There’s a Lot More to St. James Place Than You Think

When it comes to the Baton Rouge area, there seem to be some misconceptions about life at St. James Place, and the “mystery” behind the gates. The difference between being an independent living community with numerous on-campus activities, off-campus outings, great food and fun people is sometimes lost among those on the outside who simply see St. James Place as a retirement home for seniors. And, of course, there’s also the mistaken notion that only millionaires can afford to live here.

St. James Place resident, Carol Bourgeois, understands this about as well as anyone. Over the course of her more than 30 years as an educator, 21 spent teaching in elementary schools and 11 as an elementary school principal in Gramercy, LA, Carol began planning for her retirement.

“There wasn’t enough for me to do in Gramercy,” Carol explains. “I could do a little work with the church and participate in a book club. But for anything else I wanted to do, I had to drive to Baton Rouge, which was about 40-45 miles. As you age, however, your eyesight isn’t what it once was, especially at night. And after Katrina, traffic became terrible. I was getting older and had no children. I knew I was going to have to do something, and I did not want to leave that responsibility with my nieces and nephews. So, I made the decision to look at the possibility of a retirement community.”

“I was around 70 when I really started thinking about it seriously,” Carol recalls. “It’s not a decision you can make overnight. Even with all the planning, it was still difficult. I had a house to sell. I had things to get rid of, and I kept the secret to myself. Only my sister and a very good friend knew I’d been thinking about this for a couple of years, before I finally told the rest of my family.” 

With the decision made and her family informed, how did Carol decide St. James Place was the right move for her? “I have a very good friend here in Baton Rouge,” Carol says. “She knew about St. James Place. I’d also been hearing about it because my former neighbor was living here at the time. So, in 2016 I came to see for myself. It’s a beautiful setting. That drew me in more than anything else. And I saw an apartment I really liked. Unfortunately, I neglected to put a down payment on it, instead taking a little road trip out west. But when I came back the apartment I liked had already been sold. I had to wait another whole year before something that I liked became available.”

In 2017, Carol finally became a resident of St. James Place, moving into an apartment she’d found in the Audubon Building. “I chose the Audubon,” she says, “because it was the closest building to all the activities and things happening on the St. James Place campus.” 

But what was the adjustment to her new lifestyle like? “I’ll be honest,” Carol recalls. “Because I’m a rather reserved person and kind of on the shy side, it wasn’t the easiest thing for me to walk in that dining room and say to a stranger, ‘may I sit with you?’ But everyone I asked said, ‘yes,’ and was very friendly. They welcomed me warmly, which is something I’ve tried to pay forward with newcomers. ‘Don’t sit by yourself. Come in, join the table,’ you know?”

Now that she’s somewhat of a veteran resident of St. James Place, what are some of the things that have surprised Carol about life on campus? “I love the activities,” she says. “I had never held a paint brush in my hand before. I’m not a good artist, but I love going to the art room. I’m also in the choir. We’re not great, but I go because I love the singing and the class. We have guest speakers, so I’m busy every day. And I still have my friends off-campus. We drove into New Orleans to see an Egyptian exhibition at the Museum of Art. But St. James Place also takes us on trips, as well.”

There’s yet another thing Carol loves about St. James Place — the food. “I am not a cook,” she states emphatically. “There’s such an incredible variety. I just love the food here, although I do have to stay away from the desserts. They’re great, and there’s plenty of them.” And while she’s at it, Carol doesn’t want to forget the staff. “When I moved in, staff members from every department came in and welcomed me. That was amazing enough. But when I pulled in at the gate house, where you have to show ID to come in for security reasons, I told the attendant, ‘my name is Carol Bourgeios. I’m a new resident.’ He said, ‘welcome home. I’ve been waiting for you all day.’ Wow.”

The enthusiasm Carol expresses for life at St. James Place mirrors remarks you hear from other residents. But in Carol’s case, there’s still one elephant in the room that needs addressing. There seems to be a misconception in the Baton Rouge area that you have to be a millionaire to live at St. James Place. Laughing, Carol responds, “I was a rainy-day saver. I also had some investments. I didn’t go out and buy the latest trendy things. I was always careful with my money. I was a teacher and an elementary school principal. I’m not a millionaire. I did it — you probably can too.”