Springmoor

Choosing Between a Move to a 55+ Community and a CCRC?

Is it time to think about your next move? Are your children settled in their own homes? Are you planning to retire from your nine-to-five routine in the near future? Home maintenance and housework getting in the way of your travel time, golf game and visits with your grandchildren? Then it’s time to let someone else take care of these duties and enjoy your free time. There are many communities and options to consider as you begin your search.

55+ Communities

The name easily describes the community. Moving to a single-family home, condo or an apartment in a 55+ neighborhood is an option for those looking for like-minded neighbors with similar interests. Most communities are built with clubhouses, fitness centers, walking trails and swimming pools. They are often located close to shops, restaurants, grocery stores and entertainment centers. Most do not allow anyone younger than 18 to live in the home (of course, visitors are always allowed) and one of the residents in the home must be 55 years of age or older.

The statistics show that the average age of residents in 55+ community is now actually 75. The older the development, the older the residents will be. New construction will most likely have younger residents moving in as the community develops. Lawn maintenance may be included in some communities. Some will require extra fees for other amenities. The cost may be similar to your home now. While the size may be smaller, the Home Owner Association fees will pay for much of the neighborhood common area maintenance. You will pay separately for the amenities that you prefer – golf activities, fitness training and dining at neighborhood locations will only be a part of your expenses if you choose for them to be.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Much like a 55+ community, a CCRC has all of the extras with the added benefit of aging in place. Healthcare is the extra that you will not find in a 55+ community. The name, once again, describes it best – continuing care. These communities were built to accommodate transitions. Independent living is the largest part of any Continuing Care Retirement Community. Single-family houses with a garage and an office, much like your own home, are available at Springmoor. Villas or apartments are also part of the independent floor plan options on our campus. Continue reading →

At the Dining Room Table

Springmoor welcomed Jennifer Mondolino, our new Dining Room Director, to the kitchen this month. Cooking is her passion. Planning, shopping, tasting, catering and serving are all part of the food experience for her. “Eating is such a big part of everyone’s life, whether it is just grabbing a quick bite to eat or a sitting down for a formal five-course dinner gala, the conversations are more enjoyable with a delicious meal,” she says.

The Classroom

Jennifer grew up in Stony Brook, New York. She has an undergraduate degree from Johnson and Wales University, a master’s degree in Healthcare Policy and Management from Stony Brook University and, from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, she earned a diploma in pastry and baking. To say that cooking is her passion is almost an understatement! She gives much of the credit to her mentor who shared her knowledge of what needs to happen to make the perfect meal.

The First Job

Like many teenagers, her first job was at Starbucks. This one happened to be located in a hospital. She quickly moved from Starbucks to an Assistant Director position in food service at the hospital with a wonderful mentor. The 350-bed hospital offered room-service style dining. Everything was ordered on an iPad in each patient’s room and expected to be not only delicious but also delivered in forty-five minutes or less. The hospital also served a special menu for those on the surgical recovery floors. They served family and staff in the hospital dining rooms and often catered large galas for special auxiliary events. From planning to prep, Jennifer was behind the scenes learning to do it all. Continue reading →

A New Address with Familiar Traditions

The two are active in the Raleigh community. One is an employee and the other a volunteer. New Springmoor residents, David and Pat Waters, have continued their busy lifestyles since their recent move to the community adding even more to their lengthy to-do list.

The Family

Pat says the move was probably the hardest on their grandchildren. After living in their house for forty-six years, the children didn’t want to disturb the traditions and the furnishings they had grown up with. Grammy Camp was as much fun for her as it was for all of them. She laughs when she says, “They insisted we bring the dollhouse.” And asked how old the grandchildren are now, she smiles and says, “They are 17 to 23 years old!” Family gatherings at the dining room table all involved playtime in the dollhouse when the little ones were finished eating. The conversation was lively and the dinner was expertly prepared in Pat’s kitchen. She cooked for years in a smaller stove than the one she has in their new two-bedroom apartment.

The Couple

The Waters met when they were college students at THE Ohio State University. (With a chuckle, David puts great emphasis on THE.) She was from the big city of Columbus and he was from a small northeastern Ohio town. After college, the two were married and moved to Pittsburg. Nine years later, CP&L (Duke Energy) brought them to Raleigh. David is still with Duke Energy. At six each morning, he heads downtown, four days every week. Pat still makes his lunch. Continue reading →

Taking a Tour

Are you interested in taking a tour of our campus? We would be more than happy to show you around, introduce you to our staff and tell you about all the extras Springmoor has to offer. Bring your questions. Bring your walking shoes. Bring a friend or family member. We are only a phone call away.

What to Expect

Before you arrive, one of our marketing counselors will give you an overview on the phone. They will answer your initial questions and help you prepare for the tour. Let them know if you have a specific type of housing you are interested in and they will make plans for you to see it. If there are special amenities that you are interested in seeing or classes you would like to observe, please let them know of your interests also. There is so much to see that it often takes two or three trips to take it all in!

First Visit

To prepare for your first visit, study the information packet our marketing counselors have mailed to you and bring a list of questions. For those who like to do research, there is a wealth of information on the web with questions to ask on a first visit. For those who prefer to ask friends and family, start now. Ask friends living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) and others who have begun to tour, like you, what they have found. Make a list of items that are important to you. What do you like about your home, your neighborhood and your style of living? What are you interested in doing with your free time? Do you have family in the area? Do you participate in activities in the community? Where are your favorite shopping areas? Do you attend cultural events in the city? All these are important things to consider when choosing which community best fits your needs. Location and amenities are an important aspect of making your decision.

Understanding the Finances

During your first visit, the marketing counselors will help explain the costs of living at Springmoor. They can give you worksheets to help guide you through the process. As with any CCRC, there is an initial entry fee. The monthly fees will vary depending on the size of the home you choose and whether or not you are moving in as a couple or by yourself. The monthly fees cover a wide range of housing costs such as housekeeping, security, cable, phone, gas and electric, and home maintenance. This fee also covers services and amenities such as our Wellness Center, dining, short-term rehabilitation, medical transportation and a variety of social, educational and cultural programs.

Recreational Facilities

The Wellness Center may be one of the first stops on your tour. Our heated saltwater lap pool is home to aqua-fit classes each day. The center also includes an exercise classroom, state of the art fitness machines, a sauna and a massage center. With over forty classes offered each week, there will certainly be one to fit your style. Personal trainers are also available to help you find the perfect workout for your needs.

Dining

The North and South Village Dining Rooms, The Bistro and The Garden Café will be a tour stop too. With four options for dining, you have a choice of grabbing a quick to-go meal, breakfast, a casual light lunch or dinner or gathering with friends and enjoying a relaxing restaurant style meal in the dining room. If you are hosting a group luncheon or a family party, the dining room can cater a meal in one of our private dining rooms.

Housing Options

Your marketing counselor will have talked to you about Springmoor’s many different housing options over the phone. She can show you our larger homes with two bedrooms, den and a garage or a smaller villa located on the perimeter of the 42-acre campus. If you prefer to be closer to the dining rooms and the exercise facilities, an apartment in North or South Village may be your style. Options ranging from alcoves to two-bedroom/two-bath apartments can be added to your tour. It is often best to see one or two and come back for a second visit after you have had time to think through your wants and needs.

Social Activities

The amenities and list of social, cultural and educational programs can be found in our monthly Pathways publication. There are art classes, lecture series, musical performances, Raleigh Greenway walking tours, health seminars, out-to-dinner (and lunch) outings, day-trips across the state and so much more offered each month. Of course, our calendar is packed full each month with new offerings. As you tour the campus, you will also want to see our Springmoor Putting Green, Croquet Court, Woodshop, Resident Garden, Movie Theatre and Meraki Arts Studio.

The Stewart Health Center

Choosing a CCRC like Springmoor gives you the security of knowing you have health care options available if needed. Short-term rehabilitation stays, memory care, skilled nursing or assisted living are all part of our community. Our staff can care for a spouse or a neighbor while you are only a short walk away. Knowing you can visit your friends or loved one without leaving the campus is a wonderful benefit to having a full continuum of care in the community. Continue reading →

What? Me Move to Springmoor Now?

This week the Springmoor Residents offer their advice to Prospective Residents in Part II of our When to Move stories.

Have you thought: Oh sure, I know one day I may need to move to one of those retirement homes. But now? Why would I want to do that now?

Happy Place

We did not want to move. We were too young. It wasn’t the time. We used every excuse to avoid a move but Springmoor is now our Happy Place.

Everything you go through in a move, we have all done. It is better to come when you can participate in activities, make new friends, settle in physically and emotionally and adjust well to leaving your home. Talk to Springmoor residents. Visit every opportunity you can. Attend programs preparing you to move. Drop-by and walk around the campus often. Visit the various housing options. Begin making Springmoor feel more doable as you begin the process.

When you do come…PARTICIPATE. Leave the boxes and get involved with the activities. We will love you through the moving-in and settling-in process or we can be your balcony cheerleaders from a distance. Everyone is very helpful, kind and generous with welcoming words. The staff is amazing. They can answer any questions and help with getting settled in your new home. They are all here to help! (Barbara and Fred McGehee, Springmoor residents since 2014)

By My Choice

I came at the age of 76. I wanted to come to a retirement community by my choice rather than be in an emergency situation and have a choice made for me that I would not want. I also felt strongly that making the decision myself was a gift to my children and they would not be pushed into making the choice for me.

Since I had visited Springmoor friends so often, I wanted to come while I was able to enjoy all the many advantages we have in the way of programs, trips and activities. We have a great wealth of opportunities from which to choose. I tell my own friends regularly that the time to come is NOW!!!  I still come and go as I always did. I have it easy with good friends, good food prepared for me, a weekly housekeeper, great trips, wonderful entertainment and, best of all, the security of knowing that help is just a phone call away if I should need it. I am even happier today that I made that decision four years ago. (Peg Bedini, Springmoor resident since 2014)

Best Advice

Listening to our friends who had made the retirement choice before us was an important part of our decision making. Moving to Springmoor while we could do it as a couple, was the best advice I received. It allowed us to be known in the community as a couple. When one of us is no longer here, neighbors will remember the one we grieve for and that helps in the grief process.

Moving sooner also ensures that we make our own choice. Whether it was a house, villa or an apartment, we were able to choose the one we liked and best met our needs. We were not driven by health, physical or cognitive abilities to have to make a hasty choice.

Moving sooner rather that later allowed for more active involvement and enjoyment of planned programs and eased the transition from one home to another. (Betty and Blake Aydlett, Springmoor residents since 2013)

Life is Richer

My daughter asked me recently to tell her about a typical day here at Springmoor. I told her that I was happy to report that my typical day could be anything I want it to be, which is very enticing! I do have choices to get in my car and go shopping, visit other friends around Raleigh and elsewhere, go on a trip to the islands or Europe, or the beach; all the things I have done before arriving here. Your previous life does not need to stop because you have moved into a retirement community. In addition, I can also choose from a wealth of activities offered by Springmoor – day trips around the city and state, lunches or dinners in Raleigh area, concerts or lectures in our auditorium, church services, counseling, movies, exercise classes, playing bridge, attending art classes, going to the library, reading and on and on. Or, I can stay in my pajamas, eat in my apartment, read, paint, watch TV or work on my computer. There are no rules or agendas I have to follow. Life has become so much richer with the wonderful choices all around me.

Also, the two buildings here in South Village have every thing I need even if I could not get out because of bad weather or some other reason. We have a wonderful dining hall with great food choices and a delightful causal dining option too. Any of the food can be taken to my apartment to enjoy later. I can also go to the Post Office or movie or library right here. If I need to go to North Village, Springmoor transportation is available if I prefer not to walk. All housekeeping, yard work, window washing, hanging pictures or any odd jobs that may be needed can be taken care of by Springmoor. Why would I not love being pampered so well? So many earlier responsibilities and worries have been removed.

Safe and Secure

Maybe one of the main assets at Springmoor is the interaction with the residents and the staff. Everyone is friendly, caring and genuinely interested in knowing each other. This creates such a good feeling of well-being and of belonging to a special community. In addition, feeling safe and secure is so comforting after living alone as a widow for many years and having concerns about our changing world.

The time to get involved with a retirement community is actually before you need all that they offer. We never know what fate has in store for us health wise. A place like Springmoor is here to provide health care every step of the way and for any type of illness that may befall you. One of my goals was to not put any burden involving my long-term health care on my children. Now they can be involved with me, but also be assured that I am in the best place for any care I may need in the future. If one waits too long to get involved with a retirement community, they could find that there could be a long wait to enjoy these benefits.  (Margaret Burch, Springmoor resident since 2016) Continue reading →

The Herald: News and Views at Springmoor

The purpose of a newsletter would be to help foster successful living at Springmoor. It would do this by helping us know each other better through reports of resident activities, accomplishments, celebrations, etc.; by informing us of plans, activities, accomplishments or needs of Association committees; by fostering good neighborliness; and by striving to keep us informed of activities, opportunities or needs of residents. (John Cameron, President Springmoor Residents Association. October 1990)

The first Herald was published in October 1990 on pastel pink paper. “Cut and Paste” was actual cutting and pasting articles. The font was American typewriter. There were a few pieces of hand-drawn art to accompany the single column articles. From the beginning to the current edition, the editors along with the technology have quickly changed the look but the content continues to inform our residents and be a well-read newsletter each month.

The Editor

Larry Auld, The Herald’s current volunteer editor, stepped into the position in the fall of 2016. As the former Principal Advisor of the School of Communication and Chair of Library and Information Studies at East Carolina University, he was a perfect to chair this Residents Association Committee. Larry brings with him a background of interests in virtual reality, visual media, history, art, photography, woodworking and gardening.

Each new editor has put their stamp on The Herald. Larry uses Microsoft Publisher to put the newsletter together. He has added a number of photos to the publication as photo journalism is an important part of any story. Experimenting with different fonts, he even began to explain the history and origin of each one as he looked for the best type style for the newsletter. He listens for unique stories in the community as he and Gabby, his little schnauzer, are out and about each day. He is quick to say that he doesn’t put it together without a lot of help from other members of the community.

The Contributors

There are many volunteers from the Residents Association who enjoy writing. Suggie Styres, Jan Christensen and Dottie Davis submit articles about newcomers. When a new resident arrives, they are contacted for a get-to-know-you interview. The writers then put together a short article about each new resident for The Herald. Mary Alice Hale, Springmoor’s Library Chair, keeps everyone informed with updates from the library. Upcoming books for the book clubs are always listed. Kari Richie, Springmoor Wellness Director; Leah Willis, Resident Life Director; Thom Morgan, Springmoor’s Landscape Manager and Phyllis Mayo, our Chaplain, also submit articles. The residents and employees are important contributors in keeping up informed of the who’s who and what’s what each month.

The Stats

As with most newspapers, there is a sports section! Game scores are always included. Golf, Croquet, Ping Pong and Shuffleboard are among the many competitive activities that are highlighted each month. Winners are always thrilled to see their winning scores at the top of the list! And not to be forgotten, Bridge players have a column also.

Birthdays

Larry quickly realized when he took over as the editor and chair of the committee that the publication had to be completed, printed and in everyone’s mailboxes by the end of each month. For those with birthdays on the first or second of each month, they would be missed if the paper wasn’t in the resident’s hands by the end of the proceeding month. With a smile, Larry says he keeps his editors on a tight deadline so the presses can roll on time.

The Funny Pages

A paper wouldn’t be complete without a little laughter. With each publication, you will find a column or two of puns, sayings or paraprosdokians.

• We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.
• You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
• To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
• I’m supposed to respect my elders, but it’s getting harder and harder to find one now.

The News

The Herald has undergone many changes through the years. From eight pink pastel pages with hand drawn logos to fourteen pages with color photography and an updated publisher layout. From John Cameron to Larry Auld, the one thing that remains consistent is that without the volunteers the paper would not be published. The first Herald editor wished the newly elected officers his best wishes but then said, “They would probably prefer to hear your offers to pitch in and help during the coming year as the association works to help each of us have a good year. Don’t blame things – better them.” Continue reading →