Living Life to the Fullest in a Retirement Community

by Nicole DeWoolfson Muller

Ms. Muller is a consultant with Brecht Associates, Inc. a consulting firm in Philadelphia providing market feasibility and planning services to the senior housing industry.

It wasn’t so long ago that the word retirement conjured up images of rocking chairs and bingo halls. But it’s a whole new ballgame these days and retirees are enjoying every minute. Just take a glimpse behind the walls of area retirement communities and you will find everything from Tai Chi and Pilates to hot stone massages and trips to Broadway.

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have embraced a new meaning for retirement; one that fosters vitality and a zest for life. Moving into a retirement community is a lifestyle choice for many healthy and active seniors who know that retirement is a time to enjoy life to the fullest. They choose to leave the burdens of household chores and maintenance behind and take comfort in knowing that their future health care needs will be met within the community should they ever require assisted living or nursing care.

There are many excellent examples of communities in the Philadelphia area that are rich in amenities, reflecting the active lifestyle of residents. The Hill at Whitemarsh, a CCRC currently under construction in Lafayette Hill, is a good example of what today’s retirement communities have to offer. Amenities at the Hill at Whitemarsh will include multiple indoor and terrace dining options including a café, an indoor pool and spa, woodworking shop, an artist studio, library and theater and much more. Many area communities include walking trails, gardening plots, tennis courts, bocce courts, and picnic groves all designed with active seniors in mind. Indoor spaces provide opportunities for enrichment and recreation and may also include a state-of-the-art fitness and aquatics center, billiard room, library, concert hall, a greenhouse and computer center to name a few.

CCRCs seek to provide a holistic approach to wellness. For instance, Retirement Living Services, development and management company, plans to offer this approach at The Hill at Whitemarsh, to promote “not only physical health, but also spiritual, emotional, intellectual, cultural, social, occupational and environmental well-being.” It is this philosophy that is central to the activity programming at many area communities.

Most retirement communities employ a full-time activities director to help organize and coordinate special events and activities that suit resident interests. Residents also bring their own ideas forth to tailor meaningful programs and activities to suit their hobbies and interests. At Foulkeways at Gwynedd, for example, there are over 100 resident run committees that oversee specific aspects of community life as well as plan interesting activities. A sampling of the committees include art exhibits, ballet, billiards, holiday decorating, concerts, creative writing, dining options, fashion show, garden tours, greenhouse, hiking, interior decorating, line dancing, opera, pets, welcoming new residents, woodworking, and volunteer opportunities.

Each retirement community has its own personality, made up of the group of residents that call it home. Residents of a particular community often have similar backgrounds or interests and they help to determine what types of activities are planned. When considering a retirement community, ask to see the monthly activities calendar and a list of resident committees to determine if there are activities to suit your individual personality. If you notice that there are no organized groups for your specific hobby or interest, chances are you will be able to create it.

At Shannondell, the area’s newest retirement community in Audubon, a group of about 28 men and women formed a Model Railroad Club. Some joined the club because they are train enthusiasts and a few even worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Collectively, they have an extensive collection of HO scale trains, track, equipment, and buildings. At the request of some of the club members, Shannondell agreed to create a room to house the model trains. Now the club members are busy building platforms, creating scenery and preparing the space for the trains. The train room is sure to be a favorite among residents, hobbyists and visiting grandchildren too.

Normandy Farms resident Ron Dellecker brought his passion for music to the community. Ron, a former band and orchestra director for Cheltenham School District, formed a Jazz Quintet which performs monthly for Jazz night at Normandy Farms. Communities frequently host guest musicians and hold concerts for residents to enjoy.

Cathedral Village recently added a painting studio and a sculpture studio to its campus to meet the increasing interest in the arts among residents. Art instructors frequent Cathedral Village and teach residents watercolor, acrylic and oil painting as well as sculpture technique.

One of the advantages of living in a retirement community is the social aspect of community life. >From intimate dinner parties to galas and poker nights to horseshoe tournaments, there is always something fun to do. Performances by local musical groups and theater troupes are popular events. And of course, card games like pinochle, bridge and Mah Jongg are long time favorites.

Retirement communities understand that healthy lifestyles are key components of a happy retirement and physical fitness is at the top of the list. Fitness centers offer top-of-the-line equipment and most have a full-time personal fitness director to assist residents with their wellness and fitness goals.

Indoor pools suitable for laps and aerobic conditioning are an integral part of the fitness program at many retirement communities including Beaumont, Cathedral Village, Dock Woods, Dunwoody Village, Foulkeways at Gwynedd, Jenners Pond, Martin's Run, Shannondell, Waverly Heights, Willow Valley and Wood River Village. Some of the ACTS communities like Normandy Farms and Brittany Pointe Estates offer indoor pools with aquatic instructors leading residents in aqua therapy, aerobics classes and water volleyball. Shannondell’s fitness schedule is another excellent example. The fitness calendar at Shannondell highlights a number of classes each day including tai chi, yoga, aqua-cize and water walking, as well as various courses designed to strengthen, tone and increase flexibility.

Residents from twelve area communities including Dunwoody Village, Waverly Heights, Quadrangle, Beaumont, and Freedom Village participate each spring in the Friendship Games. An Olympic-style event with friendly competition, this one-day event includes billiards, swimming, egg-on-spoon racing, trivia, obstacle courses, croquet and horseshoes. The event helps foster friendships between residents of these communities and is a fun way to stay fit.

Activities also focus on bringing together residents and area youth through innovative programs that in turn form lasting relationships. The programming fosters a sharing between generations that benefits both age groups and fosters relationships that transcend age. Retirees share their wisdom and life experiences while at the same time learning from the youth.

Foulkeways at Gwynedd, for example, has a children’s day care center on-site that is open to families in the area as well as employees of Foulkeways. The toddlers and the residents enjoy activities together like baking Christmas cookies and reading stories. Additional programs at Foulkeways bring area students and residents together. Each year, third grade students at North Wales Elementary School interview Foulkeways residents about their lives and careers and write biographies about their new found friends. Residents also go into the classroom and help students with their writing skills. The program has become a favorite and the children come to Foulkeways for seasonal parties and even for a special trip to the swimming pool. Sixth graders from Abington Friends School frequently visit the computer center at Foulkeways to help residents navigate the net and learn more about computers.

Shannondell also understands the value of these relationships. They have created many amenities that are popular among the grandchildren. On weekends in particular, the community is a family place where visitors enjoy swimming, an arcade room, ping pong, billiards, family movie night and an elegant Sunday brunch complete with cooked to order omeletes.

Challenging the mind doesn’t stop after retirement. Many communities encourage intellectual growth for residents through continuing education programs. Lecture series, lifelong learning courses, programs with area colleges, travelogues, and computer training are often offered.

For instance, Martin’s Run is a satellite campus for Gratz College and provides residents and the outside community with an opportunity to learn about Jewish and Jewish-American studies, art, culture and a variety of other topics. Guest lecturers at Martins Run include Andy Cassel from the Philadelphia Inquirer who presented “Life In The New Economy” and Rabbi Murray Silberman, Senior Official in the United Nations Secretariat for 23 years, who presents topics on the U.N. and the Middle East conflicts. Continuing education was so popular at Cathedral Village that three classrooms were added last year to accommodate the “Village College” courses. The classrooms provide state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and host programs on a variety of timely subjects. Cathedral Village draws on the diverse backgrounds and vast expertise of its own residents to conduct the courses on everything from the Art of Origami to Literature.

Not all of the action takes place inside the retirement community walls. Residents enjoy special trips that are offered complete with door to door transportation and often upgraded and discounted group tickets. The Philadelphia Orchestra series at the Kimmel Center, Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, local museums, and Atlantic City are all popular destinations for residents of many local communities. Some communities also venture out of the area for day trips and overnight trips. Waverly Heights residents frequent New York City and are planning their next trip to the Big Apple to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit of John Townsend’s 18th century cabinet making. In addition to the special trips, weekly outings and transportation are typically offered to area shopping malls, grocery stores, movie theaters, bowling alleys, favorite restaurants and local theaters like the Merriam and People’s Light.

Activities in Assisted Living

Activities also play an important role in the social well-being of residents who require a more supportive living environment such as assisted living or skilled nursing. Assisted living communities provide residents with meals, housekeeping, transportation and personal care yet they offer much more than that. Seniors living in assisted living communities enjoy many wonderful programs, activities and trips similar to those found in a CCRC. However, the activities are designed to meet the specific needs and interests of individuals based on their ability and seek to promote socialization and foster wellness among residents.

SIDEBAR

WAITING LISTS

Did you know that there could be a long wait to move into a CCRC in this area? Two-bedroom apartments and homes are in high demand these days and many retirement communities have lengthy waiting lists for select homes and apartments. The length of the wait will vary from community to community but typically will range from two to five years or even longer. It is important to research your options early and plan ahead. Retirement communities require an assessment prior to moving in which ensures that residents can manage safely living on their own. In many cases people wait too long to put their name on a waiting list and then when an apartment becomes available they require a more supportive living environment like assisted living or a nursing home. A refundable deposit of between $1,000 and $1,500 is typically required to be placed on a waiting list. Putting your name on a waiting list puts you in control. When the time comes that an apartment is available you may choose to accept it or wait until you are ready to move. Many communities also offer members of their waiting lists special privledges like invitations to special events and trips and access to the amenities of the community including the fitness center and pool. It is also a good way to get to know a community better and meet some new friends before making the move.