Retirement isn’t what it used to be—and that’s a good thing. For today’s aging population, the idea of slowing down is being replaced with a desire to live more intentionally, stay active, and maintain both independence and dignity. But that shift comes with new expectations: people aren’t just looking for a beautiful place to retire. They want peace of mind, built-in support systems, and smart healthcare access without the sterile feel of a clinic.
Dr. Sharine Forbes of Los Angeles, a physician and public health innovator, has been shaping this conversation for years. Known for founding Eat Karma and championing food-based health equity, she’s now extending her vision into a new dimension—aging well. Her team’s latest project, Ventana Living in Panama, integrates on-site medical support directly into the design of a residential wellness community. It’s a deliberate response to the needs of older adults who value both autonomy and access.
Proximity Is Power: Why Location Matters
In healthcare, timing is everything. For older adults, especially those with chronic conditions or mobility concerns, every added step or mile can be a barrier to care. Dr. Sharine Forbes knows this firsthand from her clinical experience.
Dr. Sharine Forbes emphasizes that access to care extends beyond affordability. She highlights the overlooked barriers of geography, stress, and transportation, underscoring her belief that integrating care into the living environment is not a luxury, but an essential need.
At Ventana Living, that philosophy comes to life. The community is designed with on-site health professionals, therapy spaces, and wellness coordinators who serve as the connective tissue between everyday life and preventive care. This isn’t a retirement home—it’s a next-generation model where healthcare is seamless, not segmented.
The Shift from Reactive to Preventive
Most traditional healthcare models focus on treating illness once symptoms appear. But Dr. Sharine Forbes has spent her career asking a different question: What if health systems were designed to prevent decline rather than manage it?
On-site clinics and physical therapy spaces at Ventana offer residents support for recovery, mobility, and lifestyle management—all without having to leave their community. This helps reduce hospital visits, manage chronic conditions early, and make rehab part of everyday life, not a disruptive event.
The goal? To reduce the friction between intention and action. If you want to see a physical therapist after a fall or get help managing blood pressure, you don’t need an appointment two towns away. It’s down the hall.
Care That Respects Independence
Many older adults avoid seeking help out of fear it will compromise their independence. Dr. Sharine Forbes understands this tension and designed Ventana’s health model to be collaborative, not paternalistic.
Residents are active participants in their care plans. Medical professionals are present, but the environment is still residential—comfortable, calm, and supportive of privacy. From preventive screenings to rehabilitative care, services are offered with discretion and respect.
According to Dr. Forbes, the goal is not relentless oversight but rather the cultivation of a trusted presence. She describes a care model where assistance is readily available when needed, without becoming intrusive or overwhelming.
Building for Health, Not Just Housing
Ventana Living reflects a larger shift in how people view retirement communities. It’s not enough to offer scenic views and stylish interiors. The architecture of a truly modern retirement must also support long-term health.
That means wider doorways and zero-entry showers for accessibility. It means walking paths that double as cardiac health tools. It means quiet zones, natural light, and spaces for both solitude and social connection. At Ventana, all of it is by design—not an afterthought.
The climate and landscape of Panama support this model uniquely. With a warm year-round temperature and lush surroundings, the environment is both therapeutic and practical. For Dr. Sharine Forbes, choosing Panama wasn’t just about location—it was about alignment.
A New Kind of Aging
Dr. Sharine Forbes of Los Angeles isn’t redesigning retirement because it’s trendy. She’s doing it because the current model doesn’t work. Long wait times, transportation gaps, fragmented care—all of these add stress to a chapter of life that should be defined by ease.
At Ventana Living, the goal is straightforward: proactive, personalized, dignity-centered health support for those who want to live fully, not cautiously.
Dr. Sharine Forbes believes that aging should not be synonymous with decline, but acknowledges that it demands thoughtful planning. She characterizes Ventana as the intersection of intentional design and compassionate care.
With more retirees prioritizing health access in their housing decisions, Dr. Sharine Forbes is creating the blueprint others will follow. One where care is never far, and dignity is never compromised.
