Although she isn’t officially the grande dame of The Village at Maple Ridge, nobody would argue that Lucy Lundquist has earned the right to claim such a dandy title. At 96 years of age, Lucy is the most senior resident of South Whidbey’s new senior housing complex in Freeland.

Looking spry and snappy in her bright red jacket and white blouse, Lucy seemed to enjoy all the attention she received at a recent open house at Maple Ridge. Described as “Freeland’s Active Senior Housing Campus,” the 41-unit complex is the first of its kind on the island.

“You’re Lucy!” cries Shirley Johnson, as she spotted Lucy seated at a large round table. As fellow residents and neighbors, Shirley and Lucy had yet to meet — this Sunday afternoon get-together was the first opportunity for many of the folks to get to know each other.

Lucy is a long-time Whidbey Islander, having been here 43 years. She lived in a two-story house on 10 acres in Langley until her recent move to Maple Ridge. The former social studies instructor who retired after teaching for 17 years in Langley, laughs when I ask her if her house and property fetched a bit more than the $7,000 price tag she paid back in the 1950s. But she doesn’t divulge the number.

So why the move to a senior housing complex?

“I was ready for it,” said Lucy. “I couldn’t take care of it anymore.” Lucy and her daughter Margaret Turner are now happily sharing a spacious condo at Maple Ridge — and they’re getting along just fine, thank you. “I get up at 5 a.m. and make her coffee,” says Lundquist, whose daughter is an Island County probation officer.

Other residents stop to chat with Lucy, including former Freeland bookstore owner Emily Seaman and Marge Running. As Gladys Gabelein walked by, Lucy said, “I think I taught some of her children.” Most likely she did.

I try to be gracious when somebody asks me, “Sue, are you planning to move here?” (“You’ve got to be kidding, I’m still young!” I long to reply.) My middle-age bubble is burst even more when I’m told that you have to be 55 years old to reside at Maple Ridge.

Yikes — I only have four years to go.

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NATIONAL OLDER ADULT HOUSING SURVEY LAUNCHED: In 2000, the number of people age 65 and older in the United States was 35 million. The Census Bureau projects that will increase to 80 million by 2050.

In order to gauge the housing wants and needs of older Americans, the National Center for Seniors’ Housing Research has launched the first National Older Adult Housing Survey. The survey, to be done annually, will provide housing information to builders, remodelers, product manufacturers, developers, researchers, marketers, strategic planners and insurers.

Last fall, during a pilot test of the survey, researchers brought together several focus groups of older adults in Phoenix, Chicago and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In that process, recurring themes and issues emerged, including:

• The need for a social network. Respondents wanted the ability to have frequent interaction with neighbors, and saw it as a basis for forming friendships.
• Don’t fence me in. There was a strong desire expressed to have access to undeveloped open space, scenic vistas and natural resources.
• Location, location, location. Most respondents wanted easy access to shopping, restaurants and other entertainment — as well as health-care facilities.
• Interior home features considered important included adequate lighting, ample storage and accessible cabinets.
• Exterior home features considered important included low-maintenance building materials and lawns, adequate lighting and garages.

According to Lisa Gibson of the NAHB Research Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., the survey is being given to 2,300 adults in five groups, all age 45 and older. It includes adults who live in mixed-age, age-restricted and assisted living communities; adults whose parents live in assisted living centers; and adults who live in the homes of their adult children.

Gibson said the results of the survey should be available in early September of this year. For more information, log on to www.nahbrc.org.

Sue Frause can be reached by e-mail at skfrause@whidbey.com.