Merrill and Judy Skolnik were overwhelmed by the thought of moving until they enlisted the help of a moving coordinator.

The Skolniks began looking at continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), and after a lengthy search, they selected Roland Park Place in Baltimore, Md. The two native Baltimoreans have a long history in the area and were relieved to find a place in the city and close to their children.

After raising their four children, Judy launched a career as an advisor at Towson University. An electrical engineer, Merrill earned his degree from Johns Hopkins University and worked for nearly 40 years for the U.S. government. When he retired, he was the Superintendent of the Radar Division of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and a widely renowned author and expert in radar technology.

After living in the same home for decades, the Skolniks were overwhelmed by the thought of moving. Even after finding the right retirement community, they had no idea of where or how to start the transition.

The staff at Roland Park Place suggested that the Skolniks enlist the help of Senior Transitions, Inc., a moving coordinating company owned and operated by Charna Kinneberg, RN, MBA. Senior Transitions assists seniors and their families with every aspect of the moving process from planning and downsizing to packing and unpacking.

“We are not a one-size-fits-all company. Each client is unique,” Charna explained. “Our services are tailored to relieve the stress of moving, and our first goal is to determine the exact needs of the client.”

When Charna started helping the Skolniks, relocating began to seem manageable. “She just took the whole burden off; she was in charge,” recalled Judy. “Thank goodness for Charna.”

Instead of worrying about home maintenance or feeling isolated, the Skolniks now enjoy a wide range of activities with new friends and
neighbors.

Charna helped Judy and Merrill make key decisions about what to take with them and what to leave behind. “She’s very decisive,” Judy recalled of Charna. “She knows what should be done and just does it.” She also enlisted help to do the packing and unpacking, so the couple did not have to worry about the physical tasks of the move.

“They were just wonderful,” Judy said of Senior Transitions. “They pack you up, and they bring you here, and they unpack you. They even make up your bed, and you’re ready to begin your new life.”

In addition to being efficient and professional, Charna and her staff also formed a personal relationship with the Skolniks. It was almost a year after they moved that Judy recalled seeing some of Senior Transitions’ staff members in the lobby of Roland Park Place. “A new resident was moving in upstairs with Charna’s help. I recognized the movers, and, to my surprise, they greeted me by name. They remembered everything about us. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Since moving, the Skolniks have enjoyed a much-improved lifestyle. Merrill stopped driving and Judy only drives during the day, so the couple rarely ventured out in the evenings while living in their house. Now, they take the community bus to the opera, theater, concerts and dinners. “There’s something to do here all the time,” Judy said. “I try to take advantage of everything, and it’s been very stimulating.”

Finding a community close to home and the professionals to help them make the move has helped the Skolniks transition to their ideal retirement. From living an isolated life in their increasingly burdensome house to enjoying activities and events with new friends and neighbors, the Skolniks have certainly made a move in the right direction.

Chemistry is the study of the composition, properties and reactions of substances. It is also the inexplicable connection that unites people. John Mutchler knows both types of chemistry well.

John Mutchler found the perfect balance of amenities to meet all his needs at The Hermitage.

A native Washingtonian, John grew up in Kensington, Md., and attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. From this top-rated public high school, he was able to go on to Cornell University, where he graduated with a degree in Chemistry.

John’s first job brought him back to Washington, D.C. He worked for the Gillette Company on Teflon-coated razor blades. Later, he pursued other ventures, but found himself drawn back to his work as a chemist. “As most people do, I changed jobs just to see if the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. I found out it wasn’t,” John recalled of his career move.

After returning to his original passion, John found his dream job as a chemist at a manufacturing plant in Northern New Jersey. “When I retired, I went out with a bang, instead of a whimper! I felt very fortunate that my last job was so satisfying,” he said.

While he found a lot of fulfillment in his work, John also enjoys spending time with his family, including his two children. He is also very close to his twin sister and spent many hours on the tennis court playing the single’s champion.

After retiring, John continued to live in Northern New Jersey. Several years ago, while still living alone, he fell and broke his back. While the injury was slowly healing, John realized that he needed some additional help. “I really couldn’t walk very far on my own, and I was very curtailed in my physical activities,” he said. “My daughter had always wanted me to come and live near them when I retired, so we started talking about it.”

When John’s daughter found The Hermitage, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Alexandria, Va., she thought it would be a perfect fit for her father. The location meant he would be close to most of his family. The community also offers the security of on-site health care or in-home services should they be needed in the future, all without an entrance fee.

“I came down here, and I was very impressed with the community,” John said. “Sure enough, I moved, and I’m really very happy here.”

John quickly discovered that The Hermitage offered the perfect balance of amenities to meet his needs. “They are really very good at serving three aspects here: physical needs, mental needs and spiritual needs,” he said. John explained that he participates in fitness classes and a bible study group and that his medical needs have always been promptly met.

While John is an avid participant in many activities, it is the friendships he has made since moving that have really changed his life. “Like any place, it’s the people that really count, and I’ve made so many friends here,” he said. Many of John’s friends are fellow participants in two of the community’s most active groups: the current events group and the poetry group. “We all look out for one another, and we’ve really become very close,” he explained.

Connecting with so many fascinating peers has made John’s transition easy. However, his unwavering positive attitude has also served him well. “I think people should try to focus on the many positive aspects of life in a community like this, and there are many, many positive aspects,” he said.

At The Hermitage, John has found a retirement lifestyle with the perfect balance of social, physical, mental and spiritual offerings. Most importantly, he has also discovered a community where the residents are truly connected and deeply engaged – a place with the right chemistry.

As lifelong educators, Jack Armstrong and Barbara Share have created quite a few lesson plans. When the time came to explore retirement living options, they approached the task like true educators: with well-defined criteria, meticulous checklists and a willingness to adapt their plans.

Now residents of Westminster at Lake Ridge, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., Jack and Barbara began searching for the perfect retirement lifestyle early – and considered locations from Maine to North Carolina. Ultimately, the two academics were swayed by the opportunity to return to a true campus and enjoy a college-like lifestyle.

Jack Armstrong and Barbara Share are lifelong educators who carefully reviewed
all their retirement living options before
moving to Westminster at Lake Ridge.

It was their mutual passion for education that initially brought Jack and Barbara together. Married for 30 years, the couple met while working on a curriculum-development project for the Council of Independent Colleges.

With experience as a college professor and an academic dean, Jack was leading the project. Barbara was serving on the team from the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. After teaching at both the elementary and high school levels for decades, Barbara had begun teaching college courses and was the director of the continuing education program at Mount Saint Joseph.

“While I was interacting with her as a part of that team, she quickly got my attention,” Jack recalled. The couple began a long-distance relationship, which continued for several years. By the time the project ended, Jack and Barbara had decided to get married.

When Jack was offered a job at a University of Maine satellite campus, the newly married couple moved to the eastern coast of Maine. “It was a great place to live, and a marvelous place to start our marriage,” he said. He served as the academic vice president and also taught at the university before retiring.

Both nature lovers, Jack and Barbara enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and diverse wildlife in Maine. However, they grew weary of winters that began in October and ended in May. “We retired in Maine, but after a year or so, we started looking south,” Barbara said. “I have some hip issues, and I wanted to be able to get outside without being afraid of falling.”

Jack and Barbara started planning. They made a list of must-haves. They narrowed down their locations, and they hit the road. “We took several weeks and  explored a number of areas,” Barbara recalled.

After willingly breaking two of their own rules, the couple settled on a new home in a golf community south of Wilmington, North Carolina. “We promised ourselves that we weren’t going to buy anything on that trip, and that we would never build a house,” Barbara smiled as she recalled. “We broke a couple of our rules, but it was a good experience.”

Jack and Barbara lived in the community near Wilmington for 14 years and enjoyed their proximity to the beach. However, they began to think about the next phase of their lives and started planning for retirement once again.

“With our educational backgrounds, we tend to be list makers and planners,” Jack explained. “That’s just part of our personalities.”

A passion for education brought Jack and Barbara together. They met while working on a curriculum-development project more than 30 years ago.

The planning started when Jack’s parents moved to a CCRC – a decision that was extremely uncommon among their generation. “My parents moved into a CCRC in their early 70s, and they were glad they didn’t wait any longer,” said Jack.

Frequent visits to Jack’s parents convinced Jack and Barbara that they wanted the lifestyle and security offered by a CCRC. As they began to look for the perfect community, location became a major factor. While they were living most of the year in North Carolina, the couple continued to spend the summer months at Jack’s cabin in Maine.

“Every year, we were making this 1,400-mile drive, and we’d stop in Vienna, Va., and stay with my sister for a couple of days,” Barbara recalled. When Barbara’s daughter and her family moved from California to near Richmond, Va., the D.C. Metropolitan region started to look even more attractive. During one of their visits, the couple picked up a copy of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook and began researching local retirement options and identifying potential communities.

When Jack and Barbara visited Westminster at Lake Ridge, they knew they had found their new home. “I was really tired of filling 80 bags full of leaves every year, and I saw these beautiful cottages, and I knew I was ready,” said Barbara.

In addition to the location and the amenities, Jack and Barbara were also thrilled with the sense of community they found at Westminster. “Having been part of an educational community all of our adult lives, the campus-like atmosphere that was offered here was very appealing,” Jack said.

After moving, both Barbara and Jack quickly became involved in an array of activities. “There really are more activities offered here than you could even begin to take in,” Barbara said. “There are educational things, fun things, movies, so many interesting things – just everything you can imagine.”

Having been part of an educational community all of their adult lives, the campus-like atmosphere of Westminster at Lake Ridge appealed to Jack and Barbara.

Barbara works in the gift shop, which donates its proceeds to community service projects, and serves on the library committee. She is also a member of a memoirs group and has recently started painting for the first time in her life.

A lifelong environmentalist, Jack has been spearheading some of the community’s efforts to become more environmentally conscious while decreasing operating costs. Currently, he is working on a project to get residents to switch out all their regular light bulbs for newer, more energy efficient bulbs.

The couple also enjoys walking on the community’s nature trails and observing the many species of birds that call the community home. “It’s so beautiful here,” Barbara said. “I saw four Herons down by the lower pond just this morning.”

Beyond the wide range of activities, Barbara and Jack have enjoyed meeting so many fascinating new people and making new friends. “As soon as we moved in, we were embraced by everyone. They took us right in, and we had friends from the get-go,” Barbara recalled.

To individuals who fear moving to a retirement community, Jack and Barbara suggest considering everything they have to gain. “People don’t realize that moving to a community like Westminster will not mean losing their support network,” Jack said. “In fact, they’re going to increase their support system; they will have plenty of camaraderie, plenty of interaction and so many more friendships.”

After planning a couple of retirements, Jack and Barbara are relieved to have found the perfect home at Westminster at Lake Ridge. The couple made their lists, checked them several times and then waited until they found a community that fit their exacting criteria. Following their long search, these two lifelong educators are thrilled to be back on campus.

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.

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.

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.”

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

When she is not visiting with friends for coffee at Frey Village or enjoying a day outing, Mary Klemmer is busy volunteering and addressing birthday cards to her peers at the retiremnet community.

A vibrant, active senior, Mary Klemmer was adamant that she would never leave her home. But when a fall left her unconscious for three days before she was found and hospitalized, she knew she had to revisit her decision.

Her family set out on a search for a Continuing Care Retirement Community that could provide the necessary health-care services Mary needed right away, but also complement the busy lifestyle she enjoyed. Not sure where to turn, they were referred to Frey Village, a Diakon Lutheran Senior Living Community in Middletown, Pa.

“My daughter and granddaughter came here right away, looked at it and loved it!” says Mary, who recovered from her fall with the help of Frey Village’s nursing and rehabilitative care services before moving into her one-bedroom apartment. “The nurses and therapists keep saying, ‘We can’t believe it’s you!’ when they see me.”

Completely independent, the 90-year-old woman fills her days with lots of activities. Whether she is volunteering in the village’s Country Store, assisting the chaplain, or taking her daily walk around campus, she is never at a loss for something to do.

“I really think that my whole family cannot believe the adjustment I’ve made here and that I love it,” she says. “I try to be involved as much as possible. There is always something”””such as the village’s annual Strawberry Festival, Mount Gretna art outings, unique community involvements including one with students from the Diakon Wilderness Center, and a range of interesting and scenic trips”””in which you can become involved.”

Mary also looks forward to Frey Village’s weekly dinner outings to a Middletown-area church as a time to socialize and have fun with her dinner companions.

“I go every single week because I am so amazed at the town of Middletown, how friendly all the people are in these churches and how many helpful volunteers there are,” she says. “Even if I didn’t eat, I’d think it was wonderful because of the association with the people in town.”

The carefree lifestyle found at Frey Village is a perfect respite for Mary, who spent most of her adult life working in retail management, an industry known for long hours and high stress levels. For 15 years as the owner of Mary’s Bridal House in Lancaster, she handled the formal-dress needs for a variety of special occasions.

“Some weekends I had as many as 25 weddings. I did prom shows. I also did the Miss Lancaster County pageants,” she says. “I think back and don’t know how I ever did it.”

After closing the shop, Mary put her management experience to work for a number of retailers before retiring. To this day, she still volunteers her time to address and send birthday cards to all employees at Hallmark’s 10 stores in the Lancaster area.

“I also send everyone in the Frey Tower Apartments a birthday card,” she says. “That is my new mission.”

When not addressing birthday cards, volunteering, participating in a Frey Village outing, sharing a cup of coffee with a friend, or visiting residents in the community’s personal care center, Mary tends to the plants and flowers on her patio””or “other living room,” as she likes to call the outside space.

“I get up every morning and love to be out there with my coffee, enjoying the view,” she says. “I sometimes just stand out there and can’t believe that I’m here.”

Harold Watts, Adrianna Price and Floss Berkowitz enjoy the newly opened Bistro at Martins Run, where residents of the retirement community and their families can have a quick bite, cook-to-order dishes or the especially popular Sunday brunch.

Dennis Fisher gathers a handful of ripe heirloom tomatoes and bunches of freshly cut herbs from his Chef’s Garden. Chopped chives for potatoes, oregano for pasta, as well as parsley and dill are all slated for the evening’s menu.  As the Executive Chef of Martins Run Senior Living Community in Media, Pa., Fisher embraces local ingredients, a philosophy of sustainability, and most importantly, inspired cuisine.
“Many of our residents are accomplished cooks and enjoyed tending their own gardens, so to have fresh summer tomatoes and homegrown herbs incorporated into their food, is a true taste of home,” says Fisher.  Garden-savvy residents even started a new tradition this year — a Mother’s Day tomato plant sale, which raised funds for the Martins Run Garden Club. “Many of us even donated a few of our plants to the Chef’s Garden,” says Muriel Kornspan, one of the Club’s members.
For Fisher and the rest of the Martins Run dining team, crafting appealing cuisine for a wide variety of palates starts with offering plenty of choices. Between three unique dining venues, residents can choose from as many as 12 entrees every night. The recently opened Terrace Dining Room is a favorite among residents looking for non-kosher buffet-style dining in a casual, upbeat setting. On special evenings, a chef will take to the stage and lead residents through a cooking demonstration of a favorite seasonal recipe. Open for lunch and dinner, residents can choose from among three or four cook-to-order entrees each day, with dishes like shrimp kebobs, pork ribs and tilapia, as well as an extensive soup and salad bar and a dessert bar with an ice cream station. Ranging from vanilla to Moose Tracks, the flavorful selections of ice cream are always a refreshing delight on steamy summer days.
The recently opened Bistro is a high-energy café that is perfect for a quick bite and refreshing beverages on the go.  The menu is continuously changing to accommodate a wide range of ready-to-eat and cook-to-order dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including larger plates such as the Asian-style salmon or lighter entrees like ziti with olives and feta. Sunday brunch is a favorite among residents, who like to splurge on Belgian waffles, a create-your-own omelet station or dine on classic favorites like a whitefish salad platter with bagels and cream cheese.
Another fixture at the Bistro? Chef Alex Cobb, who is often found stretching and tossing his own pizza dough, the base for his wildly popular gourmet pizzas. When the Bistro first opened, Cobb began experimenting with a variety of pizza recipes, using fresh organic herbs and vegetables from his home garden for the crust and toppings.

The Fireside Dining Room offers full-waited service in a refined and intimate atmosphere. Open for dinner, the menu features a long list of upscale traditional kosher fare as well as other creative options. The Fireside Dining Room often hosts up to three generations at a single table, as residents frequently invite their children and grandchildren to eat with them in this restaurant-style environment. A prominent yet charming fireplace and tables clad with starched white tablecloths exude a warm ambiance to accompany the sumptuous food served here.  Whether you prefer the brisket, prime rib carved to order, or stuffed salmon, you’ll leave here with a satisfied stomach.
“The dining experience here is second to none,” enthuses Ruth Monheit. “There is such an impressive variety of dishes, ingredients and cooking styles, that it’s become our most anticipated time of day.” Monheit, a resident since 2004, has been a member of the Martins Run Food Committee for six years. She and several other residents meet with Dining Services management staff once a month to help guide menu changes and provide feedback. “We represent the ‘palates’ of all the residents,” Monheit says. “The Dining Services team is extremely receptive and does a great job responding quickly to accommodate our suggestions.”
So how does Martins Run accommodate so many different tastes and dietary constraints?
“That is the six million dollar question,” says Mike Swain, Director of Dining Services, who claims the biggest challenge is cooking food the way 250 residents’ mothers did.  “We understand the importance of soliciting feedback from the residents, to take direction from them in respect to all facets of the Dining Services operation.”  The staff is constantly collecting input on the menus, staffing patterns, hours of operation, ambiance, and other factors that affect the residents’ experience.  “We are very visible before, during, and after mealtime to hear what they have to say.”
While Monheit’s favorite place to eat is in the Terrace Dining Room, she enjoys all of the dining venues. Harold Watts agrees. “I feel right at home and really have an enjoyable dining experience every time I sit down to eat.” More often than not, Watts, who considers himself a big breakfast guy, goes straight for the omelet station, filling the remainder of his plate with hash browns and a slice of banana bread baked fresh that morning.
For Floss Berkowitz, a resident since 2010, the best part of dining isn’t the food. It’s the camaraderie it offers. “In the Terrace Dining Room, we’re surrounded by a comfortable, laidback atmosphere that provides us with a great place to sit and talk with other folks, while enjoying first-class food,” she says.
In an effort to deserve that “first-class” endorsement, the dining team throws special-themed parties and other events. These include kosher deli nights, complete with all the traditional pickles aside corned beef on rye, upscale non-kosher birthday parties, and summer barbecues. The Martins Run Chef team regularly prepares ethnic dishes from around the world, from Italian and African Liberian to Asian and Mediterranean.

Registered Dietitian Laura Freeman (right) helps ensure meals at the senior living community are well balanced while providing one-on-one nutrition counseling for residents, including Ruth Haas and Neal Aaron.

While guests are savoring the variety of cuisine at Martins Run, Laura Freeman, RD, LDN, is busy working behind the scenes, ensuring that meals are well balanced and nutritional needs are met. Freeman also provides one-on-one nutrition counseling for any resident in the community, and she teams with the chef to ensure seasonal and local produce are featured in all of the dining rooms.
According to Freeman, who has worked at several continuing care retirement communities in the Philadelphia area, Martins Run residents are very well educated and very in-tune with timely nutrition topics. “I love working with the residents to make positive changes in their health,” she says.  “I believe quality of life is key as we age and how we eat greatly affects that. Incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lean meats and whole grains, helps to create these positive changes. The chefs do an incredible job of making meals at Martins Run healthy, yet flavorful and enjoyable at the same time.”
Even this year’s Leadership Award Celebration at Martins Run focused on organic, locally grown food. During the dinner, several attendees asked who catered the event. It’s a question that is often asked at Martins Run affairs, yet Mike Swain believes it’s the ultimate compliment. He is always proud to answer with: “It’s our amazing team of chefs.”

Gardner Van Scoyoc, a renowned senior housing expert and his wife Nancy made the move to Westminster Lake Ridge

Gardner Van Scoyoc certainly knows a thing or two about retirement communities having operated and developed many throughout his 40-year career. Therefore, the decision he made with his wife, Nancy, to move to Westminster at Lake Ridge, a continuing care community in Virginia, was clearly well researched.

Gardner and Nancy met during their first weekend at college and later married in 1954. “By that time I knew I wanted to go to the Virginia Seminary and become an Episcopal Priest,” he said. While working for the Diocese in Richmond, he was involved with its plans to develop a retirement community and appointed to serve as the first executive director. After helping develop more communities throughout the state, he left to start a consulting practice, assisting in projects nationwide and establishing himself as a leading authority in senior housing development.

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As Nancy supported Gardner, she raised their four boys which “was a full time job” she said with a laugh. Once they were all in school, Nancy went back to college to receive degrees in psychology and counseling. As the family moved, her career path included opening two women’s resource centers, doing church-based work, writing a book, and finally for several years directing a wilderness adventure program for inner-city youth.

Eventually the couple grew tired of maintaining their Alexandria home that sat on one acre of land. Despite moving to a townhouse, they still longed for a better sense of community. Nancy said, “I had painted this idyllic picture; I love the natural world and I said I definitely don’t want to go and live in an apartment building.” Since Gardner was familiar with the communities that offered such a natural setting, they visited their friends at Westminster at Lake Ridge, and were extremely impressed.
“I told the marketing department if we could have a cottage right on the pond, and add a sunroom, we might be interested,” said Nancy. Within two months, a cottage became available and they immediately began planning their move to Westminster, adding the sunroom and a mosaic stone patio created by their son.

Now fully settled in, the Van Scoyocs could not be happier. “This is the only place I know of in the metropolitan area that has cottages, ponds and woods. It’s a beautiful landscape and still has easy accessibility to a number of shopping centers,” said Gardner. “Of all the retirement facilities I’ve developed, I can stack this one up against any of them as being one of the nicer facilities, and it’s not out of reach financially.”

The connections they have made at Westminster are very important to the couple too. “We have people we feel very close to here, but it’s also the staff. The staff makes us feel like we are all part of a family,” said Nancy.

Additionally, the couple is enjoying their change in lifestyle. “Less of my time is spent with cooking and cleaning; I can do the things I love to do,” said Nancy. ”I can walk in the woods, I can indulge in gardening. There are also so many interesting programs and musical events offered at Westminster.”

After a long career helping others make this transition, Gardner offered words of wisdom from his own perspective. “You don’t want to wait so long that you have the choice imposed on you. That’s the key to having control of your own future.”