What Do You Think of When You Think of Senior Living?
By: Brooke Chappell, Marketing and Sales Director, United Methodist Communities at The Shores
Close your eyes. What is the first thing that pops into your head when you think senior living? For some it’ll be an old-style nursing home. For others it will be older adults sitting around doing nothing. People unfamiliar with senior living conjure images based on nursing homes of yesteryear, but nothing could be further from the truth.
United Methodist Communities at The Shores in Ocean City offers all styles of living under one roof. In fact, 60% of our residents live independently and don’t need any care. Let me introduce you to two, Peg and Nancy, and you’ll see that life at The Shores preserves independence and dignity, while providing opportunities to make new friends and live a more active life.
Peg, who is 93, likes to travel. She spent January and February in Florida, renting with family near Belleair Beach. This family tradition has gone on for the last 20+ years. They come together and enjoy watching the baseball spring training.
Her granddaughter contacted her a while ago and asked her to play the game, Wordle. Peg not only enjoys it but seems to be particularly good at solving it…. although she did mention today’s word was tough, but she got it.
Her family comes to visit often, and they all enjoy sitting on her patio. Most recently she had a wonderful visit with her grandson, his wife, and her 2-year-old great-grandson. Peg was excited that she was able to buy him a Mr. Potato Head from the Shores Gift Shop and get them all treats at the Bistro.
When asked where she likes to go out to eat, she quipped, “anywhere we can get a Corona and a lime”. One of Peg’s favorite places for breakfast is “Hooked on Breakfast” in Ocean City which she describes as being small, clean, friendly staff, good food and they are reasonably priced.
Peg is writing a book and her humor and wit shone through as she described the first chapter. detailing her standoff with an audacious, berry-eating squirrel on her patio. Peg threatened him with her hand grabber, thereby showing that squirrel whose turf the balcony and berries really belong to.
When asked about her decision and life at the Shores Peg said, “I am where I should be and am very happy living at the Shores.”
Nancy is also 93 and has lived at The Shores for 6 years. When we decided to interview Nancy, we had to track her down and found her playing Mahjong with her friends. This was not a surprise as Nancy is a regular at Mahjong. Surprisingly, she did not know the first thing about the game when she moved in but decided she wanted to learn. Now you can find her with the Mahjong group regularly.
Nancy is always active and on the go. She regularly attends the 10am varied fitness classes, led by the Shores Exercise Physiologist, Karen Cooper. As Nancy puts it, “I don’t like to sit and do nothing.” She enjoys the craft classes and jewelry making sessions in which she created 3 mosaic necklaces. Nancy believes it is important to your well-being to stay active and she feels that the Shores has much to offer residents. As Nancy puts it, if someone says “I’m bored” all the time, then they are boring to be with.
Nancy initially came to the short-term rehabilitation neighborhood at The Shores following a surgery. When her rehab ended, she moved into her apartment that her family had taken the time to set up and decorate with antiques and mementos important to her. Nancy says these things bring fond memories of family, friends, and trips to Europe. Nancy told us she is very happy with her apartment and balcony which she said was surprising to her since she came from a sizeable home prior to her move in. When asked what is one of the things she likes best about living at the Shores, Nancy laughingly told us she does not have to buy food, cook, or clean up anymore.
Nancy grew up in a small town in the Pennsylvania Dutch country called Bird-in-Hand. Nancy spent her career as a nurse. She met her husband, Don, who was wounded in WWII and paralyzed. They married and had four children and a number of grandchildren. Nancy is proud of Don who went on to receive his B.S. and M.A. degrees and then a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. They moved to Yardley, PA and both worked in the Trenton, NJ area. Nancy says she has many fond memories of her career as an RN in home health in the Trenton area.
Nancy regularly travels in the summer to her home of many years in the Poconos where she enjoys the lakeside serenity and the sights and offerings in the town of Jim Thorpe. She also travels and visits her family in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Naples, Florida.
At the end of the interview, Nancy generously gave us a copy of the book, “Reflections,” written by her husband Don.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Peg and Nancy a little bit. When you come for a visit, I’m sure they’d love to meet you and talk about their life here. The Shores lifestyle offers something for everyone; exercise classes, movie nights, bible study, resident-driven clubs, and visits to the beaches and boardwalks in Ocean City to name a few. Our mission is for every resident to live an abundant, purposeful life, while remaining close and connected to family and friends.
