Independent Living Communities take the word “Living” seriously
The options for retirement for Baby Boomers and beyond bear no resemblance to the options your parents knew. Whereas, retirement used to be the slowing down period of a successful life, today it has become the opportunity many have waited for to really begin an unencumbered lifestyle.
And the retirement communities of today have stepped forward to address this new demand. Mind, body and spirit are reinvigorated by the lifestyle offered in many of today’s communities. Following is a look at what some of the local Independent Living Communities are offering their residents.
Mark Wilson, director at Cambridge Village in Apex, is proud of his brand spanking new property. The spacious lobby suggests the entrance to a luxury hotel with its waterfall as a centerpiece, but the beautiful property is not what life at Cambridge Village is all about.
“We believe there are four principal aspects of ‘wellness’ as we age. There is Physical Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Social Wellness and Spiritual Wellness.” Wilson describes them together as Holistic Wellness; his goal is to have all residents partake of all four aspects of wellness every week.
A waterfall in the lobby adds to the special ambiance of Cambridge Village.
Social Wellness: What’s more social than dining? Just off the lobby is the grand dining room with its soaring ceiling, a gathering point for all residents. Chef T.J. Shallingford creates exceptional entrees for residents every evening with healthy dining options at every meal.
Residents usually have a good appetite at meal time due to an active schedule throughout the day. The monthly calendar is exhausting to behold. Numerous outings are also planned during the year from day trips that range from an Adventure Walk at Bond Park to an Apex Historical Tour or a visit to the Sharon Harris Nuclear Plant and the Smithfield Ava Gardner Museum. Enrichment Director Josh Quackenbush is constantly working to put together exciting expeditions for the Cambridge Village residents. They don’t have to leave home for many of the activities such as Trivia challenges, Bocce Ball with Smoothies, computer classes, and, in the theatre, movies and travelogues.
Intellectual Wellness: Intellectual wellness is key at Cambridge as well, challenging residents to learn new facts that generate lively conversations. Residents are treated to a Wednesday Lecture Series which recently focused on “Historic Amazing Stories,” led by a professor, which offered amazing but true twists of fate of which most are unaware. The series was followed by lectures by a clinician from Rex Hospital on the topic of “Health and the Brain.” An affiliation with Rex Hospital also offers health and nutritional seminars for the residents.
Spiritual Wellness: Sunday church services are held on-site weekly and a Catholic Mass with communion is offered every Wednesday. There is also an active Bible Study group which engages residents in religious studies and spiritual discussions.
Physical Wellness: Last but not least is the Cambridge response to the Physical Wellness needs of its residents. A large, inviting pool located in the building is the centerpiece of athletic activity. A full-time athletics director arranges classes and is on hand to assist residents with all things health-related.
Cambridge Village has a Resident Relations Coordinator whose role is to be aware of a resident’s participation and engage everyone in the various programs. This process begins at move-in when every resident meets one on one with the wellness director, the chef and the Resident Relations Director to build a profile their likes and dislikes so activities can be matched to each resident’s interests.
For example, Wilson recounts a WWII-era resident who was not “in tune” with the Wellness Center program. So, the resident was engaged in checking out the swimming area and using some of the cardio equipment. The result was a new interest and one that was life-enriching as well. Cambridge Village also includes residents in an Ambassador program which assures that someone makes a conscious and continuing effort to engage every resident in the programs, activities and interactions that enhance the second life of its residents. The result is that over 70 percent of the residents at Cambridge Village are involved which results in measurable improvement in health, happiness, and a generally positive attitude.