Mrs. Mary Afrookteh (center) receives flowers from her caregiver, Kelly Berge (right), and Stephanie Nilson, Community Relations Director for Right-at- Home, In-Home Care & Assistance.

Mary was born in Lossiemouth, Scotland (home of the Loch Ness Monster). While her Mom was visiting her grandmother, Mary was born. Six weeks later, they returned to their home in Brooklyn, NY. Since Mary was born in Scotland, she has dual citizenship. She has enjoyed going back to visit her homeland over the years.

Mary met her husband while interning as a dietician at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, where he worked as an Associate Professor of Surgery. Following her internship, she got a job at the Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue. “I got to meet all kinds of people,” said Mary. “I remember meeting Dodge MacArthur and Ronald Reagan, who was governor of California at the time.”

After marrying, Mary and Dr. Afrookteh went on to have four children and now have five grandchildren. The couple moved to Catonsville, Md., in 1962 when Dr. Afrookteh was offered a heart surgeon position at the University of MD. Years later, Dr. Afrookteh opened his own practice in Catonsville.

When Mary and her family realized she needed some extra help to remain in her home, they turned to Right at Home. Mary chose the company based largely on the recommendation of her trusted financial advisor, Carol Chaney. Carol has known and worked with the owner of Right at Home, Carole Luber, for many years and knows the importance of referring clients to trustworthy providers.

“Carol said they were top-notch and very involved with all of their clients,” explained Mary. “My daughter, also Carol, an attorney, felt comfortable after interviewing the owner, and my son, Ali, a doctor, was also familiar with the company.”

After over a year of using Right at Home, Mary has only positive feedback. “My caregiver, Kelly, has been like my daughter. We are joined at the hip, and I couldn’t get along without her,” Mary said. “She knows all my likes and dislikes.”

Ultimately, Mary is thrilled that she has been able to remain in her family home. She explained, “I don’t want to live with strangers. I have everything I want right here, including my kitties, Mo and Garfield”.

Father Manuel Roman

Manuel Roman was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and came to Baltimore to be a doctor. Halfway through his premed studies at Johns Hopkins University, he started to question if it was the career path for him. He developed an interest in becoming a language professor, so he changed his major to French and minored in German. While in graduate school, he became further perplexed about his future when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve at Ft. Meade.

At a crossroads between a career in medicine, teaching or the military, he went to see his pastor, who actually later became the Archbishop of Baltimore.  When Manuel presented his problem, his pastor asked if he had thought about becoming a priest.

“When I said no, he said add that to the list,” Manuel said with a laugh.  He then instructed Manuel to interview a physician, military officer, professor and priest having each explain the pros and cons of their careers.  He also instructed him to pray over it to get the answer. Then in January 1950, Manuel came across a publication titled “Questions About Vocations.”

“I read it in one reading and when I finished I wanted to be a parish priest,” he said. This started him on a rewarding path of advanced degrees and assignments in a variety of parishes and schools. His favorite assignment was spending his last 20 years as a pastor at Ascension Catholic Church of Halethorpe. “I loved the challenges that we had there,” he said.

Manuel retired at age 80 and moved to an apartment in Catonsville. When he started having problems with arthritis, he began searching for assisted living options, but found his choices limited by the fact that he was insulin-dependent.  Fortunately someone recommended Heartlands Senior Living Village, which provides independent and assisted living as well as rehabilitation services. “When I called here they said, ‘We will take you insulin and all!’” said Manuel.

After living in the Heartlands for over three years he said, “I don’t think I could find a better place than this one, I am not saying this because somebody’s telling me to; I’m saying it from my heart.”  He cited the friendly and supportive staff as well as the vast amount of activities and recreational offerings as some of his favorite aspects of the community.

In addition, he thoroughly enjoys the food at Heartlands. He said, “If you don’t like what’s on the regular menu, they have an alternate menu. If you don’t like what’s on the alternate menu, they will do everything they can to please you.  This is one excellent feature here that many other places don’t have.”

Edna Murray

The youngest of eight children, Edna was actually the first in her family to graduate from high school. “I graduated at the height of the Depression; the rest of my siblings had to go to work,” she said. After deferring an offer to attend Duke University, she started working at the C & P Telephone Company the day after she graduated.

There, she said she met a young man on loan from the Maryland office, and within six months they were married. “We had a delightful marriage for 61 years,” she said.

In that time, she continued working for C&P and moved to Hampstead, Md., the small country town where her husband was born and raised.  They had one child, whom Edna quipped, they “spoiled rotten.” Their family grew over the years with two granddaughters and four great grandchildren.

Edna said she enjoyed every minute of her career at C&P, earning her college degree and becoming one of the first women to rise to the executive level in her company.  When she and her husband retired at age 55, they bought a condo in Florida to spend part of the year.  Her husband was an avid golfer and they belonged to clubs in both states.

In 1992, the couple was among the first residents to move to Heartlands, which was a brand new independent living retirement community.  With Edna’s husband recuperating from a bout with cancer, they figured it would be a smart move and after researching the community, they settled on a cottage with a den and screened-in porch.  After her husband fully recovered, they moved back to Hampstead.  They agreed, however, if one of them passed away the surviving spouse would return to Heartlands.

When this became a reality for Edna, she lived alone for eight years, but decided it was best to move back to Heartlands.  Amazed at how much the community had expanded, she moved into an independent living apartment. 

“It’s just a place that has touched me as home,” she said.  The homelike atmosphere has meant a great deal to Edna who has since moved to an assisted living apartment due to the progression of vision and health problems. 

“That is one of the best features about Heartlands,” says Beth Sanchez, director of Marketing.  “We have been part of the Ellicott City culture for over 24 years, and we are ‘home’ to over 250 residents.  Our residents and their families enjoy-and rely on-the warmth and care that surround them here. We are proud and honored to serve the seniors in our community.”

And Edna has learned how that warmth and care extends to all facets of the community.  Since she now has to pay close attention to her diet due to a pancreas problem, she, like Manuel, enjoys the fact that she has three meals a day and the companionship of her friends at meals.

As a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Maryland Federation of Women’s Clubs for six decades, Edna also enjoys the vibrant atmosphere she has found at the Heartlands.  With a passion for hobbies, she has access to a range of amenities including the community center that hosts a variety of social functions along with a full-service library and indoor heated pool and spa.  She even maintains her outside relationships, particularly assisting her 97-year-old friend who lives in a nearby nursing home. 

For others considering a move, Edna offered some sage advice. “I think living at Heartlands is the way to go.  When you get here, it’s about how you are going to live your life.  There has never been a day I had any sorrow for coming here.”

And coming from either of these individuals, with not only their impressive educational backgrounds, but the choices they made to find a home that has met their individualized needs, these are certainly words of wisdom.

Nestled in such a central location, county residents are able to enjoy the amenities of several major metropolitan areas-alongside the charm and beauty of smaller towns and gorgeous countryside. Locally known as “horse country,” Baltimore County is the third largest region in the United States for thoroughbred horse breeding farms. There are also seemingly endless entertainment and recreation opportunities within the County’s 612 square miles, which encompasses 170 miles of shore line on the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries.

Fresh Air.
Oregon Ridge Park, a 1,000 acre park offering activities from swimming and hiking to concerts sponsored by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the summer months, and Loch Raven Fishing Center, a nice getaway for boaters and fisherman alike, are chief among the County’s outdoor recreation offerings. If a relaxing summer evening is what you seek, turn to the Lurman Woodland Theatre in Catonsville, an amphitheatre that hosts free outdoor concerts from June through August. Rocky Point Beach and Oregon Ridge Beach provide locals with cool waters and sandy shores from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Small Towns
If indoor activities are more to your liking, venture out to one of Baltimore County’s many small towns. They provide shopping, restaurants, and interesting local attractions. The county seat, Towson, features world-class shopping, a wide array of restaurants, and is easily accessible from the Baltimore beltway. Catonsville’s city center, known as “The Village,” hosts several annual events, including an Arts and Crafts Festival, and is home to several specialty music stores. An antique hunter’s dream, Reisterstown is a well-preserved town featuring a wide array of antique shops, alongside eclectic boutiques offering everything from crafts to modern art. These are just a few of the dozen downtown shopping districts throughout Baltimore County; each town has distinctive offerings that attract residents and visitors alike.

Resources for Seniors.
With so much to offer, Baltimore County is growing rapidly, and as it grows so does its unique appeal for new residents-some of them seniors from nearby areas. As County residents age in place and seniors move from urban or rural areas to enjoy the convenience of suburban life, the senior population is burgeoning. County officials and area professionals have answered the demand of this population growth with new and innovative programs and services for seniors.

With 19 senior centers throughout the County, transportation programs, and a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the County’s older adults are encouraged to remain active and involved while aging in place. Aging in place allows seniors to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible. Services are enlisted to help seniors as they become necessary. Adult Day services, Home Care services, and a variety of governmental and private resources are available to seniors who choose to remain in their homes. Younger seniors can enjoy an active lifestyle with the comfort of knowing that there are services available in their community to meet all their future needs.

In addition to the services offered by local agencies, there are a variety of retirement communities in the area that offer a full range of amenities and care options. Senior-serving professionals are also available to help with everything from moving and downsizing to administering a care plan. Seniors in Baltimore County can rest assured that any assistance they may need in the future will be readily available-giving them more time to take advantage of a location that is second to none but near it all.

They had been living in their family home in Ellicott City for 15 years when their children began to encourage them to make the move to a retirement community. After a brief search, the Millers chose Charlestown, an Erickson Retirement Community in Catonsville, MD. The staff at Charlestown gave Mr. and Mrs. Miller information about moving companies and moving coordinators to help them make the transition.

The couple called Senior Transitions, Inc. for help with the move and was pleasantly surprised by the comprehensive services they offered. “I am so grateful that we called them; I tell everyone about Senior Transitions,” says Mrs. Miller. She continues, “We really could not have done it alone, and they were just so great. The staff was very hardworking and pleasant, and they certainly did not waste one minute.”

The moving coordinators packed all of the Millers belongings and even helped them get settled into their new apartment. With all the stress of the move relieved, the Millers found themselves “joking and laughing and having a great time, all while our house was being packed up.”

Walking into an apartment that was completely set up made their transition nearly seamless. “The cabinets were full, and the bed was made; there were even towels in the bathroom. They made sure we had everything we needed to be comfortable on the very first night,” remembers Mrs. Miller.

After just six weeks at Charlestown, the Millers feel like they settled into their new home “a long time ago.” Mrs. Miller sums up their experience, saying, “Knowing what I know now, I think it would be absolutely ridiculous to attempt to do all the work involved in moving on your own, especially when there is such wonderful help available.”

Not having to worry about going through boxes gave the Millers more time to make new friends at the community. They are now enjoying dinners with their fellow residents and are still deciding what new activities they would like to pursue.