“What advice do have for someone considering a Life Plan Community?” is one question our residents are typically asked when being interviewed to share their stories and experiences on Carroll Lutheran Village’s social media networks or its blog posts. The common answer … don’t wait.
The Next Chapter: He Retired; She Chose Their New Home
Jim Emmons was 65 when he and his wife Diane moved into Carroll Lutheran Village in 2013. After he retired, he and his wife decided it was time to move. Having traveled a lot for his job, Jim told Diane where to live next was her decision.
“We looked all over the country for places to live, I mean we looked in Mesquite, Nevada, Albuquerque, Nashville, Charleston, Charlotte. A couple places in Virginia, below Washington. We looked at places in both North and South Carolina, on the other side of the bay. I looked up in Pennsylvania, you know, everywhere.” said Jim. Then one day Diane suggested looking at Carroll Lutheran Village. Living in Finksburg, Jim and Diane were familiar with the community. After they met with a sales counselor and toured the community, Diane told Jim she wanted to live at Carroll Lutheran Village.
“I was surprised because I didn’t think we were at that point, we were still pretty young. I wanted a 55+ community, but it turned out to be the best decision of my life,” said Jim.
Shortly after moving into Carroll Lutheran Village, Diane started experiencing serious medical issues. Being at Carroll Lutheran Village, Jim had the tools and support to care for his wife – something he wanted to do – in their apartment until she needed a greater level of care.
With the help of Carroll Lutheran Village’s team, Diane transferred to an area within the community where she could get the care she needed. Jim said, “I went to see her all the time and because we were still in the same community, it didn’t matter if it rained, sleeted or snowed, seeing her was not an issue.”
Despite Jim initially feeling they didn’t need to move to a Life Plan Community, he’s glad they did. Care and support were readily available for Diane as her health declined.
“I would highly recommend that anybody, whether they are still active or not, to buy into a place like this. Life will typically deal you a tough time or two, and it’s better to have something in place before you need it rather than to not have something and then scramble to get it,” said Jim.
For the Love of Travel: Downsizing and Moving
For Cindy Hirshberg, deciding to move to a Life Plan Community at 60 was a difficult but good decision. Having made many friends in the community where she and her husband owned their home and downsizing the home they lived in for many years were reasons that made the decision difficult. When it comes to downsizing, Cindy said, “You have to look at it as a process and not as a one day moving event.”
As a result, Cindy and her husband Clark moved into Carroll Lutheran Village in 2007. Not because of health reasons, but because they traveled extensively and did not want to worry about leaving the house for weeks at a time and paying to maintain it.
They looked at Life Plan Communities along the east coast. “My hubby, being the engineer he was, made up a spreadsheet with details of each community we considered and what they offered in relation to what interested us,” said Cindy. They decided moving to Carroll Lutheran Village as the right decision and settled remotely during a trip to Montana.
In 2012, Clark suddenly passed away. Understandably, Cindy was distraught. Thankfully, Carroll Lutheran Village’s team members and resources, and her strong support system of other residents were readily available to help her overcome her loss.
According to Cindy, if she was living in her previous home, she wouldn’t have had access to the help that Carroll Lutheran Village provided, and, although she made many friends in her former neighborhood, the support and visits wouldn’t have been as much as tight-knit friendships she’s made with her new neighbors.
“My social life would not be anywhere near as good if I had not decided on moving to Carroll Lutheran Village, and as you get older, relationships become more important. In this part of life, relationships help you gain perspective. They help you talk things through and help you look at things differently,” said Cindy.
She says the best advice she can give to someone considering Carroll Lutheran Village or moving to any Life Plan Community is to not wait and give yourself time to enjoy the community, make friends and join clubs before you need to be in a Life Plan Community for health care reasons.
Cindy further stated, “Let yourself come here and make some of the best friends you’ll ever have. Have a social life. You’ll have community and friends, and when you’re in a tough spot, they’ll be there. Don’t delay moving such that you don’t get to enjoy all this place has to offer.”
Activities + Care: Mother and Daughter Find the Right Fit
Much Like Jim and Cindy, LeeAnn Biggs moved to Carroll Lutheran Village in her 60’s. When her mother left her house to move in with her, LeeAnn realized moving to a Life Plan Community would be advantageous for both of them. Since December 2023, LeeAnn and her mother have called Carroll Lutheran Village, home.
With LeeAnn having a lifelong friend who was living in a Life Plan Community, she and her mother had some insight into the services and amenities they offer and how moving to and living in such a community could benefit them.
They looked at Life Plan Communities for a couple of years, trying to find a community that was the right fit. They decided Carroll Lutheran Village was the right fit they were searching for, and they didn’t have to move too far. The community was 2.5 miles from LeeAnn’s home.
“We had talked for many years about moving to the same Life Plan Community because we both felt we would benefit from having access to the continuing levels of care especially with not having family to depend on to take care of us or help us with moves or things like that,” stated LeeAnn.
Her mother’s care was one of the main reasons for moving to Carroll Lutheran Village. LeeAnn said, “I started thinking that with my mother’s situation being with me, it would probably be advantageous to move sooner rather than later.”
When she and her mother looked at the various living spaces, LeeAnn was surprised how many different models of homes and apartments were available to accommodate residents’ needs. Now they share a one-floor house together. Not having to deal with home maintenance is the major change LeeAnn has noticed from moving to Carroll Lutheran Village. “Someone else mows the lawn and shovels snow. When something goes wrong in the house, I just make a call and say, ‘fix it,’” stated Lee Ann
According to LeeAnn, moving to a Life Plan Community at a younger age, you have more opportunities to get out, be active and make more friends. If you move in when you’re older, you’re not likely to be as mobile, which makes it harder to take advantage of all the benefits and meet new people.
While LeeAnn and her mother were searching and waiting for their ideal home to become available for moving in, LeeAnn got a membership to the Carroll Lutheran Village’s Wellness Center and, at some point, met up with a walking group of community residents who took her around campus and provided her with more insight into the community.
Since moving in, she has picked up Pickle Ball, taken advantage of other on-campus activities and met new friends. Plus, with remaining in Westminster, she’s continuing to pursue activities and interests in the local community, just as she had prior to living at Carroll Lutheran Village.
Jim, Cindy and LeeAnn are three residents that firmly believe moving to Carroll Lutheran Village sooner rather than later maybe a difficult decision, but it’s ultimately the right decision. It gave Jim the peace of mind that his wife was receiving the care she needed within a short walk from his home, it gave Cindy the support system that helped her during a tough time and is allowing LeeAnn to rely on more than just her and her mother to take care of each other. All of this while still taking advantage of a fun and active lifestyle they are able to pursue with being members of the CLV community.
Read more about Jim Emmons, who keeps himself active by enjoying nature and more stories more about CLV’s wonderful residents and team members.
If you are a CLV resident or team member with a story to share, we would love to hear it!
