[Updated: July 16, 2021 | Published: June 29, 2021]
When is it time to move to a senior living community? That was one of the top questions at our June 17th “Won’t You Be Our Neighbor” webinar.
Because we still had some restrictions on face-to-face interactions due to COVID-19, we held this webinar to give singles and couples a chance to interact with our resident experts.
New Director of Sales Emily Smith-Conlon moderated the webinar. As you’ll see from their answers below, our residents advised not to wait too long to make your move to a senior living community.
Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?
During this one-hour Zoom call, resident panelists offered candid answers to questions from people considering independent living at Friendship Village of Dublin.
Our panelists included:
- Pat D.
- Joe & Lou R.
- Mabel R.
- Ray & Janet W.
Emily kicked off the discussion with this question: “When you’re thinking about Friendship Village of Dublin and considering this community for your future, what are the things that you want to know from the people who live here?”
Attendees especially wanted to know how long our residents had lived in our community, and how they knew it was time to move to senior living.
How Long Have You Lived at Friendship Village of Dublin?
Ray & Janet W.: We’ve lived here just under two years. We moved from 10 minutes away on Sawmill Road, so we didn’t come very far.
Pat D.: I’ve been here five and a half years. I moved here from a condo that was right down the street. In my former life, I was a nurse manager for infection control for Columbus Public Health. I moved here and have never regretted it for one minute.
Joe & Lou R.: We moved here two-and-a-half years ago from Upper Arlington. We enjoy it here. We’re very happy. It actually seems to get better each month. We can’t say enough positive things about it.
Mabel R.: I came here from one of the Chicago suburbs. It will be seven years at Christmas. I came because my daughter lives in Hilliard and I wanted to be closer to her. It was a really good decision. I’m still happy with it and think I lucked out to find such a fine place to live.
How Did You Know it Was Time for a Senior Living Community?
Pat D.: I moved here when I was 75. I had a friend who lived here, and he said it’s already too late, you should have moved before this.
And having moved in, I think he was right. Not because of my age, but just because of all the many things there are to do here. When I lived in my condo, I didn’t have that many opportunities.
I can remember 30 years ago going to the Columbus symphony and seeing a bus that said, “Friendship Village of Dublin,” and I remember thinking, “I want to live in a place like that.”
Well now, I do, and I can go to the symphony and go to all the various Otterbein plays and things that are happening by getting on a bus outside the front door, being let off at the front door of a place that I’m going.
I don’t have to worry about anything and that’s very convenient and very nice. The older I get, the more convenient and nicer it is.
Ray & Janet W.: We had decided that, when one of us reached 80 years of age, I won’t say which one, that we would be in a retirement center. That’s how we decided.
Also, my mother had lived here. She didn’t come here till she was 90. And I definitely felt that was not soon enough for her.
I don’t think she really got to blend into the whole experience of living here and making friends and so forth before she started having other issues and it wasn’t as pleasant for her.
Joe & Lou R: I had hoped to move by 75 but some other family things happen and we didn’t move here for another 10 years.
I have known people who waited too long, and they never adjusted, never got to take advantage of the wonderful things here. And so, if you wait until you need to be here—and that can happen overnight that might be too late, so don’t wait too long.
Our daughter thanks us all the time, because she doesn’t have to worry about us. She’s very grateful.
Mabel R.: My knees made the decision for me. I lived in a two-story house in Chicago. It was getting to be obvious that either I needed to chop off the top and lay it flat, or go to a better place that dealt with elevators and and fewer steps.
It was a really good decision, because I had lots of things that I could do when I was here. And I didn’t wait until I was completely incapacitated or had to be in a wheelchair or something like that.
It also gave my children a great deal of comfort to know that I was where somebody would take care of me if I fell, or if I had a problem. They had young families, and they were busy. So this was a good decision for them.
Pat D.: Don’t think that just because you move in here, you have to give up your other life. You can still go to church, go to the grocery, meet with your friends, play bridge, and whatever else it is you do. I spend a lot of time on the outside, as well as here.
Is it Your Time to Move to a Vibrant Senior Living Community?
The most important factor when moving to a senior living community is that you—and your partner—feel prepared for and excited about the transition.
Look for a community that helps you thrive at every age, with lots of opportunities to make friends, explore new experiences and have fun.
If you’re thinking about moving within the next few years, you owe it to yourself to consider Friendship Village of Dublin. Our meticulously landscaped 29-acre campus offers an all-inclusive retirement experience, with abundant activities, luxe amenities and an ever-changing array of social activities.
As an independent living resident, you’ll have access to on-site assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehab if needed.
You and your family will enjoy peace of mind from knowing that you have access to state-of-the-art care tailored to your needs. For life.
If you’re ready to live life to the fullest, you’re invited to schedule a safe, socially distanced visit.
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