Retirement Living » Activities for Seniors http://www.retirement-living.com Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, Homecare in VA, MD, DC, NJ, PA, DE Sat, 13 Jul 2013 17:56:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Real Life Story — Don McPherson http://www.retirement-living.com/real-life-story-don-mcpherson/ http://www.retirement-living.com/real-life-story-don-mcpherson/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 18:31:35 +0000 Kemmie Turpin http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=19380 Canadian-born Don McPherson recalls skiing for the first time as a boy in Toronto’s High Park. “At that time, there were no lifts, no lessons – just a hill covered in snow,” said McPherson.

Skiing

Don McPherson, 80, taking to the slopes in March 2013 at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Photograph by Tim Hugus)

In his late 50s, McPherson met a man skiing in the Rockies who was 80 years old. He recalled, “I thought, ‘I want to be able to ski when I’m 80,’ so I set that goal for myself.”  McPherson has reached that goal, and has no plans to stop skiing anytime soon.

In 1973, Dr. McPherson was working at a nuclear research lab in Ontario when he was invited to take a position as a nuclear reactor safety engineer with the Atomic Energy Commission – parent of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. His work with the Commission took him to all of the nuclear laboratories throughout the U.S. and to all the nuclear power countries of the world. In 2012, McPherson moved with his wife, Silvia, to Ashby Ponds retirement community from Falls Church, Va., where he had lived since 1975. Ashby Ponds is managed by Erickson Living and situated on a scenic 132-acre campus in Ashburn, Va.

McPherson might be considered somewhat of an athletic Renaissance man. As a child, he spent summers swimming in Lake Simcoe and caddying while at his grandfather’s cottage. In high school, McPherson was on the swimming, diving, gymnastics, and football teams. During his college days at the University of Toronto, McPherson was on the diving team and took pilot training with the Canadian Air Force.

Today, McPherson continues to stay healthy by visiting the Ashby Ponds fitness center two or three times per week, bicycling on the W&OD trail that passes nearby, and skiing during the winter months. ”Being outside in nature, especially in the mountains, is fabulous,” said McPherson. “I love seeing the views, and there’s a healthy aspect about it that simply leaves me feeling good.”

In early March, McPherson made a trip to Whitetail Ski Resort in Pa., which is 76 miles from Ashby Ponds. There, he met a man who was keeping a blog about his experiences skiing for 60 days around the world for his 60th birthday. After having learned about McPherson’s determination to ski at 80, he named him his “man of the day.”

For McPherson, eighty is nothing more than a number. “I’ve always been considered ‘too young’ for the positions that I’ve held,” said McPherson. “I guess now I’m reaping the benefits!”

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/real-life-story-don-mcpherson/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.

Links and Resources:

]]> 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).

Links and Resources:

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/not-everything-stays-in-las-vegas/feed/ 0 Boost Your Brain Health http://www.retirement-living.com/boost-your-brain-health/ http://www.retirement-living.com/boost-your-brain-health/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:27:40 +0000 Lauren Searson http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=10400 Mature Adults Playing Mind-Stimulating Games

Staying regularly engaged in social interaction, pursuing new interests and playing challenging mind games are recommended steps for seniors to adopt a brain-healthy lifestyle.

Surveys of adult “baby boomers” consistently find that memory loss is a top concern, and Alzheimer’s disease is their most feared disabling disease. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive and fatal disease of the brain in which brain cells fail. The disease seriously impairs a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.

Adopting a brain-healthy lifestyle can not only help keep your brain healthier as you age but also protect you from chronic illnesses. A study of older men and women found that those who were more physically and mentally active and more socially engaged had a lower risk for developing dementia. To protect your brain, follow these recommendations.

Stay Physically Active. Exercise helps maintain good blood flow to the brain, encourages the growth of new brain cells and can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes, which are all conditions that put you at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Just 30 minutes a day will get the body moving and the heart pumping.

Adopt a Brain Healthy Diet. Like the heart, the brain needs the right balance of nutrients to function well. A brain-healthy diet reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, encourages good blood flow to the brain, and is low in fat and cholesterol.

Stay Socially Active. Research shows that people who are regularly engaged in social interaction maintain their brain vitality. Stay active in the workplace, have lunch with friends, go to church, volunteer in community groups and join social groups.

Stay Mentally Active. Mental decline as you age may be due to altered connections
among brain cells. But research has found that keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections. You can even generate new brain cells.

“The best way to stay mentally active is to cross train your brain by engaging in a variety of brain-stimulating activities on a regular basis with increasing levels of challenge,” says Karen Briskie, Director of the Medical Team’s Journey Behavioral Health Program. Here are some ways you can improve your thinking skills and stay mentally active:

 Commit to lifelong learning: read a book and discuss it with a friend, or take up a new language;
 Play games to challenge your mind: chess, jigsaw puzzles, cards, and memory games;
 Pursue a new interest: learn to play a musical instrument, or go to the theater;
 Break your routine: walk on a different route or change the order of your morning routine;
 Involve one or more of your senses in a novel way: use your non-dominant hand to perform daily tasks such as brushing your teeth;
 Play stimulating video games like Tetris, which has been shown to improve efficiency in parts of the brain associated with reasoning, critical thinking, language, and processing;
 Keep up hobbies such as scrapbooking, knitting, and gardening.

“If you have concerns about memory loss, thinking skills and behavior changes, consult your doctor since an early diagnosis can have many advantages,” says Briskie. No treatment can stop Alzheimer’s, but there are drugs that can relieve symptoms in the early and middle stages of the disease and help control behavioral symptoms. There are also programs available, like THE MEDICAL TEAM’s Journey Behavioral Home Health Program, which can help patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. The program assists and educates patients and caregivers in areas such as safety, medications, communication techniques, coping strategies and provides assistance with activities of daily living.

Sources: THE MEDICAL TEAM Aging and Memory Loss Wellness Program, Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease Health Sense from THE MEDICAL TEAM, Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), and Ask Dr. Sears (www.askdrsears.com).

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/boost-your-brain-health/feed/ 0 Drum Circles in Retirement Communities http://www.retirement-living.com/drum-circles-in-retirement-communities/ http://www.retirement-living.com/drum-circles-in-retirement-communities/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:39:57 +0000 Lauren Searson http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=1192 Drum Circles in Retirement CommunitiesIf you thought activities in senior living communities are limited to Bingo and Bridge, then you have not met Alan Yellowitz. Alan facilitates drum circles in a rapidly growing number of retirement, assisted and nursing centers in the Washington, D.C. Metro region.

Alan’s story is all too common; in 2009 he was downsized from his job in the information technology field. After spending considerable time and energy looking for similar work, he started to think about changing his career path and other entrepreneurial ideas and business opportunities.

One of the paths Alan followed was an idea of creating a concierge service designed to specifically assist seniors and family caregivers. Steve Gurney, publisher of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook reviewed Alan’s business plan and asked him one simple question, “What do you REALLY like to do?” Alan responded with passion that he has played the drums for over 30 years, which sparked the idea to organize drum circles in senior living communities.

In less than a month Alan secured his first “gig” at a senior living community and launched his company, The Beat Goes On.

One of the first communities to take a chance on Alan’s innovative concept was Sunrise at Bluemont Park. Activity Director Danielle Nelson says, “It was a huge hit with all of our residents, from independent living to those with memory impairment.”

The staff is equally enthusiastic about the unique activity. When the drum circle is in full swing it is common to see several staff members joining in, dancing in the hallways or sharing a drum with the residents. “Seeing the success of the drum circles inspires you to think outside the box when planning activities,” says Danielle Nelson.

Alan is signing up new communities every week and has been enthusiastically asked to return by nearly every community at which he has conducted a drum circle. Although his new venture has not replaced his previous income, he says, “It’s a dream come true to be sharing my passion for drumming and music with others in such a positive manner.”

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/drum-circles-in-retirement-communities/feed/ 0 Continuing to Challenge Themselves in Independent Living http://www.retirement-living.com/continuing-to-challenge-themselves/ http://www.retirement-living.com/continuing-to-challenge-themselves/#comments Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:52:18 +0000 Lauren Searson http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=1106

Couple Continues Pursuits in Senior Housing

Still active in various organizations, Russell and Tricia Marks wanted to be in control of their own healthcare decisions and chose an independent living community.

There is no question that Tricia and Russell Marks, married for 55 years, are world-rounded individuals constantly seeking ways to stay active and challenge themselves.

Tricia, who served on the faculty of Princeton University, edited the prestigious Princeton University Library Chronicle. Her book, Deconstructing Legitimacy: Viceroys, Merchants, and the Military in Late Colonial Peru, was received in academic circles as a landmark study.

As the couple lived in Latin America for 15 years, Russell’s business career included managing a sugar and paper complex in Peru as well as the presidency of Phelps Dodge International Corporation and of the Americas Society. “I truly enjoyed international management,” he said. “Phelps Dodge operated manufacturing and sales facilities in 15 countries.”

With a family that had grown from two daughters to four grandchildren, the couple wanted a maintenance-free lifestyle with plenty of free time to spend on their outside activities.

For the Marks, an independent living community was the best option, and with good friends who were already well-established at Princeton Windrows in Princeton, NJ, they knew it would be a perfect fit.

“We did not want a continuing care community, because we want to control our own healthcare decisions,” said Russell. “Also, we wanted to own our home and to enjoy enhanced condominium services, such as the fine food served in our dining rooms.”

Now, the couple can plan their lives around their numerous academic, community and personal activities with the assurance that the basic support requirements of their lives are provided by the cordial staff.

Those activities include another book that Tricia is currently writing that covers important aspects of the creation of an independent Peru. She also serves on the Council of The Friends of the Princeton University Library.

Russell serves as Chairman of International Schools Services, an organization that manages 15 kindergarten through 12th grade schools around the world and provides services to about 250 other international schools. He is also president of People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos, an organization that brings literature to those who would otherwise have no access to it. Currently an elected trustee of Princeton Windrows, he is the former treasurer of the community’s Condominium Association. With his interests in painting, sculpting and writing, he has had numerous exhibitions featuring his abstract, hanging sculptures, and earlier this year he self-published a novel Nematodes.

On the verge of completing another novel, he and Tricia are a perfect example of the vibrant individuals in their community as they continue to relish their free time.

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/continuing-to-challenge-themselves/feed/ 0 Staying ‘In Tune’ with the Entertainment World http://www.retirement-living.com/staying-connected-with-the-entertainment-world/ http://www.retirement-living.com/staying-connected-with-the-entertainment-world/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:20:10 +0000 Lauren Searson http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=1112 As a tax accountant for 20 years with her own business in Arlington, Va., Marta Harkins utilized her mathematics background to help others.

“I loved to help people save money,” she said. “You become friends with these people after learning about them and it was very gratifying.”

A volunteer at Virginia Hospital Center for many years, Marta, aside from offering her assistance to others, also devoted a great deal of her time to one of her favorite activities, reading. However, over the years that she and her husband have lived at Vinson Hall, a continuing care community located in McLean, VA., Marta’s vision has declined, causing reading to become a difficult hobby.

Luckily, the staff at her new home, especially RADM Martin, have been instrumental in bringing technological advancements into the community. One of those was the elderly friendly Linked Senior entertainment system that offers residents access to a huge variety of entertainment and media.

“I’m very enthusiastic and use it quite a lot,” said Marta. “It’s one way to listen to a book and carry it around with you.”

The device has proven very convenient for her as she downloads various audiobooks onto her player from a station in the community and listens while she is waiting for doctor’s appointments.

“I use Linked Senior mostly for reading, but it’s wonderful how you can get music, talk shows and newspaper articles with a variety of subjects like military and art history,” said Marta.

With over 63,000 available audio pieces ranging from games to cooking lessons, Marta has been using the device for a couple of years and could not be happier to have been one of the ‘guinea pigs’ first receiving it.

The service that was designed to be accessible to many has proven to be an invaluable product for Marta and her eyesight. It accommodates other impairments too. “There are only five buttons and it’s so easy to operate, it’s an invaluable product,” she said.

With her new handheld device keeping her connected, Marta and her husband continue to thrive with the activities and social life at Vinson Hall. The mother of two and grandmother of four remains active in a women’s service club called Soroptimist International while continuing her volunteer efforts at the hospital with her husband.

And with her dedication to others over the years, there is no question that Marta deserved such a gift that could help her maintain her favorite hobby.

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/staying-connected-with-the-entertainment-world/feed/ 0 A Permanent Address http://www.retirement-living.com/a-permanent-address/ http://www.retirement-living.com/a-permanent-address/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:14:04 +0000 Lauren Searson http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=1107 As a long-time mail carrier, Frank Robinson prided himself on ensuring correspondence was received at what had become very familiar destinations. There is one address in particular, however, with which he has recently grown quite accustomed, and no, he will not be making a delivery there. Instead, Frank has been relaxing and having fun at this location otherwise known as Chandler Hall, a Quaker-driven continuing care community in Newtown, PA.

For an individual who has served others in different ways, it is only fitting that he found a vibrant home that offers a secure future.

Frank was working at a machine shop when he was drafted in February of 1943. Having volunteered to go airborne, he was stationed in Georgia and eventually transferred to the Philippines.

Following his service, he frequently offered his assistance as a mail carrier and was asked to stay as a regular. “I told my wife when I made regular carrier, we would get married,” he said. “So after I started, we set the date and were married in May of 1948.”

After more than three decades as a carrier, Frank took on a supervising role and eventually retired in 1979. Over the years, his family had grown from his three children to seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Unfortunately, Frank endured the hardships of losing his wife and giving up his keys, having been declared legally blind. For these reasons, he and his family agreed a community that could provide an active environment and allow him to maintain his independence was the best option, and Chandler Hall fit that mold perfectly.

For over a year, he has lived in the Cane Manor House section, where 23 residents have formed a tight-knit community in the homelike atmosphere with a dining, living and family room as well as a covered porch. Like Frank, many of his peers have grown children nearby so that he can host events at the community or venture off-site.

Despite this proximity, his children are grateful for the different levels of available healthcare including assisted living, memory care, home health care and a respite program. Chandler Hall was also one of the first Medicare-certified Hospice providers in Pennsylvania, offering such services to those in the Pavilion and surrounding community.

“It’s a great location and we liked the convenience of having extended care across the street if anything were to happen,” said Frank’s daughter, Janis. “Now he goes there for physicals and eye doctor appointments.”

There is no question that Frank has enjoyed a smooth and comfortable transition to Chandler Hall. Though he loves the prepared meals, he refuses to miss the weekly trip to the grocery store where he freely picks out various items.

He has also had no problem immersing himself in the social scene. “I joined the YMCA here and I enjoy playing trivia games, exercising in the afternoon and watching Phillies games,” he said.

With a prime location near historic Newtown, several amenities and a wide array of services, Frank has everything he could potentially need right outside of his door.

“I am very well satisfied, and the people here are all nice,” he said.

And as the community celebrates its 35th anniversary, Frank is certainly looking forward to his future at his new permanent address.

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/a-permanent-address/feed/ 0 A Lifelong Volunteer http://www.retirement-living.com/a-lifelong-volunteer/ http://www.retirement-living.com/a-lifelong-volunteer/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:41:57 +0000 Lauren Searson http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=1104 It only takes a few moments with Roslyn “Babs” Rhodes to see her energetic, passionate and optimistic spirit shining through. She shares a great deal of that spirit with the numerous volunteer organizations in which she is involved. From childhood to an active retirement at Attleboro Village, a continuing care community located in Langhorne, PA, volunteering has always just been a “part of life” for Babs.

“This is the way I can pay back society,” Babs commented. “It keeps me young.”

For the past eight years, Babs has caught the train to Center City where she volunteers at the MANNA kitchen. She will take on all of the necessary tasks to help prepare meals for HIV/AIDS victims and their families who are homebound. Even the production head chef at MANNA said of Babs, “She has more energy than anyone I know.” And with MANNA cooking 1000 to 2000 meals a day, her energy is certainly invaluable.

At a Chance to Heal, three generations of the Rhodes family have worked together for a common cause. Her daughter and granddaughter founded the organization which raises funds to promote understanding while treating and advocating for those diagnosed with eating disorders. Babs is on the board of the organization, which will be going national this year.

She has also spent the past eight years directing Philadelphia City Hall visitors to places of interest. Furthermore, her involvement with X-SITE provides young adults with an intergenerational training experience and helps children feel as though they are part of their community.

It is vibrant individuals like Babs that contribute to the energetic environment one can find at Attleboro. In fact, at the heart of the community is Main Street where people mingle every day, knowing fun times are bound to happen.

As every residential building in Attleboro connects to Main Street, Babs and her peers simply step out of their front door to be at the center of it all. With recreation such as yoga and exercise aquatic classes as well as social events, cultural activities and educational classes, this part of the community is filled with opportunity.

And opportunity is certainly a term with which Babs is familiar. As if all of her volunteer efforts mentioned thus far do not seem like enough, she still manages to fit even more philanthropic work into her schedule. For example, through her involvement with the “Book and the Cook,” she promotes Philadelphia restaurants.

There is no doubt that with Babs’s caring heart, the world is truly a better place. Although it is hard to imagine her not volunteering, when she does decide to focus a little time on herself, she can be found playing tennis or having lunch with her friends.

Babs initially looked for a continuing care community because she did not want to be a burden to her children and wanted to stay independent. Between the stimulating activities and the caring, accommodating staff, she knows she has made the right choice.

Now, she is one of the many faces that can be seen strolling through the village of her current home that reputably triggers a sense of nostalgia for residents and visitors. Reminiscent of quaint neighborhoods from America’s treasured past, Attleboro has the allure of a small town with a staff that makes Babs and her peers feel right at home.

And while reflecting on her own past, as well as the proactive decision she has made for her future, Babs reached one conclusion.

“It’s just a wonderful life,” she said.

]]> http://www.retirement-living.com/a-lifelong-volunteer/feed/ 0 Right Where They Need To Be http://www.retirement-living.com/right-where-they-need-to-be/ http://www.retirement-living.com/right-where-they-need-to-be/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:31:52 +0000 Lauren Searson http://www.retirement-living.com/?p=1100 Natives of Baltimore County, Stanley & Charlotte Hanna raised their two children in Belfast. Mr. Hanna retired after 37 years working with the State of Maryland and spent much of his free time tending to his vegetable garden. Mrs. Hanna also enjoyed retirement as she remained active by volunteering, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and heading multiple committees within their church.

The couple realized that it was increasingly difficult to maintain their home and property and decided to a visit the Maryland Masonic Homes, a continuing care retirement community located only six miles away. The fact that Charlotte’s sister was already a resident also prompted the Hannas decided to add their names to the waiting list in 2002. Three years later, they moved into their two-bedroom apartment.

Both Stanley and Charlotte are very happy with the decision to move to Maryland Masonic Homes. Mrs. Hanna often thinks to herself, “This is where I need to be.”

Being able to remain in the same geographic area where they spent most of their lives, close to their two children and many friends, was an important part of their decision to move.

Though the couple is still active and vibrant, their new home offers a sense of security for their future with a staff that offers 24-hour care for those individuals with health needs.

Not having to clean, cook and maintain a home has given them time to enjoy new hobbies and endeavors. Mr. Hanna has become a Mason and is active in Lodge meetings at the Grand Lodge, and enjoys attending religious services in the Chapel.

Mrs. Hanna continues to volunteer outside of their home and enjoys in her spare time playing cards and bingo, staying fit by attending “Tone Up” classes, singing in the choral group and acting as Treasurer of the Resident Council. She remarks that she “feels very spoiled” as the services provided give her the chance to remain so active. She adds, “I am very happy here, I can come and go as I please and stay as busy as I like.”

With their on-the-go lifestyles, a convenient location and available healthcare onsite, the Hannas see nothing but a bright and fun future ahead of them.

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