Sharing a spacious apartment at The Woodlands with his longtime neighbor, Sean Foohey could not be happier meeting his fellow residents and enjoying regular music performances at the retirement community.

Two longtime neighbors decided to research communities, but never imagined they would share the same apartment!

When Sean Foohey moved into his townhouse in Fairfax County, Va. in 1969, one of the first people he met was his next-door neighbor.  The two immediately developed a friendship and support network that included sharing dinner and conversation nearly every evening.  Now over 40 years later, they have made the move to The Woodlands Retirement Community in Fairfax, where instead of living next door, they are sharing the same spacious apartment and loving it.

Living together, however, was not their original intention when they began discussing the challenges of maintaining their homes, especially after several tough winter storms.

“We lived in three-story houses with lots of steps that were just getting to be too much for both of us,” said Sean. “What I really envisioned was living in a retirement community next door to each other, in two smallish apartments.” 

Using resources provided by the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging, including a copy of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, the two were able to narrow down the communities they were interested in touring.  One day, while on an errand together, they realized they were near The Woodlands, an option on their list. Although a bit apprehensive, they decided to stop by without an appointment and see if they could look around.  With a warm greeting from the staff, they were able to tour the community and several apartments.  “We fell in love with the place,” said Sean.

One of the first things that struck them on their tour was how large the apartments were.  Budget-conscious, the two realized that it might make sense financially to explore the alternative of sharing an apartment and noted that many of the models could perfectly accommodate this. 

The apartment they ultimately chose features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious living room, dining room and kitchen. “It’s perfect for us. It’s like two little private suites with a common area in between and we love it,” said Sean.

Having lived in The Woodlands for only three months, the friends have settled in nicely. Its convenient location allows the two to regularly visit friends in their old neighborhood, attend the same church and still see their longtime doctors. 

With a passion for music, they both enjoy the regular performances at The Woodlands.  Sean sits on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Opera and The Woodlands has donated meeting space and refreshments for the board to have their monthly meetings at the community. He also enjoys using the state-of-the-art fitness center, one of the many amenities that drew them to the community. “I believe that you’ve got to use it or lose it and so I keep moving,” he said.

Most importantly, they like how the size of the community enables them to get acquainted with all of the other residents.  “What we like about this place is it’s not too big. You have a chance of getting to know everybody, including staff. And we’re well on our way to accomplishing that,” said Sean. 

This is not surprising for the two as one of the first residents they met referred to everyone at The Woodlands as a family.  “They’re family and friends,” said Sean. “One of the things I hoped to accomplish was to meet more people and have people to talk to, and that’s happened really nicely.”

Although Geoffrey and Barbara Mynott remain busy with organizations outside of Dunwoody Village, they still enyjoy spending time relaxing in their spacious country house at the continuing care retirement community.

Since meeting in college, Barbara and Geoffrey Mynott have continued to feel lucky with each year they have shared together.  As they recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, they relish in the wonderful future ahead of them at their current home, Dunwoody Village, a Continuing Care Retirement Community located in Newtown Square, Pa.

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 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 a year and a half at the community, the Mynotts have been enjoying their spacious apartment 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 assisted living 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.”

 This article was contributed by Brenda Becker, founder of Top-Drawer Resources, LLC

 Fortunately for residents of Maryland, there are many excellent options available for senior living. Where one chooses to live is really a matter of personal preference, need and opportunity.  One of the very best options available is the continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also known as a lifecare community.  In exchange for a monthly service fee and a refundable or non-refundable entrance fee, residents of these communities enjoy a variety of activities, access to facilities for dining and recreation, and varying levels of healthcare.

The relationship between the resident and the continuing care retirement community is spelled out in the Residence and Care Agreement created by that community. In the state of Maryland, these agreements are approved and regulated by the Department of Aging.  These are legally binding agreements that detail the obligations between the community and the resident.  While the communities may appear similar on the surface, it is very important for prospective residents to understand the contents of each contract and the services that are available to residents.  Here are just a few of the questions that anyone considering a move to a CCRC should ask before making a final decision.

- Will this initial Residence and Care agreement cover the entire continuum of care, or will I (or a representative) be asked to sign new contracts for assisted living and nursing care?

- How much of my entrance fee will be refunded to my heirs, and under what conditions?  What fees will be charged to my account when I leave the community?

- What is the historical annual monthly fee increase? What was the increase this year?

- What other fees may I be exposed to (e.g. housekeeping, maintenance, etc.)?

- Are pets allowed?

- What type of medical care is available to me onsite?  Is there a clinic staffed with geriatric professionals?  Is there a fee for these services or are they included in the monthly fee?

- If I need temporary care in my residence, who will come to assist me?

- If I move from independent living to assisted living or nursing care, how will my fees change?  Will I have a private room?  Is there a surcharge for a private room?

- How does my long term care insurance factor into the services that are offered?

- Will the community pay for my prescriptions?

- What transportation is available to me and what are the associated fees?

- What are the qualifications of the executive staff and what is their tenure with this community?

Be sure to visit ALL areas of the campus. Ask to see the assisted living rooms and the skilled nursing (or nursing home) area of the community.  Sample the food and by all means, spend time with the residents of the community.

Continuing care retirement communities provide more than just housing and easy access to healthcare, they offer residents the opportunity to enrich their later years through deep new friendships and social opportunities that otherwise may be difficult to access.  Let these questions be your guide to a wonderful new lifestyle opportunity.

George and Barbara Patterson moved into Foulkeways at Gwynedd Continuing Care Retirement Community in July of 2001.  They always knew they would retire there; Barbara’s mother and uncle had been residents, making her ‘second generation.’   They were still more than a year away from their move-in date when one, uneventful day in 2000, George decided it was time to put their house in Bergenfield, NJ on the market.  It sold in 10 days!

Barbara and George needed to find a place to live, quickly, and with help from the community’s admissions director, they found a lovely apartment in a nearby town.  “We decided to take advantage of all the benefits that come with being a Priority List member,” remembers Barbara.  “Our new apartment was only a few miles down the road, and from that day on, we practically lived at Foulkeways.  We ate meals there, exercised at the fitness center, swam in the pool, used their doctors and dentist, visited the hair salon, attended concerts, garden shows, and movies, and booked ourselves on trips.   We did everything but sleep there, and by the time we moved our furniture into our apartment there we knew hundreds of residents and staff members.

“I couldn’t wait to get settled, I wanted to try things I’d never tried before, and with 109 resident-sponsored  ‘committees’  (Quaker jargon for special interest groups)  I stayed so busy I realized that if I  wanted to experience ‘down time’  I’d have to go on vacation, somewhere away from Foulkeways!    We loved the idea that all of the committees are run by the residents, not by some concierge or activity director planning our days for us.  George found time to become immersed in basket weaving and over the years became an expert weaver.  He would spend hours in our apartment creating Nantucket, Appalachian and Shaker baskets.  After years of devoting seven- days-a-week, 24 hours-a-day to our orchid growing business in Bergenfield, George finally had the time to pursue his ever growing passion.   But you never know where life is going to take you.”

One year after moving to the community, George was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.  He was 73 and Barbara was 70.  “My nursing background helped me cope.  I read everything I could get my hands on to find out more about this disease that had forced itself into my world.  George was more stoic.  He was always the quiet one, so I became the liaison between George and his disease. 

“In February of 2008 George fell and broke his right hip.  When he was released from the hospital he spent five months in Gwynedd House (Foulkeways Skilled Nursing Care facility).  His recuperation was slowed by the ever increasing progression of his Parkinson’s, but he was determined to return to our apartment.  When he was finally released he needed a nightly medical procedure that had to be administered by a nurse.  Every night for the next two years, a Foulkeways nurse would arrive, just like clockwork.   We came to know every nurse on staff.  We would laugh, we would hug; they became a part of our family.  Parkinson’s was taking its toll and George stumbled often.  Staff members would have to be called to get him back on his feet or into bed.  He was 6’4″ and too heavy for me to handle alone.  They came whenever needed, and they came without fail…always happy to help, always unfailingly pleasant.  What ever would we have done had we not been here?  How would we have managed?

“George and I always knew that quality care and attention to personal dignity were paramount at this community.  We had watched the care given to both my mother and my uncle as they became more frail, but just like everyone else our age, we didn’t dwell on thoughts of what might happen to either of us as we aged; it’s just not something you spend a lot of time thinking about.  But the level of continuing care provided by Foulkeways is the reason we chose to retire here.  Before we moved in I researched their hospital affiliations and when I heard about the relationship that existed between the community and Abington Memorial Hospital, I felt a deep peace of mind.  

“In 2010, George fell again.  He broke his left hip and was taken by ambulance to Abington Memorial Hospital.   While in the Emergency Room he suffered a heart attack.   All the records the ER doctors needed had been sent with George when the Foulkeways staff readied him for his trip by ambulance.  Valuable time was saved because his medical history and innumerable test results and doctors visits were all readily available to the attending physicians.  The hospital’s Palliative Care Team arranged for a conference call for us with our son in Little Rock, Ark., our daughter in New Jersey and our grandchildren to discuss what needed to be done.  George was included in the decision-making process, just as he is always included at the community.  Ultimately we decided that the surgical team would first perform bypass surgery, and four days later, perform a second surgery to set his hip. 

 “Nowadays when folks ask George when he is coming back to our apartment, George tells them with a wry smile, that he guesses he’s a ‘lifer’ in Gwynedd House.   His Parkinson’s has progressed and he has a feeding tube from which he is slowly being weaned. He meets with a speech therapist three times a week, and the entire Foulkeways staff of doctors, nurses, aides, housekeepers, maintenance men, dieticians and administrators have become our ‘family.’  They care about George.  They care about me.  When I am with him, twice a day, I can feel the love they extend to both of us.  We hug, we laugh, we encourage one another, and we watch as George continues with quiet determination to cope with his disease. 

“I am always touched by the staff’s ability to do whatever needs to be done to insure his comfort and peace of mind.  George has had to be re-taught to walk and to eat, and through it all the staff has been 100 percent supportive.  They are truly family to me.  Gwynedd House is so unique.  Care is designed to support resident independence and personal dignity.  George is not rousted at a certain hour each morning to adhere to staffing requirements.  Rather, he wakes at his usual hour, and goes through his day much as he would in our apartment, only now he has the added assistance he needs.  I eat lunch and dinner with him every day, and I am made aware, anew, that at Foulkeways a person is not a number or a diagnosis.  The individual always comes first here, always! 

Foulkeways at Gwynedd is the recipient of the 2010 Pathways to Greatness Award, given by Leading Age, formerly The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and LarsonAllen, consultants to the industry.

The Schoenbergs’ journey began with a blind date when Leone was a freshman at Syracuse. As their relationship progressed, she eventually transferred schools in order to start a life with him.

“I fell wildly in love with Malcolm,” she said. “We married and then I started at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.”

With his degree in electrical engineering from MIT, Malcolm had worked for three large national companies until he came upon the opportunity to join a national investment banking firm in New York, where he worked for 21 years.

“It was very demanding, but very exciting,” he said. “I enjoyed building relationships with investors and doing what was best for them; it was a very rewarding career.”

Leone, on the other hand, enjoyed devoting her time to their three sons in addition to creating works as a fiber artist. She also took pride in getting involved with different causes from participating in peace organizations to managing a historic house in Ft. Washington, Pa.

“In the 30-40 years following graduation, I was a volunteer,” she said. In fact, the couple has participated in numerous organizations throughout their lives including the Highlands Historical Society, Montgomery County SPCA and the Visiting Nurses Association Community Services.

While Malcolm has also enjoyed fox hunting and skiing for 25 years, the couple has utilized much of their free time for traveling, their first trip being to Europe in 1953. “We have done about 40-45 trips and cruises all over the world,” said Malcolm. “We’ve visited a lot of wonderful and beautiful places.” Among their array of excursions, the Schoenbergs said their most interesting adventure was in 1982, when they spent three weeks in the People’s Republic of China.

Although the couple knew they always had their wonderful family home to return to when traveling, the time eventually came for them to plan ahead for their potential future needs. Their home of 44 years covered 20 acres of land and they each knew if something were to happen to the other, neither spouse could manage it all alone.

“We wanted a maintenance-free lifestyle,” said Leone. “There had also been the experience with my mother needing care, so we wanted to solve that problem out of fairness to our children.”

As a result, the Schoenbergs proceeded to explore different CCRCs throughout eastern Pennsylvania. It was the community of Waverly Heights that particularly stood out to the couple.

“I had always said while I would be willing to move, I didn’t want to change my lifestyle having worked hard for many years,” said Malcolm. “We only found a few places that met the standards that I wanted and Waverly was one of them.”

When the opportunity arose to move in, the Schoenbergs did not hesitate to secure their spot in the community, and they have enjoyed life ever since for over a decade. “It’s a very easy lifestyle,” said Leone. “The thing that appealed to me was that it’s not a competitive community; it’s very relaxed, yet busy, and very friendly and caring.”

What has been especially important to the couple is having the ability to remain active on their own terms and maintain outside pursuits. “There are about 50 volunteer committees here. You can be as active or inactive as you want,” said Leone.

As Malcolm still assists a few of his past clients and continues his 26-year role with the Board of Directors for the SPCA, he was elected to the Board of the Waverly Heights Residents’ Association in 2001 and became president for two terms. In addition to serving on three other committees, he was elected to the community’s Board of Trustees. Like her husband, Leone has been a member of the Residents’ Association Board and now co-chairs the Windfall resale shop which earns money for activities and programs. She is also a member of other committees, including the Trips and Tours Committee, and writes for the community’s magazine, The Waverly Window.

The couple has even expanded their volunteer efforts by participating in a community outreach program organized by Philadelphia Contact Reassurance. “We make telephone calls and reach out to people in the Philadelphia area who live alone and may not have contact with anyone else,” said Leone. “One of us in the 20-member group will call them every morning to see how they are, and chat with them for a few minutes.”

Even with their outside affiliations and involvement in onsite organizations and programs, the Schoenbergs still make time to enjoy the various activities the community has to offer.

“I play Wimbledon croquet and we attend lectures, concerts and parties during the month,” said Malcolm. “There is a great social life here with our fellow residents who are very friendly people.”

According to the couple, that friendliness also extends to the staff at Waverly. “They are wonderful. I can’t praise them enough,” said Leone.
For the Schoenbergs, having excellent healthcare was their first priority when making the move and knowing they have such a supportive staff only furthers their peace of mind with Waverly’s personal care and skilled nursing services. In fact, its skilled nursing center, Muirfield, which was renovated and expanded in 2010, has received “deficiency-free” surveys for the past three consecutive years, an achievement rarely seen in U.S. nursing homes.

And Malcolm and Leone are in no way surprised by this since he stayed at the center following an accident. “The healthcare is marvelous, and so convenient,” said Leone. “Muirfield is just a couple minutes away from our villa, so I could walk to see Malcolm and have my meals with him.”

When the Schoenbergs decided to look into a senior housing option, they wanted great healthcare and did not want to sacrifice their busy schedules. Instead, they have found so much more at a community where they not only have a sense of security, but their energetic lifestyles have flourished.

“One of the best decisions we ever made was moving to Waverly Heights,” said Leone.

As a pilot, Norman served in the Marine Corps during World War II, but left the military following his graduation from college in 1948. Two years later, he married and went on to start a 20-year career in the manufacturing and construction business, through which he and his family traveled to various parts of the U.S., England and Canada. After serving as executive vice president for the Canadian subsidiary of Turner & Newell, Ltd, he left his Montreal home of eight years to return to the U.S. where he joined Merrill Lynch. For 20 years, he managed several offices in the Delaware Valley and eventually retired in 1988.

It was in 1999 that Norman’s wife passed away and he began to seriously consider the idea of a making the transition to a retirement community. Wanting the convenience of staying near his hometown of Berwyn, Pa., Norman had visited Dunwoody Village on several occasions to see his mother and cousin and was impressed with the care they received.

“It was very important to me to have the healthcare facilities that Dunwoody has. My mother had a couple of health incidents in which they took very good care of her,” he said.

Aside from the medical care that extends to assisted living and skilled nursing, it was also the luxurious residential accommodations and friendly service Norman knew he would find that further attracted him to the community.

“Dunwoody has all of the amenities that I wanted,” he said.

And for the past 10 years, he has enjoyed the amenities that have offered him a fun and maintenance-free lifestyle, from housekeeping services to transportation to a fitness center and game room. He also noted how easy it is for one to assimilate in the community, thanks to the welcoming staff and residents.

“I had a couple of friends who lived here as well, but I found it very easy to meet other people. There is a New Resident Hospitality Committee that gives people the opportunity to meet and go to dinner with some of the current residents if they wish,” said Norman.

While a range of activities keeps residents socially engaged, there are also several organizations in which to get involved. Norman is the treasurer of the community’s Residents’ Association and also the chairman of the Model Railroad Committee.

“Dunwoody has a large collection of trains that belonged to one of Dunwoody’s original residents and the whole thing has been expanded and maintained,” he said.

Although there is always something going on within the community, Norman also feels fortunate in being just a short trip away from his two daughters and twin granddaughters in West Chester and New Jersey.

As a second generation resident, Norman’s decision to make the move to Dunwoody may have been an obvious one, however, it a decision that for the past 10 years he has never regretted.

Although it was important to allow themselves and their children this peace of mind regarding their care later in life, the Schaphorsts also wanted to make the transition while they were still energetic and enjoying various pursuits.

Dick, a native of Atlantic Highlands, NJ, graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in electrical engineering and moved to Philadelphia to work in the government business sector at Philco. After 24 years with the company, Dick founded Delta Information Systems for which he served as president until 1999. Through his career, he chaired the United Nations Committee to establish the international standard for the video telephone, an aspect of his job that led him to write a book “Videoconferencing and Videotelephony.”

“I enjoyed the entrepreneurial aspect of the work — pulling people and programs together for success in the marketplace and establishing technical standards for the industry,” he said.

Following her graduation from Wilson college, Pat moved to Philadelphia for a career in math, statistics and computers. After marrying Dick in 1957 and raising three children, she eventually returned to school and received a MEd from Temple in Counseling Psychology, a field she stayed in until retirement.

As they remained active with Dick serving on the Jenkintown School Board for eight years and Pat being highly involved with the Women’s Center of Montgomery County and other volunteer efforts, the couple soon found that maintaining their large family home was becoming more difficult.

“Our house was a Victorian three-story house, much bigger than we needed,” said Pat. “At that point in our lives, it seemed it was better to look into a retirement place.”

Aside from the upkeep of their home, Pat’s bout with a cardiac problem also influenced the decision for finding a community that would offer the security of available medical care.

Out of the several local options they visited, Cathedral Village greatly appealed to the Schaphorsts with its distinctive amenities, from its healthcare program to its Village College courses.

Dick praised other amenities saying, “We have the most significant Horticulture and Greenhouse facility perhaps in the entire Delaware Valley,” and added, “We also have a very unique assisted living program.”

Unlike many other CCRCs, Cathedral Village does not have a separate building for residents whose needs may increase to a level requiring assisted living care. Instead, they are provided with a range of services within their established homes. The services are not limited to but do include medical care, transportation to social events and to meals, meal delivery, assistance with dressing and bathing, and reminders to take medications at the proper time or, in some cases, delivery of medications by the professional nurse.

While the Schaphorsts and their peers have the physical security with this continuum of care, they also have a sense of financial security knowing their money goes a long way at Cathedral Village. The community’s Type A Resident Contract is the most comprehensive in the retirement industry covering unlimited visits with nurses and the physicians in the outpatient department, each of whom are certified gerontologists. Residents are also covered for unlimited stays in the Skilled Nursing facility. Everyday healthcare maintenance is supported not only by the availability of immediate and routine medical care, but other departments as well.

In the community’s dining services program, the monthly fee covers three meals a day although it is not mandatory that residents take all three daily. This has been especially convenient for the couple, who with Pat’s health concerns, wanted to be rid of the burden of cooking.

The fee also covers use of the Health Club and the Fitness Center including all of the classes, water aerobics and the special attention and training given by the full-time director, and exercise physiologist. Cathedral Village’s Horticultural seminars and classes, painting and sculpting classes and the year-round Village College courses are among the many covered activities that the Schaphorsts and their peers enjoy. According to Pat, the couple is currently taking a short story course.

“We have a lot of people from academia teaching the courses they used to, which is a tremendous asset,” said Dick.

Another unique perk of the community is the fact that the residents determine and organize the committees, and conduct the activities of the Resident’s Association rather than an Activities Director. As part of the Trip Committee, Dick meets monthly to plan trips and activities. He has also been elected for a second term as president of the Resident’s Association while outside of the community he remains active with Delta Information Systems and committees affiliated with the couple’s summer lake cottage. Pat, who exercises regularly, is part of the Video Library committee, Book Club and works at Cathedral Village’s Thrift Shop. She attends almost all of the musical events and guest speaker programs.

The couple has enjoyed the flexibility of being as busy as they want to and the ease of meeting new people at the community, including its welcoming staff. “Cathedral Village has a great group of people, it is a very diverse population,” said Pat. “I was amazed how quickly we made friends and found lots to do.”

There is no question with this range of activities and amenities that complement the Schaphorsts’ individualized lifestyles that Cathedral Village has far exceeded their expectations in offering maintenance-free living and a secure future.

“We like the diverse community, the closeness to the city, the beautiful grounds to walk in, the less structured environment and the multitude of things to be interested in,” said Pat. “It’s wonderful to be here; we are very pleased with the move.”

Over the years, the Wyatt-Browns traveled a great deal teaching at different institutions. After beginning their careers at Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo., they later went to University of Colorado in Boulder and spent 17 years at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Oh. They eventually transferred to the University of Florida, where they taught for 21 years. In addition, the couple also spent part of their careers in Princeton, University of Wisconsin, University of Richmond and William & Mary. Anne and Bertram also had a daughter, who now lives in St. Paul, Minn., along with two grandchildren.

Despite their many moves, it was never a question for the couple as to where they would spend their future. They left Florida to return home to Baltimore, where they had their sights set on eventually moving to Roland Park Place based on its convenient location and the positive experiences of Anne’s parents there.

Although Anne was initially hesitant about the physical aspects of the move, health issues and the difficulty of navigating and maintaining their three-level house had prompted the couple to seriously think about the transition to maintain their busy lifestyle.

“Baltimore is home for me; my family is here,” said Anne. “The reason we ended up at Roland Park Place is my parents lived here and I had no intention of going to the county. As far as I was concerned it was the city or forget it, and it had to be the neighborhood.”

Having several friends and relatives needing care in a variety of elder care settings over the years had made the couple see the value of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). They appreciated the fact that they would be able to remain connected to their friends on the campus even if their health needs were to change.

Anne also liked the improvements she had seen at Roland Park Place since her parents were living there. Among those big differences was a list of resources compiled by the staff to help ease the transition and a complimentary floor plan design consultation for future residents.

To further ensure a stress-free move, Anne and Bertram decided to hire a firm that could provide senior move management services. They selected Senior Transitions, Inc., an organization owned and operated by Charna Kinneberg. Senior Transitions, Inc. is a well established company. Charna is one of the founding members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM).

With so many decisions to make about what to take, the couple really appreciated a software program that Senior Transitions, Inc. used that mapped out their new floor plan with their existing furniture and possessions. According to Charna, the program allows clients to immediately see their plans and what will or will not work in their new space.

“You could really see what it was going to look like,” said Anne.

Charna then provided her guidance to assist the couple in sorting through their belongings and getting rid of or donating different pieces of furniture.

“I coach my clients to focus on what we want to keep, not what they are getting rid of. It really helps with the decision making process,” she said.

Understanding just how important their tremendous book collection and academic libraries were to the Wyatt-Browns, Charna made certain to identify appropriate space for as many bookcases as possible. The couple was pleasantly surprised at how many bookcases could actually fit. Also realizing that Anne and Bertram needed space for their own computers, she incorporated a desk for each of them in the design.

“My goal is to keep as many of the most treasured items as possible while maintaining a safe environment,” said Charna.

Although Anne is often questioned how she could give up so many pieces of furniture, she said, “A lot of our furniture was handed down to us, and to be able to give it to people who want it and who will someday give it to somebody else I think is wonderful.”

For the official moving day, Senior Transitions, Inc. brought in a crew to manage and facilitate the move. “They were very efficient and fun to be around,” said Bertram. “They made it a pleasure . . . they were just great.”

Anne continued, “They had terrific ideas for pictures, and once they put the pictures up, it made it ours and just transformed the place. They are really gifted in figuring out where to put things and I am in awe of their skill.”

With the move behind them, the Wyatt-Browns are eager to get involved with programs at their new home as they continue the activities they are most passionate about.

One of these lifelong pursuits for the couple is writing. While Anne is an author as well as the co-editor of a gerontological-style journal, Bertram has written twelve books and is a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins. “I go to seminars sometimes and get revved up about that,” he said.

Music is another passion they have shared. Anne, who started in the Glee Club at Bryn Mawr when she was 14, had dreamed of attending Radcliffe College and joining its Chorale Society after hearing them in concert. Not only did she accomplish this goal, but she also became the group’s manager and has since continued to sing in different chorales and churches.

“Everywhere we have gone, I have sung in a group,” she said. “We had 10 moves, and every time, we would join a church and join the choir.” That carries through today as the couple sings in the choir at the Cathedral of the Incarnation which is right down the street from their home.

Most importantly, Anne and Bertram have enjoyed getting to know the individuals at the community. They have been very impressed with how outgoing the staff and residents are and are pleased that there are other “academics” living at Roland Park Place.

“The facilities are great and we plan to make good use of them, but it’s the kindness of people that really makes a difference,” said Anne.

As they meet new individuals, however, they will never forget the people who played a pivotal role in helping them get settled into their new home. No matter their daily pursuits, the Wyatt-Browns know they have beautiful and comfortable surroundings to return to thanks to Senior Transitions, Inc.

“They were terrific, we have nothing but praise for Charna and her group,” said Bertram.

That is how Jane and Bob Angus describe their lifestyle at Ingleside at Rock Creek, the Continuing Care Retirement Community in Washington, D.C. where they have lived for almost a decade. It is a fitting description in light of Jane’s passion for photography. Her photographs are displayed prominently throughout the community, on its website and in newsletters and brochures.

Raised in a military household, Jane was used to constantly moving before meeting Bob. “I went to ten elementary schools, five high schools, Sweetbriar College and Northwestern University,” she said. “So when I married a Navy Chaplain, my moving slowed down.”

The couple raised two children as Bob served four different pastorates in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Illinois during his career as a minister in the Presbyterian Church. They each began to pursue photography when they started traveling around the world. “We have had a happy and adventurous life together,” she said.

After Bob retired, the couple eventually learned that Ingleside was expanding by building new apartments and embracing a “lifetime care” model. The news prompted the Anguses to actually consider the idea of moving to a community and to start seriously researching their options. Having conducted a “market study” of all the different retirement communities in the area, they confirmed that Ingleside was their top choice.

“This particular location and campus were ideal for us. We love being close to the park and downtown Washington,” said Jane.

The community is now gearing up for yet another expansion with the addition of 15 apartment residences, which will be some of the largest available in any retirement community, spanning 1,600 to 1,900 square feet and offering five different floor plans and many state-of-the-art features.

With these additions, the couple looks forward to having new neighbors as they cited their fellow residents and the sense of community as the most enjoyable features of their home.

“We have such a diverse, interesting and intelligent group of residents living here. We are really a family,” said Bob. “And new residents are assimilated remarkably rapidly.” He credited the hospitality committee with their efforts in ensuring a smooth transition for new members of the community.

In addition to the hospitality committee, the Residents Association manages 18 other committees centered around activities and departments in the community. Jane is currently the president of the Residents Association, a position in which Bob has also served two terms. The residents work closely with management to help make Ingleside the best possible place to live.

Although Bob still plays an active role as a volunteer in a variety of community-based services, the Anguses agree that with Ingleside’s variety of programs, from exercise classes to daytrips, they often have packed schedules. “Usually, we have to make choices,” said Jane.

When asked if they had advice for others considering a move, Bob urged others to make the move while they are healthy and can take advantage of amenities and activities. And with maintenance-free living, the couple is certainly enjoying Ingleside’s amenities, including a private dining room for entertaining guests and climate-controlled indoor parking.

“I know that some people feel as long as they’re in their own home they have their independence, but the reality is that there comes a point in the continuum of living in your own home where you don’t own it as much as it owns you,” said Jane.

Another important aspect of Ingleside for the Anguses is the assisted and nursing care available onsite.

“It is the real advantage of a continuing care community,” said Bob. “When one member of a couple is over in assisted living and the other is in the apartments, it’s not far for them to get together each day. It’s just almost too good to be true.”

With this security and upcoming changes for the future, the Anguses continue to enjoy their busy daily life which, according to the couple, includes “spoiling” their Siamese cat. However, it may be safe to say that Jane and Bob are truly living the life themselves in a “picture perfect” community.

Excerpt from Consumer Guide to Understanding Financial Performance and Reporting enhancing PEOPLE’S LIVES in Continuing Care Retirement Communities. The guide is available free of charge at www.carf.org.