The following story is part of a joint project between myLifeSite and Senior Correspondent where people share their senior living decision process.
By Rich Fernsler
Long before turning 40, my wife and I decided we would eventually choose a life care retirement community. That decision was shaped largely by watching our parents’ very different retirement experiences and the difficulties they faced when health or mobility declined.
Our primary reason was to ensure dependable medical care as we aged, independent of our children and regardless of changes in our own abilities. After almost three years living at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro, N.C., we’ve discovered many additional reasons why a quality life care community is an excellent choice. Every day we appreciate that such communities exist and that we have the resources to live in one. Since moving here, we have never regretted leaving our old life behind.
Health care remains a top priority. At a life care community, services typically span independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. In our community, that continuum of care is available without sudden relocations or drastically changing the relationship with the staff and neighbors we know. Aside from paying for extra meals when needed, these services are included, which eases worry for both us and our children. Our community is notable for having two on-site medical facilities that provide a broad array of physicians and health care services, which adds an extra layer of security.
Equally important is the social life. Sharing meals and activities with fellow residents has enriched our days. People here come from many regions and backgrounds and bring a wide range of accomplishments and life experiences, which makes conversations and friendships stimulating and meaningful.
Dining options are generous. The community offers three dining venues with rotating menus and more than 20 dinner choices on a regular basis. Residents can choose meal plans that include all meals or no meals, and monthly bills are adjusted accordingly, which makes budgeting predictable and convenient.
Educational and cultural opportunities are robust. We enjoy four different movies each week, available either in the community theater or streamed to our homes, plus in-house courses, visiting lecturers, concerts, and organized trips to museums, local sporting events, plays, and restaurants. These activities make it easy to stay engaged and curious.
Fitness amenities are also a key advantage. Most life care communities offer a pool and a fitness room with guidance from a trainer. Our community goes further: the gym is open to the public, which supports more extensive facilities—a saltwater pool, hot tub, indoor track, seven trainers, and a wide range of exercise equipment and classes. That variety helps residents pursue different fitness goals and maintain mobility.
Not every feature matters equally to everyone, and priorities can change over time. For instance, my wife and I initially thought proximity to a university or college would be essential. In practice, our life here is so full that we seldom use the nearby schools beyond the occasional concert or sporting event.
On the other hand, being close to a multi-aged village has been valuable. We often walk less than a mile to a nearby village several times a week for coffee, pizza and beer, live music, or just to visit the cows, goats, chickens, and donkeys in the surrounding fields. Those simple outings add variety and connection to our routine.
We moved into Galloway Ridge when I was 70 and my wife was 67. If we had to choose again, we would do it without hesitation. The combination of medical security, social life, dining, cultural offerings, and fitness resources has made our retirement years active and reassuring.
“Choosing Senior Living” is a special series of myLifeSite and Senior Correspondent. Share your firsthand account of the senior living decision-making process. Send articles of 400 to 600 words to [email protected].
About Rich Fernsler
Rich Fernsler is a physicist who spent his career at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He earned a Ph.D. in plasma physics from the University of Maryland in 1976 and worked for many years at the Naval Research Laboratory. After retiring at 67, he returned as a rehired government annuitant for two years and then continued as a part-time consultant for another four years. He still consults occasionally on an informal basis.
Rich, his wife Christine, and their dog Murray live at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro, N.C., where they enjoy outdoor activities and volunteer on several community committees.