John and Anne Eakin are no exception. “We have lived here, in this residence, since 1978, and we just love the community and are happy to be here,” John said.

The Eakin's are still able to enjoy their summer retreat in Camden, Maine thanks to a supportive team led by a Geriatric Care Manager

Of course, as the years have passed the Eakins have needed a little more help to remain at home. After Anne got sick while traveling, John turned to Care Options, a geriatric care management firm offering many services for aging adults and disabled individuals. Those services include a senior care visitor program, a private duty home care agency, a nurse practitioner house call program, relocation services and a specialized activity program for individuals with dementia. From an initial assessment to ongoing care monitoring, Care Options has managed both John and Anne’s changing healthcare needs for almost four years.

John, a native Washingtonian, always knew he wanted to remain in the area. After he married Anne, they moved to their family home in McLean, Va., where they raised their three daughters.

As a young man, John attended Strayer Junior College but longed to get started in his career. He joined the family business early in his life and took over the company when his father became ill. The company, called Eakin Properties, is a commercial real estate and management firm that was founded by John’s grandfather.

John is immensely proud of his family’s business legacy and has only recently passed the torch on to the next generation. “I’m still involved in the business a bit,” he said. “It would run without me, but if they need me, I just want them to know that I am there.”

It is the security of knowing that someone is always there for them that has allowed the Eakins to continue living in their family home and enjoying an active lifestyle. Not too long ago, that lifestyle appeared to be in jeopardy following Anne’s health crisis.

Anne was making her way back home from the couple’s summer retreat in Camden, Maine, when she suddenly became very ill. She needed acute medical care and had to remain in the hospital in Boston, Mass., for several months.

After visiting his wife in Boston, John, who has chronic health issues of his own, knew he would need help managing her condition once she returned home. He called Care Options, and they arranged a home visit to assess the family’s needs. The assessment included an evaluation of legal, financial, medical, spiritual and social needs. This holistic approach led to the creation of a road map to guide care to meet the couple’s needs that can be updated as necessary.

Diana Gilbert, a geriatric care manager with Care Options, explained how the company helped Anne and her family make the transition from the hospital to home. “Anne had so many doctors in Boston, but now she needed duplications of all of them down here,” she said. “I began pulling in resources, coordinating the care that she required and setting up appointments.”

Diana also started going to all of Anne’s appointments. “It was important for me to discuss her care with the doctors, so I could understand what was needed to continue with her care and recovery,” she said. John recalled feeling an immense sense of relief when Diana was present. “She’s always there when we need her,” he said. “Things have worked out very well since my wife and Diana got together.”

After working with Care Options and her new medical team for several months, Anne’s health status stabilized and she was able to return to Maine for her annual visit the following spring. While Anne was enjoying the summer in Maine, her care management services were placed on hold until she returned. During that time, John had a health scare of his own. “He called me from a hospital bed in Fairfax,” Diana recalled. “He had a severe diabetic wound on his foot.”

Care Options and Diana stepped in and helped John navigate his recovery, which included several hospitalizations and a stay in a skilled nursing facility. After about five months, the wound healed. Care Options and Diana have continued to work with John to make sure that he keeps his health conditions under control by managing his medications, attending medical appointments and coordinating all home services.

As the couple’s needs increased, Care Options arranged to have a caregiver in the home and a senior care visitor to help with transportation to appointments and other activities. Josephine Aikens has been helping the couple with daily tasks since 2009. Josephine now provides assistance with everything from grocery shopping to medication reminders. “She just oversees everything; she’s a wonderful help,” John said.

With the help of Care Options and the professionals they have enlisted, the Eakins remain both happy and safe in their long-time home. They have also been able to continue working, participating in activities, and traveling back and forth to their summer home in Maine.

As a seasoned real estate expert, John knows a good location when he sees it, and he spotted his perfect place in McLean more than 30 years ago. Today, both John and Anne are proud to still be able to call that prime location home.

“He has a better social life than I do, actually,” said Elena Pehrkon of her 92-year-old father, Philip Sharpe. Elena then recited a list of her father’s activities, including frequent visits to the nearby senior center, gardening and concerts. In fact, keeping up with Philip’s demanding social schedule has become a team effort.

Two essential members of Philip’s team are his caregivers provided by SenCura Home Care. The company provides full-time, live-in care for Philip, ensuring that he can remain independent and active.

A former member of the U.S. Army, Philip lived in various locations throughout Europe and Asia with his wife, daughter and son. When he retired in 1964, the family settled in the D.C. Metropolitan region. Philip became the Budget Director for the Fairfax County School System and retired once again from that position.

After his wife passed away four years ago, Philip’s family started noticing signs of dementia. “He’d go to Arlington Cemetery to visit my mother’s grave, and he’d go to the commissary. He had a routine, and he’d do that every day,” his daughter, Elena, recalled. “But then he stopped coming home, and he would be lost for five or six hours at a time.”

Elena also started to notice that her father was not eating the meals she was leaving for him. “He just wasn’t putting the food in front of him and eating it, and we started to realize that we needed somebody here to be with him,” she said.

Elena and her brother turned to ElderLink, a care management service. They recommended home care and offered information for several providers. Elena immediately called SenCura. “SenCura has always been very easy to work with, and they’re so accommodating,” she said.

As Philip’s Alzheimer’s disease has progressed, the family has increased his care from part-time to full-time care. “Eventually he needed someone to help make sure that he took a shower and put on clean clothes every day, so we ended up getting someone all day and all night,” Elena said. Two experienced caregivers now spend 24-hours every day with Philip, but they are never just sitting around.

Lois Davis and Carol Lester have become true companions for Philip. “My dad’s health is excellent,” Elena explained. “He’s capable of going out and Lois and Carol see to it that he does. They are both so proactive in recommending things, and they’re two women who do not want to sit at home.”

Lois takes Philip to the senior center three or four times a week. They also spend time gardening and make frequent trips to Arlington National Cemetery, a place that is special for both of them.

“When I found out his wife was buried there, I looked forward to going together,” said Lois. “I have a sister buried there, and it has always been a special place for me.” Their solemn visits are bookended by the scenic drive down George Washington Parkway. “We see the changing of the seasons and the river and all the boats, and he just really loves that drive,” Lois said.

Lois also joins Philip and his son and grandson for lunch once a week. “It’s just wonderful that my dad can still go out to lunch and gets to spend time with my brother and his son,” Elena said.

Meanwhile, Carol, who provides care for Philip on the weekends, loves taking him to concerts. The two enjoy a wide variety of shows throughout the area. They also visit local museums and historical parks, where Carol shares her love of genealogy and history with Philip.

Over the last few years both caregivers have formed a strong bond with Philip and his entire family. “It’s not just me and him out here alone. I really feel like a part of their family,” said Lois.

Company owners Cliff Glier and Jaime Centrone explained that SenCura focuses on finding caregivers who will make real connections with families. “It’s all about helping the entire family. We want to be there for anything that may occur, whether it’s at two in the afternoon or two in the morning,” said Cliff.

Jaime added, “We really focus on hiring caregivers like Lois who have a personal history of caring for elderly loved ones and a real passion for caring for our seniors.”

Beyond providing an array of stimulating activities, Philip’s caregivers are also always looking out for his wellbeing. When a new medication caused him to become dizzy and drowsy, the caregivers alerted the family. “That could have totally changed his quality of life, so it was great that they were so quick to act,” Elena said.

With such a strong support network, Philip plans to remain in his house and active in his community for some time to come. After all, he has a loving family and several dedicated caregivers on his team. And they are always ready to play.

Werner and Elizabeth Schumann, residents of Ingleside at King Farm, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Rockville, Md., know all too well that chances rarely come twice. They both left Germany early in their lives to find a fresh start in the United States. Later, the two overcame a deep historical and cultural divide and took the chance on each other. Now, they are enjoying an active retirement together.

Born in Germany, Elizabeth moved to the United States when she was 12. “I knew all of 150 words of English,” she recalled. Despite the language barrier, Elizabeth excelled in school and went on to receive her Master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago. She worked for many years as a clinical social worker, including her most recent post at the National Institutes of Health.

For Werner, the road to the United States was a bit bumpier. He lived in Berlin throughout World War II. Werner’s father was a Nazi party member, and he recalls feeling very disillusioned with his homeland as a young man. “After the War, when I learned about the Holocaust and the general breakdown of society, it turned me very much against the country,” he said. “I was very fortunate that I was able to come to the United States, where I got a fresh start.”

Prior to immigrating, Werner received some training in still photography, but his career really took off in his new adopted country. After he was drafted into the U.S. Army, he was delighted to learn that his orders would take him to Motion Picture Cameraman School in Ft. Monmouth, N.J.

Before he was drafted, Werner met Elizabeth in a young adult’s discussion group. He remembered, “The discussion group intrigued me very much because it dealt with the struggles that I had tried to cope with in Germany and hadn’t really put behind me.” With its focus on ethical issues, the group became a place for Werner to sort out the repugnant past of his native country.

Werner was busy seeking spiritual direction when he inadvertently found love. After spotting Elizabeth at a Thanksgiving dinner, he waited for the perfect opportunity to ask her out. “I sidled up to her and tried to get a date with her, and I was flatly rejected,” he said. “Politely rejected,” Elizabeth added with a smile.

Elizabeth explained that because of their very different backgrounds, she could not initially imagine dating him. While Elizabeth is Jewish, Werner is a non-Jewish German. “It was totally inconceivable to me that I could ever date someone who came from Nazi Germany and was non-Jewish,” she recalled.

After nearly a year of getting to know each other, Werner eventually got his date and things progressed from there. By the time he was drafted, the couple knew they were meant to be together. Werner proposed on New Year’s Eve, and the couple married in February.

Following his graduation from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Motion Pictures, Werner was offered a job at a film studio in Washington, D.C. From there, he built a career as a freelance filmmaker and went on to make documentary films until his retirement a few years ago. “He won many awards,” Elizabeth added.

Through the years, the Schumanns raised two children and now enjoy the company of their four grandchildren. They have lived in the D.C. area for nearly 50 years and most recently were living on a large property in Cabin John, Md., near the Potomac River. While they had never really given any thought to retirement planning, when they received an invitation to visit a new facility in their neighborhood, they decided to take a look.

During the next few months, the Schumanns visited several different types of retirement communities, from luxury properties to enormous facilities. But when they toured Ingleside at King Farm, they knew it offered something different. “We realized that Ingleside had really found the right formula by putting everything under one roof,” said Werner. Elizabeth concurred, “Everything is very accessible.”

The Schumanns also liked the fact that Ingleside at King Farm offers a refundable entry fee option. If you decide to leave the community for any reason, the entry fee is refunded, or, alternately, the funds can be used to cover medical expenses or care in the on-campus assisted living or nursing facilities.

Ultimately, the Schumann’s final decision to move was made largely due to a casual encounter with a resident. During an appointment to tour an apartment, the couple and the marketing representative passed a resident in the hallway. The staff person greeted the resident by name, and they all started chatting. The resident then offered to let the Schumanns tour her apartment instead of the model, so they could get a better idea of what the units look like fully furnished.

“Her demeanor, the way in which she related to us immediately, and the way her husband also welcomed us, that was a turning point. It was really the push we needed,” Werner recalled.

It has been two years since the Schumanns made the move to Ingleside at King Farm, and they have never had any regrets.Elizabeth is a member of the community’s Lecture Committee, participates in a bridge group and is co-leading an effort to induce residents to write their biographies. Her co-chair and she have already assembled 50 resident biographies and are enthusiastic about continuing the project. In fact, she feels the most remarkable thing about her new home is her fellow residents.

“There is a genuine openness, friendliness and responsiveness among the residents,” she said. “I think the tone for the community is set by the administration and staff, and the facility just seems to attract nice people.”

Werner has also become very involved in life at Ingleside. He has screened several of his documentary films for the other residents, including “One Man’s America,” his autobiographical look at his feelings about America. Beyond his enduring interest in all things filmmaking, Werner has also become involved in the community’s building committee and now serves as chairman.

Much like the chance they took on each other years ago, the Schumanns are glad they took the leap and made the move to Ingleside at King Farm. While historical events may place artificial wedges between us, the Schumanns certainly prove that some chances are worth taking, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Rev. Dr. Robert L. Polk, an African American octogenarian, has devoted the better part of his life to social justice and race relations.

Changing attitudes about racism is one of the most daunting missions a person could undertake. Rev. Dr. Robert L. Polk, an African American octogenarian, has devoted the better part of his life to social justice and race relations.

Growing up in Chicago in the 1950s, Reverend Polk saw how racism and class injustice closed the minds of his family to the idea that African Americans could be offered equal employment or social status.  Polk spent a lifetime trying to dispel that notion.

As a teenager, Polk was active in the Congregational Church in Chicago. There, he made friends with people from all races and backgrounds. He became a shining example of what the church wanted to accomplish in its social action and race relation initiatives.

Later, Polk applied to an all-white college in Nebraska, but was turned down because none of the white students wanted to room with a black man. Church officials were dismayed with this decision and set about changing the mind of the Dean of Students. Before long, a letter of acceptance arrived and Polk found himself in the midst of an all-white campus.  Staying true to who he was, he nurtured friendships with classmates, creating an environment in which he and the students learned from one another.

His desire to enter the ministry led him to attend Hartford Theological Seminary.  The student body was made up of people from all races and backgrounds, which confirmed his belief that color does not have to be an issue.

The Civil Rights Movement was on the horizon with its attendant demonstrations, violence and challenges. For this reason, Polk’s family was opposed to his pursuing a ministry in the south at that time.  A new direction came by way of a parish in a rural farming community in North Dakota.  At that time, most people in this small community had never even seen a black man.

After leaving his parish, Polk was appointed Youth Program Director for the YMCA in Minot, Nd. An Air Force Base was under construction near Minot and the town leaders were concerned about the influx of blacks and Hispanics. Polk took on the role of “bridge builder” between the base population and the new residents, which turned out to be quite challenging.

In 1960, Polk became Youth Minister for the Riverside Church in New York City.  This historic and prestigious church of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was interdenominational, interracial and international. Polk had great success in creating fellowship between students from many races and backgrounds.

A few years later, Dillard University, an historically black college in New Orleans, offered Polk a position as Chaplain.  At Dillard, he struggled to alter the tenor and substance of the college and bring it into the 21st Century.

When Polk returned to the Riverside Church, he became the Minister of Urban Affairs. In this position, his mission was to reach out to the immediate community and Harlem. An active community leader, he served on the board of directors for City University of New York, New York Urban League, Albert Schweitzer Fellowship and many others.

During 55 years of ministry, Reverend Polk played a critical role in helping to break down racial barriers. He believes that even small changes affect people’s attitudes in ways that benefit all of society.

Today, Rev. Polk lives at Cathedral Village in Philadelphia and is currently writing his memoirs. After visiting many communities, Polk immediately fell in love with Cathedral Village.

The White Horse Village Singers’ love notes are not written; they are sung. The singers and the choir’s co-directors, Robin Frenz and Kay Stretton, work tirelessly to put together two annual concerts for the residents of White Horse Village, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Newtown Square, Pa.

Robin and Kay have been directing the choir for ten years now, and they are immensely proud of what the group has accomplished. They have encouraged the members to challenge their voices and learn choral techniques.

“We’ve grown from simple music to much more complicated music,” said Robin excitedly. Today, the 70- to 80-member group is performing a range of musical pieces, from classics and spirituals to Broadway tunes.

The growth in the choir’s range has been matched only by the growth in its membership. There are no auditions for the White Horse Village Singers. “We really believe that everyone can sing,” said Robin. “We also believe that singing is good for anyone and everyone,” Kay added.

By welcoming all singers, Robin and Kay have created a group that is deeply connected and extremely passionate. On working with everyone from amateurs to seasoned singers, Kay said, “That’s the fun part.” Combining people who have sung in church and community theater all their lives with others who have sung only sporadically, and still others who have never held a choral score is exciting, she related. “The spirit is so great in the group,” Robin confirmed.

In fact, the choir has become an inspiration and a source of pride for the entire community. “Something magical happens when our concerts come around,” said Kay. “[The residents] all love their neighbors, and they are so proud when they see them up there.”

Among the group’s favorite concerts are the matinees for the residents of the on-campus medical center. The auditorium is filled with wheelchairs, and there are even residents out in the hallway enjoying the music.

“I remember when the audience was singing Christmas carols with us, there was a man singing and a woman next to him crying,” recalled Robin. “Afterwards, she told us that her father hadn’t spoken in months, and he just started singing his heart out.”

While the group and their audience have an undeniable chemistry, they are clearly following their leaders. Robin and Kay have been avid musicians and singers their entire lives. The two women met decades ago at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. They both went on to have successful careers working in church music ministry, teaching music at levels ranging from high school to graduate school, and performing on concert stages around the world.

“It has been my life to get people singing and to sing myself,” said Robin. “Choral music is my vocation and my avocation,” Kay agreed.

When the time came for Robin and Kay and their families to look for retirement communities, they fell in love with White Horse Village and its bucolic setting. They also appreciated the security of knowing that additional care is available in their community should they need it. As a CCRC, White Horse Village offers independent living, assisted living, and long-term nursing or personal care.

Surprisingly, neither Robin nor Kay originally planned to direct the choir, but they were pleased to help when the opportunity presented itself. Their efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed. “I can’t tell you how thankful we are that they chose our community and have given so much of their time and talent to us all,” said White Horse Village’s Vice President of Marketing, Dottie Mallon.

Robin and Kay are also extremely grateful that they found White Horse. “We moved in and have never had any regrets,” said Kay. Robin added, “When people ask me if I am going on vacation, I say ‘Are you joking? I live on a resort.’”

For Robin and Kay, directing the White Horse Village Singers has been a wonderful extension of their successful professional lives. The Singers may not be world-renowned, but they are definitely celebrated in this tight-knit community. As the choir’s repertoire continues to grow, Robin and Kay will be there to ensure that each note is delivered with love.

Joe and Gail Scott are preparing to move to a continuing care retirement community and are looking forward to meeting their new neighbors.

One of the golden rules commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Joe and Gail Scott took that advice literally.

The former neighbors married years after living next door to each other. Today, the Scotts are looking forward to meeting their neighbors at Vista Ridge at Ware Presbyterian Village, a new independent living community in Oxford, Pa.

While the couple’s love story started early – Joe was 17 and Gail was 16 when they met – Gail is quick to point out that it was not a storybook romance. “It wasn’t love at first sight,” she said. “We were neighbors, and we went to the same church, but we went our separate ways. He went to Yale, and I went to Muhlenberg.”

When the couple reunited after college, what was an old friendship turned into a new romance. Joe and Gail were married and went on to have five children, who they raised all over the country.

“I was an international logistics manager for Scott Paper Company,” Joe explained. “That involved a lot of travel.” As he moved up through the ranks in the company, Joe and his family relocated several times. The couple lived in Alabama, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin, and with each move their family grew.

The Scotts were once again living in the Philadelphia area when Joe retired.  “We’ve been in southern Chester County now for 27 years, and we started to think about moving to a retirement community,” recalled Joe.

One of the first places the couple looked was Ware Presbyterian Village. “I had been a member of the fitness club there for three years, and I had gotten to know the staff pretty well,” Joe said. “I knew that it was an extremely well taken care of facility and that they take good care of the residents.”

Beyond the community’s staff and amenities, the Scotts also appreciated the location. “We liked the concept of a village within a village.  That’s really what Ware offers being so close to downtown Oxford,” said Joe.

Joe and Gail were pleased to learn that the construction of Vista Ridge would provide the opportunity to enjoy the amenities of the community while living in a private home. “We’re hoping to move in around October 2013. We wanted to plan ahead,” Gail said.

Planning ahead came naturally to Gail, whose parents lived in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Florida before such communities were widespread. “I’d visit my parents and I almost felt like I was visiting a college,” said Gail.

Looking for the camaraderie that her parents enjoyed, Gail knew she eventually wanted to move to a CCRC. She also wanted to make sure she and her husband would always have the care they needed without needing to move again. Vista Ridge at Ware Presbyterian Village offers independent living, as well as access to on-site assisted living or personal care, nursing care, and a dementia center.

The Scotts already have some plans for how they will spend their time once they are not fixing the house or mowing the lawn. An accomplished golfer, Joe officiates several tournaments a year for the Junior Philadelphia PGA tour and spends most of his spare time on the links. As for Gail, she enjoys singing and playing the piano and the guitar.

Of course, as Joe and Gail prepare for this major move, they are also looking forward to getting to know their new neighbors at Vista Ridge. They are a pretty neighborly couple, after all.

They both invite you to stop by the Welcome Center on the Ware campus and see the exciting plans for the new Vista Ridge development. You may find you want to be one of their new neighbors!

Although Geoffrey and Barbara Mynott remain busy with organizations outside of Dunwoody Village, they still enjoy spending time relaxing in their spacious country house.

The Mynotts attended Bucknell University before Geoffrey briefly went into the service.  He then started his own business, Conestoga Tool Company, where Barbara eventually joined him after working at Wyeth Laboratories and raising their two sons.

Over the years, the couple has enjoyed travelling and bird watching.  As avid golfers, they have been involved with the Merion Golf Club.

According to Barbara, she was the “mover and shaker” behind the decision to move from their family home.  “I loved it, we had wonderful gardens, but it became too much for me to manage,” she said.

They proceeded to move into a townhome for several years before looking into retirement living communities.  “We looked at a few places, but I’ve always had an affiliation with Dunwoody because most of my mother’s friends were here,” she said.  “I’ve felt very comfortable here, and was even more impressed after taking a tour.”

Although the couple said the decision to move in general was difficult, they have had no regrets knowing the peace of mind it has not only provided each of them, but also their children.  “We both strongly agreed we did not want our children to worry about us as we got older.  We wanted to have everything in place so they didn’t have to make the decisions,” said Geoffrey.

After two and a half years at the community, the Mynotts have been enjoying their spacious country house and scenic views.  As they continue their pastimes of bird watching and attending Bucknell sporting events, they have also taken advantage of the active environment Dunwoody offers, while being pleasantly surprised at the number of friends they have made.

“It’s a very vibrant place; there is so much to do and there are a lot of interesting people,” said Barbara.  “The residents are very involved in programming activities.”

With several amenities including a fitness center and putting green, the community also brings in different entertainment, along with writers and professors for lectures. Although Geoffrey has not been able to get as involved, still working with his company and serving on the Bucknell Board of Trustees, Barbara has written for the community’s publication, ‘Inside Dunwoody,’ and is a member of the Documentary, Entertainment, History and Dining Services Committees.

According to the couple, this vibrant environment extends to Dunwoody’s nursing and personal care units, where some of their friends have received care.  “They have given testimonials about how wonderful the care is,” said Barbara.  “It’s so accessible and there’s a very upbeat spirit there.”

In addition to the care that is provided onsite, the Mynotts take pride in Dunwoody’s greater community outreach.  “People put in a lot of volunteer hours and we have a program where we make casseroles for local homeless people,” she said.

Although they were already familiar with many of these advantages, the Mynotts could not be happier looking forward to the years to come and even more surprises along the way.

“Dunwoody is one of the oldest retirement communities in our area,” said Barbara.  “They’ve been in business a long time, and they know what they’re doing.”