At Carroll Lutheran Village, Life Doesn’t Slow Down. It Gets More Exciting.
If your image of retirement living includes endless bingo games and people sitting around waiting for something to happen, you haven’t met Carroll Lutheran Village’s residents who are either busy showcasing their talent at karaoke night, on the dance floor at the Music Lover’s Cabaret, cheering for a friend at Trivia Night or joining in on another event.
At CLV, retirement is anything but boring. Many residents say they’re busier, having more fun and friends, than they ever imagined.
Although there’s never a shortage of things to do at CLV, from daily activities to amenities that provide light-hearted competitive fun and develop artistic talents, residents are adding fun to the community.
“We don’t have time to sit around,” said resident Eileen Gist, one of the driving forces behind the community’s wildly popular resident-led event series, Saturday Night Alive.
Conversation to Community-wide Phenomenon
It all started when Gist met fellow resident John Ebert when he offered to help her set up for the community’s
Benevolent Care Fund event. During that time, Ebert mentioned he’d once worked as a DJ and thought it might be fun to spin music again. Gist saw an opportunity.
After pitching the idea to CLV’s executive director, the pair launched a small dance night in the community pub. They were told that if 20 people attended, the event could continue. With more than 50 residents attending, Ebert is still spinning music.
“It looked like a teenage sock hop. People were rocking and rolling. Nobody wanted slow music. They wanted to dance,” Gist said. Today, that one dance night has blossomed into Saturday Night Alive — an entire lineup of resident-driven entertainment and social events that continues to grow.
Trivia, Karaoke and Dancing Under the Stars
As Saturday Night Alive fever caught on, the idea quickly expanded into a series of events, including trivia nights, karaoke competitions, movie nights, themed dances, outdoor music events, doo-wop performances, fashion shows and seasonal celebrations.
Ebert now serves as the resident DJ, using playlists tailored specifically to the generation that grew up with classic
rock, Motown, doo-wop and oldies. “I’m as old as they are, so I know what to play,” Ebert joked.
It’s more than entertainment — it’s connection. Residents laugh, sing, dance and cheer each other on.
Resident-led. Resident-driven.
What makes CLV special isn’t just the activities — it’s who creates them. While CLV’s residents’ life team plans a variety of entertaining on and off-campus events, residents help shape the community lifestyle. When a resident has an idea for a new activity or event, committees are formed and planning begins.
CLV ‘s dog show, drawing more than 100 attendees in its first year, was launched by residents. That event eventually inspired a resident-led volunteer pet-sitting network that supports neighbors.
“That’s part of living here. We become an extended family for each other,” Gist said.
That sense of belonging is something prospective residents often don’t expect — but quickly discover once they arrive.
Live Life Your Way
The real magic of CLV may be the balance it offers. Residents can be as active and involved as they’d like — or simply enjoy the comfort of knowing friendship and opportunity are always nearby.
“You can be as busy or relaxed as you choose — and enjoy the camaraderie along the way,” Gist said.
In addition to resident-led events, CLV offers residents wellness and fitness programs, clubs, volunteer opportunities, lifelong learning courses — many taught by college professors — as well as opportunities to pursue the fine arts.
For many residents, moving to CLV didn’t mean giving something up. It meant getting something back — friendship, fun, freedom from home maintenance and the opportunity to try things they never imagined themselves doing.
I Fell in Love With the Place.
Ebert admits he wasn’t initially excited about moving to a Life Plan Community. Now, he says, he’s fallen in love with the place.
That sentiment is one shared by many residents who discover that retirement living today looks very different than the outdated stereotypes people still imagine.
At CLV, retirement isn’t about slowing down. It’s about finally having the freedom to enjoy life your way.
So, if you think retirement is boring, think again.
Learn more about Gist and Ebert from their WTTR radio interview at bit.ly/CLVSaturdayNightAlive.
Every CLV resident has a unique story. Together those stories create a vibrant, welcoming community full of connection, purpose and peace of mind. Discover their stories at clvillage.org/resident-stories.
