[Updated: April 16, 2026 | Published: April 7, 2026]
A Heartfelt Resident and Caregiver Story at Friendship Village of Dublin
Having a support system in place is critical as we live and age. Friendship Village of Dublin Resident Merry H. learned just how true that statement is over the past year, and that support can come from unexpected places and in unforeseen ways. This Mission Moment captured the value and appreciation for a person and their work that leaves a monumental impact.
Merry did not originally plan to live in a senior living community. Her sister in Washington, D.C., planned to move back to Ohio to join Friendship Village so she could be closer to and support Merry and her husband, Jim, who was showing signs of dementia.
But when Merry’s sister saw the support systems in place for FVD Residents and the Rowan House memory care unit building nearing its grand opening, plans changed. Seeing the benefit that Friendship Village’s full continuum of care provided, Merry and Jim chose to move into Friendship Village themselves. It soon proved one of the best decisions the couple ever made.
From the moment Merry and Jim decided to make the move in November 2021, they began to feel the support that has become a normal part of the FVD Experience. Merry and Jim soon realized that support did not end once they made their decision, after the last box was unloaded, or even when they received their keys.
Merry shared that she always took pride in keeping their Upper Arlington home neat and clean because they enjoyed hosting friends and family. Her top priority had always been caring for Jim, especially as he progressed in his journey with dementia, which required more time and energy for his changing needs.
Moving into their new apartment home and adjusting to new routines made Friendship Village’s resident services even more valuable.
“Because of the time constraints … it was pretty quick, and then I’d feel in disarray again shortly thereafter,” said Merry.
After deciding it was time for Jim to transition to Friendship Village’s memory care at the newly finished Rowan House, Merry found herself spending more time away from her own home, making upkeep more challenging. Just over one month after Jim’s move and the corresponding changes to her day-to-day life, Merry began to feel the burden of that challenge and carried it with her.
There are moments when the greatest gifts are given at random times and in the most serendipitous ways, sometimes unbeknownst to those involved. So was the case for Merry and the Friendship Village Environmental Support Services team.
A newly hired staff member, Lorena, had recently joined the Friendship Village family and was assigned to clean Merry’s home on a particular November afternoon. Determined to make Merry’s home shine in the hour that she had to give, Lorena dove directly into her duties.
“We didn’t visit that day,” said Merry. “Lorena said, ‘I have one hour. I have to get to work.’ And she did. She cleaned areas up, down, underneath, over, and around … she dug in and got everything.”
When Merry returned home after an hour had passed, she was stunned by the transformation of her living spaces.
“I think my arms and shoulders dropped, and I thought, ‘This is just fabulous. This is the way it should look!’”
Merry shared that an unimaginable weight was lifted from her shoulders that day, and a deep sense of relief washed over her, knowing she had a form of support available that she had not realized she needed as much as she did.
“I didn’t know I needed and could appreciate something as much as I did when Lorena came that day and worked so hard,” Merry said.
Though the relief she felt that day was deeply appreciated and will not be forgotten, the cleaning support services provided to Merry are a distinctive touch felt by all Friendship Village residents on a regular basis. In fact, a month or so after Lorena’s deep clean, another member of the ESS team finished her normal responsibilities early and saw that Merry’s windows needed to be washed. Without hesitation, the team member used what time she had remaining, plus a little extra, to ensure Merry’s windows were dust and streak-free from top to bottom.
All the efforts of the entire ESS team have not only reorganized Merry’s home but also helped recalibrate her life. Amid the whirlwind of change in her world and the compounding state of the home, Merry shared that she was not in a healthy state of mind.
In those moments, the ESS team provided care for a caregiver, a respite for Merry that allowed her to focus on other things like her children who live nearby, preparing for upcoming holidays and get-togethers, and spending more time with her husband, Jim. Their service and demeanor provide clear examples of how FVD Associates resemble our values of stewardship with excellence every day.
“It’s those kinds of things that just really put me back together. It gave me myself back … it allows me to do the things I want to do and with a good attitude.”
Merry made clear she has always been happy at Friendship Village, but the extra effort, compassion, and care given to her and her home in a time she needed it most left a lasting, unforgettable impact that confirmed her decision to join the Friendship Village family was one of the best she has ever made … next to marrying Jim, of course.
A Winning Recipe: Friendship Village of Dublin Culinary Team Claims Top Honor at Taste of New Albany
[Updated: August 24, 2026 | Published: August 7, 2026] Delicious.…
