With close to a century of service in senior living, Asbury Communities has become a family tradition for dozens of adult children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Watching a loved one thrive in a new home, making new friends and gaining new experiences – and seeing the security of on-site health services and support – are powerful motivators for making the move yourself. At least that’s what many of the second-generation residents at Asbury’s continuing care retirement communities tell us. Here, we share the stories of a few of them.<\/p>\n
“We made the choice.”<\/strong><\/p>\n Kathy and Bruce Seagrist\u2019s decision to enjoy their retirement at Bethany Village, located in Mechanicsburg, Pa., could be best described as a fait accompli. Both of their mothers had lived at Bethany, friends of their mothers had lived at Bethany, and the couple\u2019s single-family home was just a short walk from the community\u2019s back gate. So, when Kathy and Bruce decided to make a move, there wasn\u2019t much wavering on the location.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew the drill when it was time to move,\u201d jokes Kathy. \u201cMy mom loved it here and participated in so many things \u2014 it was incredible how she became a part of the community.\u201d Kathy also loved her mom\u2019s apartment and she and Bruce often commented \u201cthey could live here.\u201d<\/p>\n And, in 2020 during the height of COVID, Kathy and Bruce moved into their West apartment. \u201cWe felt very secure here. The staff went above and beyond to keep us safe,\u201d says Bruce. Now that the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, Kathy and Bruce are enjoying their beautiful apartment and access to great amenities. They are buoyed by the strong sense of caring and community at Bethany Village. \u201cWe would go out of our way to help any of our neighbors,\u201d says Bruce. \u201cAnd they would do the same for us.\u201d<\/p>\n And seeing the care received by their mothers\u2014 especially during their time in skilled nursing \u2014 made their own decision simple. \u201cWe took a large burden off of our children by making this choice,\u201d says Bruce. \u201cThey know that we are in a safe, comfortable place, and that they won\u2019t be faced with having to decide for us. We made the choice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA perfect fit.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a perfect fit,\u201d says resident Jane Reiser of life at Asbury Methodist Village with husband Dave. \u201cWe do the things we enjoy. We\u2019re no longer relegated to taking care of a house.\u201d<\/p>\n This dynamic couple, who lived just a few miles from the the Gaithersburg, Md.-based senior living community, had specific parameters when they started their search. They wanted an active campus with plenty of opportunities to thrive, and to stay in the area, allowing them to keep their doctors, friends and proximity to the museums, attractions, and culture of nearby Washington. DC. And, at the advice of their friend and financial advisor, they focused only on CCRCs and were impressed with Asbury Methodist Village\u2019s financial security and nearly 100-year history of serving seniors.<\/p>\n Like the Seagrists, the Reisers did not want to pass a burden of their potential future care to their children. \u201cWe wanted to make the decision, so our kids didn\u2019t have to,\u201d says Jane.<\/p>\n And, hard as it was, Jane gave her own mother Audrey Hildebrand that same leeway. When Jane and Dave moved into their Villa in 2015, Audrey was 90 and was still living independently in a 3-story townhouse several hours away in Delaware. Jane encouraged Audrey to come to Asbury, but it wasn\u2019t until she had a serious car accident in March of 2018 and was no longer able to drive that she finally called Jane and said, \u201cshe was ready to move.\u201d<\/p>\n In December of 2018, Audrey moved into her bright, sunny 1-bedroom apartment, where she is \u201cthriving,\u201d according to Jane. Audrey plays bridge and bingo, walks daily, and takes an exercise class with Jane \u2014 in person or on Zoom \u2014 five-to-six days a week. \u201cI\u2019m so relieved she\u2019s here,\u201d says Jane. \u201cIt\u2019s such a great place to live.\u201d<\/p>\n Jane enjoys water walking in the pool, taking yoga at the wellness center, playing bridge (with and without her mom), organizing events as the social chair of the Villas, leading bi-monthly bus tours around the community for new residents and working as a member of the Asbury Clowns, a group of residents who dress as clowns and attend community events and visit skilled nursing and assisted living residents.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was pretty much a given.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonnie and Hank Piorkowski moved into their Springhill Garden home in 2018. \u201cIt was pretty much a given that we\u2019d retire here,\u201d says Hank. In fact, his great aunt and uncle were among the first people to move into the newly constructed residential living apartments when Springhill became Erie, Pa.’s first continuing care retirement community in 1990. Hank’s father and mother were residents of Springhill\u2019s assisted living and skilled nursing neighborhoods, which provided him with a first-hand experience of the quality health services built into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Springhill.<\/p>\n \u201cMy aunts, uncles, and parents were well cared for here,\u201d says Hank. \u201cWe visited often while they were here, and we always knew this was where we wanted to be when we retired.\u201d<\/p>\n Still thrilled with their decision, Hank and Bonnie are enjoying the community\u2019s active lifestyle and relishing the peace of mind that comes from knowing, should they need it, health care services are nearby.<\/p>\n Hank practices his golf swing on the campus putting green, swims in the pool, plays on a horseshoe league and tends Springhill\u2019s beautiful Butterfly Garden, along with his backyard crop of flowers, beets, and peppers.<\/p>\n And as a couple, Hank and Bonnie play a weekly game of cards with their neighbors, go Wii bowling in the community room and enjoy dinners and other get-togethers with the many friends they\u2019ve made in this close-knit community. And, they have plenty of time to do it. \u201cIt\u2019s great not to have to take care of anything here,\u201d says a happy Hank. \u201cIf anything goes wrong, I just dial zero and someone shows up to fix it.\u201d<\/p>\nMeet the Seagrists<\/h3>\n