … which is one of the advantages to locating

integrated r- right there.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Actually, I think we'll be the economic engine of

town center there.

Scott Hammond: Sure.

Ann Lindsay: But also we have a, um, r- um, a letter of intent with the

university t- that would enable students to be placed on

learning-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … or internships. You know, so for example-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … social work or, or nursing or there's a entertainment

major or, or, um-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … yeah.

Scott Hammond: They can come and help.

Ann Lindsay: Come and help, and I'm really excited about that because,

um, you know, I went to medical school, and I know how nursing schools, medical schools run and often the interaction you have with older people are sick older people.

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: They're either in skilled nursing or hospitals.

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: And I think this will be good combat ageism if they could-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … we could interact with students-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … younger, and they can see

interesting. You know, so, um, that's another-

Scott Hammond: I love it

Ann Lindsay: … subplot of it, but it'll keep us

engaged with, um, people of different ages-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … but also expose them to, um, y- you know, c-p-

you don't have to be afraid of getting older. There's a lot of advantages.

Scott Hammond: And there's a richness if you sit with somebody for a little

what?"

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: "You, you met Johnny Cash?" [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: Well, I, I g- I often… In my medical career, I always– I mean,

family practitioner, but I had a lot of patients who

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … they might have been the biggest jerk-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … when they were 30, but when they, like 80, uh, have something

interesting to tell you.

Scott Hammond: Interesting, yeah.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: It's like-

Scott Hammond: I've seen a lot of older folks that have…

were not that as nice when they were younger. They're just amazing now, but something, something shifted.

Ann Lindsay: Huh.

Scott Hammond: And not, not 100% true, but I've seen that.

I sat with a senior in my office. He, uh, he met Bill Clinton back at, in Fayetteville at a, at a, a Razorback game.

Ann Lindsay: Huh. Interesting.

Scott Hammond: He said, he said, "Scotty's the most engaging guy I've ever

two seconds, he was like your new best friend.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: And I go-

Ann Lindsay: I've heard that about him, too. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: I go, "Wow, that's… Yeah, there you go." So-

Ann Lindsay: That's not just any old person. But I, I d- I do think that, um,

you know, it, it, it, it, the… people, it'll give us an opportunity as older-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … people to have relationships [laughs] with

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … that I won't get if I have t- I have a, you know,

I don't-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … I don't… It, it's a pain in the butt to-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … take care of it. I'm getting old enough so that I,

Scott Hammond: Yep

Ann Lindsay: … uh, but I'm mo- ready to move on.

Scott Hammond: Right. So I think that the forum sounds like it,

exchange of community folks to come in and come and go, and

why not?

Ann Lindsay: Right.

Scott Hammond: I love it.

Ann Lindsay: We've also, um,

have talked with a, a N- North Coast Preparatory and Performing At- Arts Academy, which school and a high school.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And I, I can see really great interactions with

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … you know, playing music with them or-

Scott Hammond: Perfect

Ann Lindsay: … having, you know, an art show of their things or-

Scott Hammond: Right

Ann Lindsay: … having them perform for us

So-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … uh, there is a m- there are a lot of really good models of

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: And actually, uh, Gene Basemore, who is the f-

is, um… had worked with a, um, school in Sweden that had a-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … s- a relationship with a senior community

us to, uh, you know, work with younger students-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … as well.

Scott Hammond: And there's a way to do it and do it right.

Ann Lindsay: Julie Fulkerson is.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: She is.

Scott Hammond: We figured.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. She's a supporter.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: And, uh-

Scott Hammond: She's amazing.

Ann Lindsay: Yep.

Scott Hammond: So to date, and we're, we're winding up here, what's your…

What three things are you most proud of in your life thus

Ann Lindsay: Um,

[laughs] that's a hard question. I, you know, I, I think I actually… You know, personally, in family life, I, I think that, that, um, I married the right guy and I, we-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: …

we raised kids together and-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … shared jobs and things, and I think that's a really good role

Um-

Scott Hammond: Sure

Ann Lindsay: … you know, and having come of age in the age of

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … important, but also allowed him an opportunity.

Um, I'm proud of the work I did as county

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … both on a, a county level and on the state.

There were certain things that, you know, I was able to, uh, see problems and work with people to push through solutions.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: And then I, I'm really proud of the efforts that,

working with, with Life Plan Humboldt, has-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … put together. Uh, um, you know, and,

Life Plan communityHappen

Scott Hammond: What's the timeline? Think next year or two?

Ann Lindsay: Um, I think it'll… Once we– [laughs] It's taken

us a while to get the property, but once we sign for the property, be i- I'd say maybe three years-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … to do all the s- architectural planning and getting the

permits and, and getting people to sign up to the point where… A-and, and getting the, uh, licensing and, and so we can get our financing. And then once you get the financing, another 18 months to build it.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: So I always say three to five years.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: But I, I'd like to get it going.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Time, burning daylight out there.

Yeah, I, um, I think, uh, the people that I know that you've mentioned

which is-

Ann Lindsay: Right

Scott Hammond: … a real plus to get stuff done.

Ann Lindsay: And it, it's been… That's what's been wonderful about,

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … Humboldt County, is that,

um, the people who are working on this-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … all have their periphery and it,

the Kendall people who are, uh, chosen-

Scott Hammond: Yeah

Ann Lindsay: … to affiliate with us-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … and embrace us as part of their national

communities. And we're not Quaker, but they like our values.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Um, h- the reason they decided to join with us

grassroots effort.

Scott Hammond: Ah.

Ann Lindsay: And they're really impressed how much we've done

with volunteers and how sophisticated-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … our planning is and how, um-

Scott Hammond: Ah

Ann Lindsay: … extensive the support is of the community.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. And you don't have to reinvent a lot of

already.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah. Well, they're gonna help us with the,

They, they've already assigned two people who've

communities-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … who can help us with these phases.

Um, so, you know, that'll complement the local-

Scott Hammond: Mm

Ann Lindsay: … expertise we have.

Scott Hammond: Shout out to the Quakers. Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Yep.

Scott Hammond: How m- I was gonna ask, how many years married?

Ann Lindsay: Uh, it'll be 50 years this winter.

Scott Hammond: Congratulations. That's awesome.

Ann Lindsay: Yeah.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Ann Lindsay: Well, we went to medical school and medical-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … training and everything all together, so-

Scott Hammond: Wow

Ann Lindsay: … lived through it-

Scott Hammond: Lived [laughs]

Ann Lindsay: … together. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Together. Yeah. That's cr- it's key.

So last question and, and, uh, we'll wrap, is what do you see for the county in our future? What would, what would you like to see, I don't know, three, five, 10-year plan? What's, what's the future i-in-

Ann Lindsay: In addition to Life Plan Humboldt, what's the-

Scott Hammond: Yeah. In your, in your ideal world, what do you,

think about for Humboldt County?

Ann Lindsay: Um, I, I think we need to be smart about

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … a-and try to f- um,

and, you know,

um, develop in a way that, that's ecologically wise.

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: I think we need to really invest in our kids and, and continue to

have opportunities so that the next generation will have options and be able to

stay here-

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm

Ann Lindsay: … and, um, fi- you know, make their lives

here.

Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.

Ann Lindsay: Um, I, I think we need to continue to support the

Scott Hammond: Mm.

Ann Lindsay: You know, 'cause that's sort of the fabric,

together.

Scott Hammond: Yeah.

Love it. Great answers. Um, and I had one more question. It's slipping my mind, so-

Ann Lindsay: You said that was the last one. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: I… [laughs] I'll ask you next time.

Ann Lindsay: [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Ann, thanks for being here.

Ann Lindsay: Okay. [laughs]

Scott Hammond: Appreciate you coming and, um, uh, Patrick, this is going out to you.

We, we want you on as a guest, so we'll let Pat know.

Ann Lindsay: Get Patrick Cleary in here. Okay, good.

Scott Hammond: Yeah. Thanks for your time. Appreciate you.

Ann Lindsay: Okay. Thank you.