Retirement Living » Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, Homecare in VA, MD, DC, NJ, PA, DE Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:23:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Professional Athletes Living in a Retirement Community http://www.retirement-living.com/professional-athletes-living-in-a-retirement-community/ http://www.retirement-living.com/professional-athletes-living-in-a-retirement-community/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:29:51 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=18585 Two Olympic medal-winning soccer players follow in the footsteps of a professional baseball player – into a retirement community

It is not uncommon for sports stars to retire early. Funded by the proceeds from multi-million dollar contracts, their retirements often feature private jets, spacious mansions and lavish vacations. It’s almost unheard of, though, for world-class athletes to move into a retirement community while they are still at the peak of their careers. Almost.

Diana Matheson and Robyn Gayle are two of the star players on the Washington Spirit, Washington, D.C.’s new professional women’s soccer team. The two athletes were previously teammates on Canada’s bronze medal-winning 2012 Olympic soccer team. They are also the newest residents of Ingleside at King Farm, a continuing care retirement community in Rockville, Md.

The players have been enthusiastically welcomed by the residents and staff

The players have been enthusiastically welcomed by the residents and staff

Matheson and Gayle, both in their 20s, will be sharing a large, two-bedroom suite at the retirement community. Unlike major football or basketball stars, the athletes who play for women’s professional teams and minor league teams often have a hard time finding affordable housing on their modest salaries. Frequently, players are hosted in residential homes, much like exchange students.

“This is a win-win for the athletes and for our community who will enjoy several intergenerational events we’re planning during their stay,” says Marilyn Leist, Ingleside at King Farm’s executive director. “The hospitality we extend to these young women is also an important part of fulfilling our social accountability as a not-for-profit organization.”

Following in the Footsteps of a Minor League Baseball Player

As a professional minor league baseball player, Josh Fiaola was accustomed to relying on a host family to provide his room and board. It was all part of pursing his dream of playing in the Major Leagues. When his new team offered him the chance to live in an The Belvedere at Westlake, an assisted living residence in Westlake, OH  in 2008, he had reservations, but he quickly discovered that his accommodations and his neighbors were unparalleled.

At the time, Josh was just looking for a comfortable and affordable place to live. He never thought that he would be blazing a path for other athletes or inspiring communities, but that is exactly what happened. Josh’s fellow assisted living residents became his most ardent fans. They found a cause in his team, and he found an incredibly supportive community. Their story quickly gained national attention and perked the interest of a local advocate for aging services.

Cindy Griffiths-Novak, the pioneering owner of the community that hosted Josh has since hosted a player every season and inspired other teams in the league to follow in her footsteps.

Expanding the Movement

After years of researching and writing about retirement living options, Steve Gurney, the publisher and founder of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, decided in 2008 that it was time to embark on his own journey. At 43, he moved into several local retirement communities to better understand the challenges his readers were facing as they transitioned to senior living.

“I was simply amazed by the wonderful people I met and the warm welcome I received,” said Gurney. “However, the biggest eye-opener for me was realizing how much I could learn from these residents, and how much they wanted to interact with me and my family.”

Gurney’s experiment transformed him into a passionate advocate for intergenerational living. He began to encourage local retirement living providers to think differently about their services and to avoid isolating their residents. When Gurney learned about Fiaola and his assisted living fans, inspiration struck.

Turning to his extensive local network of senior-serving providers, Gurney began to put together a unique event featuring this story of intergenerational connections. The BIG EVENT for senior-serving professionals will take place on April 18, 2013, at Nationals Park. The event will feature a keynote presentation by Josh Fiaola and Cindy Griffiths-Novak, the pioneering owner of the community that hosted Josh.

While reaching out to local organizations to promote The BIG EVENT, Gurney connected with Chris Hummer, the general manager of The Washington Spirit. Hummer had a familiar problem; he was struggling to find affordable housing for the athletes who were joining his team. Gurney helped connect the team with Ingleside at King Farm, which volunteered to host two or the star players on the team. Now Matheson and Gayle and the management of Ingleside at King Farm are also scheduled to attend the BIG EVENT as well to discuss their new adventure in retirement living.

For Matheson and Gayle, following in Josh’s footsteps presented an exciting opportunity to live in an upscale community surrounded by welcoming neighbors. As the young women settle in to their new home, they are becoming part of what Gurney hopes is a burgeoning movement that will unite generations and revolutionize the retirement living industry. “My dream is that these stories inspire our industry to think more creatively about the ways we can support our elders without isolating them from the community at large”, states Gurney.

Sports have always united fans. Rallying behind a team can bring diverse people together and give them a common cause. Now, aspiring sports stars are helping to unite generations – inspiring fans and benefiting from strong communities.

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]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/professional-athletes-living-in-a-retirement-community/feed/ 0 Live or Visit! The Las Vegas Difference http://www.retirement-living.com/live-or-visit-the-las-vegas-difference/ http://www.retirement-living.com/live-or-visit-the-las-vegas-difference/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:16:58 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=15130 By Gabe Goldberg

Retirement is by definition a time to “live differently”, trading lifelong habits and activities for new adventures. That transition offers new lifestyles and places to live, including areas never visited or considered. Perhaps surprisingly for non-gamers (gambling, that is, for which the city’s best known), Las Vegas is an ever-changing year-round grownup theme park, offering an astonishingly diverse mix of activities, entertainment, sightseeing, and — maybe surprisingly — relaxation. Living or visiting here likely offers more (and more varied) experiences than anywhere else you’ve lived or visited.

Many hotels host exhibits — art, science, history, etc. — that would do museums proud. The Venetian’s “Da Vinci — the
Genius” highlights the man’s mind and breathtakingly ahead-of-his-time imagination, illustrated with artifacts, documents, and (my favorites) working scale models of scientific and engineering principles he conceived. (Hurry; this closes January 27, 2013.)

From more modern times — only a century ago — The Luxor’s “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” leads visitors on a visually and emotionally stunning tour through the “unsinkable” ship’s construction, launch, passengers, initial cruising, iceberg encounter, and sinking. The epilogue, of course, was the huge loss of life and survival of a fraction of souls on board. Ship’s and passenger’s objects recovered and full narration tell a gripping story.

CityCenter — a new megaconstruction with hotels, shopping, theaters, restaurants — features a dozen+ major artworks cataloged in a brochure for free self-guided tour.

The Mirage - Yoga Among the Dolphins

The Mirage - Yoga Among the Dolphins

Relaxation, fitness, and serenity beckon at multiple oases of calm. The Mirage’s “Yoga Among the Dolphins” class meets in an underwater dolphin viewing area and accommodates all skill and experience levels. You’ll learn and practice yoga positions with a background of the graceful sea creatures. Caesar’s Qua Baths & Spa offers a catalog of refreshment and rejuvenation such as Roman rituals, color series, massage, and body pampering. Qua itself is a multi-room wonder of heat, cold, jacuzzi, scents, tea program, and more.

Las Vegas highlights I’ve enjoyed include the “Pinball Hall of Fame” (having, in my youth, spent uncounted quarters on such
machines); shooting galleries (where my wife and I fired Glock pistol and Uzi machine gun); and the Atomic Testing Museum (permanent exhibit on history, science, and technology of atomic testing programs plus temporary displays such as “Area 51 – Myth or Reality”).

For thrill seekers, the Stratosphere hotel tower — 1,149 feet tall, the tallest US freestanding observation tower — offers a sky-high mini-amusement park and SkyJump with 855 foot free fall.

Visiting Las Vegas needn’t be all urban streets and bright lights. Many areas and sights are easy day trips and have abundant nearby accommodations. Red Rock Canyon is a desert beauty with mighty cliffs, critters, waterfalls, and plant life. Touring Hoover Dam and nearby Boulder City lets you explore one of the country’s most majestic engineering feats. The Powerplant Tour explores electrical generation; the longer — and fascinating — Dam Tour includes the powerplant and passageways within the dam itself.

Las Vegas is justifiably famous for fine dining. Japonais at the Mirage blends exquisite, innovative sushi and sashimi with treats from a charcoal grill, including several dishes featuring Wagyu beef from Kobe, Japan. And Caesar’s Bacchanal takes buffet dining to new heights, highlighting nine chefs in open kitchens preparing more than 500 items representing seafood, Mexican, Italian, Asian, and more. And the pastry island wows with made-to-order crepes and souffles, creme brûlée, warm baked bread pudding (my favorite), gelato, cookies, cobbler.

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]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/live-or-visit-the-las-vegas-difference/feed/ 0 Not Everything Stays in Las Vegas http://www.retirement-living.com/not-everything-stays-in-las-vegas/ http://www.retirement-living.com/not-everything-stays-in-las-vegas/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2012 20:32:10 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=15065
Exotic Blue Car in Las Vegas
Author Gabe Goldberg pictured next to one of the attractions that can be found in Las Vegas

By Gabe Goldberg

For years, Las Vegas has touted the slightly — and deliberately — naughty idea that “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. I’m happy to report that’s not entirely true. For example, after a recent whirlwind visit there and several previous trips, I’ve successfully brought home multiple pleasant memories, photos, souvenirs, and stories. As well as a desire to return!

Las Vegas is a dream city for large-scale show enthusiasts. Offerings include diverse resident Cirque du Soleil productions plus assorted awesome other performances. Among Cirque’s shows, “The Beatles LOVE” (playing at the Mirage) in particular resonates for those of us with ’60s/’70s connections. Combining Cirque’s reliably splendid staging with powerful Beatles-performed classic songs, it’s choreographed with acrobatics and stunning/engaging special effects to recap the foursome’s lives.

Elsewhere on the Strip (the main drag’s nickname), Paris Las Vegas hosts Jersey Boys, a rousing foot-tapping rendition of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons journeying from street corner to mega-success, with hits such as “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry”. For an act combining nostalgia with current stardom, Donnie and Marie (Osmond — the real ones!) showcase their decades in show business at The Flamingo.

I enjoyed two big-boy (and girl!) highlights. First, Exotics Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway features dozens of racecars (Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, etc.) for customer high-speed driving, as well as ride-along with professional drivers showing what these cars can do.

Second, Dig It Las Vegas put me at controls of a full-size (and power!) excavator, digging trenches, picking up basketballs, and carrying huge objects. Between them, Exotics and Dig It quite satisfied my inner race-car driver and construction-equipment operator cravings.

A bit — a few easy miles — off the Strip’s beaten path is historic downtown Las Vegas. Old school, it includes arcade streets reminiscent of beach boardwalks, with addition of newer treats such as overhead zip-line ride. The Mob Museum, billed as “National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement”, illustrates with artifacts and narration the rise and fall of gangsters and mobs — paying special attention, of course, to their local activities. An expert insider connection and board member is former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, whose pre-politics career was defense lawyer for mobsters.

For stunning high-altitude city viewing, there’s Paris’ Eiffel Tower (great at night with the Strip’s lights and action all around) and Stratosphere (at Strip’s north end, daytime landscape and landmark visibility to the horizon).

For a break from ticketed activities, there’s the Belaggio’s exquisite musical dancing fountains display, Treasure Island’s streetside pirate drama, and Forum Shops at Caesars’ larger-than-lifesize animated battle for Atlantis and nearby huge aquarium with feedings and behind-scenes tours.

Finally, it would be irresponsible not mentioning Las Vegas also being a dining paradise. Up and down the Strip, day and night, from bargain to sybaritic, there’s nourishment available — much of it 24/7. Two memorable meals were at the Aria’s Julian Serrano (Spanish tapas, dozens of intriguing small plates, big tastes, great for exploring and sharing) and MGM Grand’s Fiamma (multi-course Italian feasting, favorites and innovations, 700-bottle wine list, and dessert).

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]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/not-everything-stays-in-las-vegas/feed/ 0 The Long Way Home – A Carefully Planned Retirement Move http://www.retirement-living.com/the-long-way-home-a-carefully-planned-retirement-move/ http://www.retirement-living.com/the-long-way-home-a-carefully-planned-retirement-move/#comments Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:39:35 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=14040 After 14 moves in the last 25 years, Mac and Nancy Cramer know what they want in a home — and they are more than willing to wait for it. They spent nearly six years locating the ideal home for their retirement. Their patience paid off. Today, they enjoy an expansive view of the Chesapeake Bay and the financial benefits of partial ownership in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

As a Naval Academy graduate, Mac has always had a fondness for Annapolis — one that Nancy shares. It is not surprising, then, that their exhaustive retirement community search led them to America’s sailing capital. They are now residents at BayWoods of Annapolis, a luxurious waterfront retirement community.
Mac and Nancy’s long journey home started at a football game at the Naval Academy. They were both enjoying the game with friends and certainly were not looking for romance. That seemingly unremarkable meeting led to a 25-year-long marriage that united two large families. Together, the couple has six kids, 11 grandkids and 11 great-grandkids.

When Mac became Chief Executive Officer of Vitro Corporation in Silver Spring, MD, the couple moved to the D.C. Metropolitan region. Seven years later, Mac retired and the couple moved once again — this time to Charleston, SC. “I was born in Charleston, and my mother was still living there,” Mac recalled. “We lived there for ten years and absolutely loved it.”

“We moved back to this area largely because the kids were closer,“ Mac continued. “I was also still active at the Naval Academy, and we just loved this area.” They initially moved into a condo in a converted church in downtown Annapolis. While the couple enjoyed the historic charm of the house, they grew tired of walking their two dogs several times a day and looking for off-street parking, especially in the snow.

After being offered the opportunity to work with a builder to renovate a nearby duplex to their specifications, Mac and Nancy started packing once again. Their new custom home solved the problem of having to walk their dogs and park on the street, but it came with some different challenges. “It was four stories high. Both of us were having a hard time with that. It just got to be too much,” said Nancy. “I guess we could have bought three chairlifts, but you know, we just moved,” added Mac with a laugh.

The Cramers knew it was time to look for a retirement community — again. Several years earlier, the couple had purchased a unit in a retirement community near Washington, D.C. “It was a lovely community, and it was in an area we liked, so we bought a unit,” recalled Mac. Nancy agreed, “It was nice, and it was huge, but we were never there.”

While the Cramers used the unit when they were meeting their children who live in Virginia, they were not staying there nearly enough to justify the expense. Ultimately, they realized they wanted to be in Annapolis.

After consulting with several local friends, Mac and Nancy began to look at retirement communities in and around Annapolis. They carefully catalogued their options, toured communities, put down deposits, and even consulted with a builder about renovating a unit at another community.

In fact, the Cramers looked at BayWoods quite a few times before making their final decision. One of their visits was shortly after BayWoods completed a state-of-the-art health care center. The waterfront had also been completely renovated. “It was just lovely. I really thought, ‘Wow,’” said Nancy. “We got on the list and looked at a couple of places that were larger than this, but we just decided that we weren’t quite ready,” Mac said.

All of the Cramers’ planning and pondering came to an end when the marketing manager at BayWoods offered them the chance to take a look at a newly available unit. “It wasn’t quite ready, but she let us peek in. We looked in, and I saw the vaulted ceilings and then we walked out on this porch, and I said, ‘I think we should get it.’ Just like that,” recalled Nancy. The couple had their builder raise the floor on the porch, so they can now enjoy Bay views from the comfort of their wing chairs.

While they certainly value the views, the Cramers also appreciate the wealth of activities and social opportunities available at BayWoods. Nancy is a member of the flower committee and participates in Bible classes. Mac attends exercise classes three days a week. They both participate in the community’s Great Books Club. However, they both agree that socializing with the other residents is one of the best activities available.

“Within the first six weeks of moving here, we were invited by several different couples to come to their apartments for cocktails and dinner — just to meet people,” said Mac. “It was a really nice way to get to know people. We just felt so welcome,” Nancy added. Even though the couple still spends summers in Vermont and two or three months in Charleston in the winter, they feel very connected to their friends and neighbors at BayWoods.

When they are at BayWoods during the winter and spring, the couple looks forward to all the wonderful dining options available for residents. “I recently wrote a letter to the chef, listing the many dishes we like and complimenting the good servers. I just wanted to make sure the chef knew how much we appreciate his work, so I wrote it all down. There wasn’t one negative thing in that letter,” Nancy said.

Everyone can appreciate delicious food and outstanding service, but the Cramers are also thankful for a much more practical amenity:  the on-campus health care center.  BayWoods offers rehab, respite, assisted living and skilled nursing services. Knowing that excellent health care is available should they ever need it is very important to both Mac and Nancy. “You walk into the health center, and it is just beautiful. I’m very impressed, and one of our good friends stayed there after her hip replacement, and she said the care was exceptional,” Nancy pointed out.

The Cramers also like the fact that since BayWoods is a cooperative, they — along with all the residents — collectively own the land, as well as all the residential buildings and other amenities. This equity position provides residents all the financial advantages of home ownership, including income tax deductions and potential appreciation on their investment, with none of the disadvantages of upkeep and maintenance.

After what was certainly a well-researched and carefully planned move, the Cramers and their two cats, Chessie and Mischa, have settled into their new home at BayWoods nicely. As they sit on their porch and enjoy the beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay, Mac and Nancy can now reflect on the many false starts and reconsiderations that led them to what is undoubtedly the perfect retirement community for them. Their journey was long, but it ultimately brought them home.

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/the-long-way-home-a-carefully-planned-retirement-move/feed/ 0 Happy Holidays from Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook and ProAging http://www.retirement-living.com/happy-holidays-from-guide-to-retirement-living-sourcebook-and-proaging/ http://www.retirement-living.com/happy-holidays-from-guide-to-retirement-living-sourcebook-and-proaging/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:58:47 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=11460 Get a rare (and funny) glimpse of the entire Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook team as they prepare for a special Holiday edition of the publication!

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/happy-holidays-from-guide-to-retirement-living-sourcebook-and-proaging/feed/ 0 Gifts for Caregivers http://www.retirement-living.com/gifts-for-caregivers/ http://www.retirement-living.com/gifts-for-caregivers/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:55:03 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=11458 According to Gallup research sponsored by Pfizer and ReACT one in six people who have a full-time or part-time job say that they have to care for an elderly family member, relative or friend, or someone with disabilities, Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary outlines 7 creative and practical gifts to give to caregivers this holiday season.

  1. Listen.
  2. Offer encouragement.
  3. Help out.
  4. Create a gift certificate that gives the caregiver six 20-minute venting sessions.
  5. Find funny and encouraging greeting cards, and send one to the caregiver every month.
  6. Use the personalized gift certificate to volunteer for a regular household task.
  7. Buy a caregiver a gift certificate to a spa.

Read the article

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/gifts-for-caregivers/feed/ 0 SourceBook digital editions are available http://www.retirement-living.com/sourcebook-digital-editions-are-available/ http://www.retirement-living.com/sourcebook-digital-editions-are-available/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:05:29 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=6795 The most recent editions of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook are available in digital editions.  Readers can browse and print the award-winning publication while they are waiting for their free copy to arrive in the mail.

Click on the links or images below to access the current regional editions  editions:

DC Metro Edition

Maryland Edition

Delaware Valley Edition – Philadelphia, PA and surrounding regions in New Jersey (NJ) and Delaware (DE)

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/sourcebook-digital-editions-are-available/feed/ 0 Selling Your House During an Economic Downturn http://www.retirement-living.com/selling-your-house-during-an-economic-downturn/ http://www.retirement-living.com/selling-your-house-during-an-economic-downturn/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:04:07 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=9014 This article was contributed by Diane Krause.

For the last few years, many homeowners have been keeping an eye on the real estate market and waiting for signs of improvement before considering a move. Newspaper headlines and TV reports scream doom and gloom but that data is generally compiled from broad regional and national markets and doesn’t always consider your local real estate market. There are many areas in which homes that are priced right and show well are selling quickly! However, there is no clear picture as to when there will be an overall upturn in the real estate and financial markets. This uncertainty has caused many to delay downsizing to a smaller home or settling into a retirement community. Often, ‘quality of life’ circumstances may dictate that your need to make a lifestyle change now may be of greater importance than the current real estate climate.

Selling Your Home: Is Waiting the Right Choice?

You may still be living in the home you purchased years ago to be in a particular school district or close to your employment. Ask yourself if the lifestyle you seek includes the burden of homeownership such as maintenance plus paying for ever-increasing taxes. What about transportation, food shopping and preparation? Snow! Healthcare?

Health is a major consideration. If you are considering a move to a CCRC and you qualify for independent living now, will you qualify in a few years? You may not feel “ready” but life changes can occur suddenly. How do you value the security of being settled and having the sale of your house behind you?

If it’s time for you or an aging loved one to move don’t compromise your safety and security. Selling your home may not be as hard as you think.

Determine your next steps

Meet with your family and other trusted sources to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of moving now. Remember, waiting for next spring does not guarantee a better market; it simply means you’re waiting. No one knows what the future holds. If the information on the table indicates it’s time to move, then don’t hesitate. Sit down with a senior real estate specialist, develop a plan and get moving.

Hire a Realtor that Specializes in Working with Seniors

The Senior Real Estate Specialist, SRES®, designation is offered to Realtors through the National Association of Realtors. SRES designees are real estate agents that specialize in senior needs and can ease the transition by having years of experience in helping seniors downsize. They can help you explore your housing options, use their expertise and industry knowledge to provide an honest assessment of your property and make suggestions for improving its saleability. They will develop a pricing and marketing strategy and use their team of resources to sell your home for the most money and get you moved with the least stress. www.sres.org

The Society of Certified Senior Advisors offers the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation. This designation is available to anyone who offers professional services to seniors. The CSA requirements are more comprehensive and rigorous than the SRES requirements. In addition the designee is required to undergo ongoing ethics education and must commit to ongoing volunteer hours working with seniors. www.society-csa.com

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/selling-your-house-during-an-economic-downturn/feed/ 0 The Greatest Gift: Making the Transition to Senior Living http://www.retirement-living.com/the-greatest-gift-making-the-transition-to-senior-living/ http://www.retirement-living.com/the-greatest-gift-making-the-transition-to-senior-living/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:05:35 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=9002  

For Dr. Robert and Pauline Sumner, their greatest gift in life will always be their daughter.  “She’s such a kind person and
The Sumners Enjoy the Grounds and Other Independent Living Amenities

In addition to the range of healthcare services offered at the continuing care retirement community, Pauline and Dr. Robert Sumner were instantly drawn to Riddle Village for its beautiful grounds and friendly staff.

we feel very blessed,” said Pauline.

Therefore, they wanted to give her something in return by ensuring they would be cared for in their future years.  The couple agreed that Riddle Village, a Lifecare Retirement Community located in Media, Pa., would be the perfect place to help them achieve this.

“So many parents don’t want to give up their home and they don’t realize the responsibility that falls to the children,” said Pauline.  “It takes a tremendous burden off our daughter if something were to happen to us. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.”

While it offers their loved one peace of mind, it has also provided the Sumners themselves with an active environment and maintenance-free lifestyle.  Robert (Bob) is a retired dentist who practiced for 38 years after serving in the Air Force while Pauline was a teacher before their daughter was born.  Over the years, she has continually volunteered in their community and with their church.

“I may have been the one who started pushing for us to move since Bob has been retired for 14 years,” said Pauline.  “I was tired of cooking and maintaining the home.”

The Sumners proceeded to visit different communities in the area, and found they were instantly drawn to Riddle Village.  “The staff appealed to us the most and the appearance as we were walking into the beautiful gold lobby room,” said Pauline.

These aspects, in addition to the Lifecare community’s independent living, personal care and skilled nursing services, prompted the couple to make the move, and they have been enjoying life in their new home for the past five months.

With a range of amenities and activities at Riddle Village, the couple has been getting involved as much as possible, even finding outlets for sharing their different skills. Bob, an avid woodworker and cabinet maker, has donated extensive equipment to the community’s woodshop and looks forward to giving lessons.  Meanwhile, Pauline has started volunteering at the gift shop.  They also take advantage of the fitness center and try not to miss the various entertainment brought into the community.

“There are so many opportunities here that you can be busy all the time,” she said.  “You certainly aren’t retired when you’re here — you might get tired — but you are not retired.”

And Bob would agree as he balances his time to continue his efforts building a medical/dental clinic in Honduras.  Having helped others in different areas such as the South Pacific and Mexico, he has been able to share his knowledge as part of the Medical Committee at Riddle Village.

 

Robert and Pauline in Their Retirement Community's Library

When he travels, however, he knows he has a wonderful home with a new found family waiting for him.  “Everyone here is so friendly, it has not been a problem getting to know people,” he said.  “Everything feels connected here since you can just go from one building to the other.”

For the couple, the friendly connections also apply to the staff.  “They are very supportive; from maintenance to the wait staff, they could not be more helpful and wonderful,” said Pauline.

As they enjoy delicious meals, a variety of entertainment or the beautiful settings of Riddle Village, the Sumners prove just how rewarding making the transition can be for everyone involved.

 

 

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/the-greatest-gift-making-the-transition-to-senior-living/feed/ 0 A Retirement Community Close to Home http://www.retirement-living.com/a-retirement-community-close-to-home/ http://www.retirement-living.com/a-retirement-community-close-to-home/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:44:20 +0000 Steve Gurney http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=8999 As longtime dairy farmers, Sally and Bill Moore managed to expand their property to 800 acres and have taken pride in

The Moores on a Cruise with Fellow Retirement Community Residents

For Sally and Bill Moore, it was never a question that they would move to Ware Presbyterian Village due its reputation in senior living, rural setting and close proximity to their dairy farm.

their family receiving a Master Farmer award for the mid-Atlantic region.  Therefore, it was not surprising that when they ultimately decided to move to a retirement community, they did not want to stray far from their life’s work.  Fortunately, they were already familiar with Ware Presbyterian Village, a continuing care community in Oxford, Pa. that they knew would offer them an ideal location and security for their future years.

Although farming was their primary career, the Moores had taken on other jobs over the years.  Sally worked for the agricultural extension service for a year and while farming, she wrote for the local newspaper and taught sewing classes in their home.  A Penn State football fan, Bill was a Boy Scout leader and served on different farming boards, including the Chester County Agland Preservation Board.

Naturally as farmers, they enjoyed taking care of the different animals they accumulated.  “We started the farm with 60 cows and now we have 800,” said Sally.  “I also had sheep at one point and used their fleece for spinning.  Today, Bill has four horses and a couple of oxen on the farm.”

The couple was prompted at an early age to look into retirement living options as a result of the experiences they each had with their loved ones.

“When our mothers were 85, we basically had to force them to move, but they ended up having a wonderful time,” said Sally.  “My mother was at Ware Presbyterian Village, so we had agreed when we were closer to 75, we were moving.”

In addition to Sally knowing the Ware family, the support her mother had received and the couple’s desire for a charming rural setting led the couple to immediately put their name on the waiting list, and they were actually able to move sooner than they anticipated.  They attributed this fortune to the fact that, unlike many of their peers, they did not have to worry about selling their property as they gladly went into business with their son and daughter-in-law who now primarily run the farm.

For the past year and a half, the Moores have enjoyed taking advantage of the various amenities at their home while Bill still visits the farm daily.  “It’s only 20 minutes away, which has been very handy for us,” said Sally.

When they are not visiting the property, they are often utilizing the fitness center at Ware Presbyterian Village while Sally remains busy on the Activities Committee.  Although they knew some individuals at the community prior to moving in, the Moores said they are always making friends at dinner or the numerous socials and even went on a cruise recently with a group of fellow residents.

And their amount of friends will only increase as a result of the Ware expansion project which will add new Independent Living villas and apartments.  “Having more people will lead to more activities and opportunities for socialization,” said Sally.

Regardless of its size, the Moores know Ware Presbyterian Village will maintain the reputation they have always known.  They could not be happier with its vibrant environment and the peace of mind they have with the continuum of healthcare services provided by a supportive staff.

“We like this community and we’ve known about it for a long time.  We’re very glad we made the decision,” said Sally.

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