Recent News - Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America

20 Nov 2007

Two residents share their experience which dispel common misperceptions about retirement community living

When her mother entered a nursing home, Orva Hargett realized she and her husband, Ron, “had no arrangements made as to where we wanted to go” if and when they needed to move to a retirement community. Catherine Scheffler knew she needed a change when arthritis made the stairs in her home an obstacle.

Many of today’s seniors will face the decision of whether and when to leave their long-time homes to move to a retirement community. Common precursors for such moves include a change in health, the death of a spouse and a need to downsize. These Newton families found the answers they needed at Newton Presbyterian Manor. Their experiences counter misperceptions about retirement community living.

Misperception 1: Most seniors want to retire to warm climates such as Florida.

A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders and Countrywide Home Loans reveals that an overwhelming majority of today’s seniors want to live near their loved ones or in communities where they have put down roots.

This dispels a common perception that seniors prefer warm-weather retirement destinations. In other words, as the nation’s 78 million baby boomers age and retire, local communities will begin to look more like Florida, demographically speaking.

Scheffler had built a life in Newton, where her late husband, Arthur, served as a captain in the local fire department for 35 years. So when arthritis made single-level living a necessity, her children researched possible alternatives in town.

“They said, ‘Well, we’ve got one,’ ” recalled Scheffler of her first introduction to Presbyterian Manor, which she now calls home. “I was real impressed.”

And after she moved in, she discovered an added bonus. “When I got here I was amazed how many people I knew (from the community). I didn’t know they were here,” she said, adding that she has become steady card partners with many of them.

She considers her two bedroom apartment especially convenient. The library and guest apartment are just across the hall and the laundry is nearby, prompting her son to remark, “You know Mom, I think you got the best apartment here.”

Scheffler adds, “I can go in and out without having any steps. I have a covered carport just a few steps from my back door.”

Misperception 2: Retirement communities are places where people go to grow old.

Seniors who relocate to retirement communities often are looking for freedom from the responsibilities and expenses of home ownership so they can pursue or continue an active lifestyle.

Ron and Orva Hargett are atypical retirement community residents because Ron still works every day at Bethel College as a custodian, a job he loves and is not ready to leave. Orva is retired but remains active in her church and community and was interested in continuing other activities. Moving to the Manor solved the problem of a basement laundry arrangement that had become difficult for Orva and her arthritic knee to navigate.

“At the Manor we have access to elevators and the laundry room is right around the corner from where we are. That was a big drawing card,” she said.

Mrs. Hargett admits the couple “hemmed and hawed a long time” about making the move. Orva was to have a knee replacement that hopefully would improve her mobility. But the couple did not want to take a gamble.

Plus, as a retired nurse, Mrs. Hargett said she had seen numerous times when patients were released from the hospital with no plans for follow-up care and “they had to go wherever there was an open room.”

By living at the Manor, she was able to get physical therapy after her surgery in her apartment and on campus. “I didn’t have to go out in the winter weather to have physical therapy done.”

She has since recovered and the Hargetts continue their love of travel – especially by train – to see family and friends. Now they can do it with fewer worries and greater freedom.

“You look at things, you lock the door, stop your mail, turn off your answering machine and you go,” said Mrs. Hargett.

These former home owners admit there is an adjustment period to a maintenance-free lifestyle, but they do adjust.

“When a bulb burns out, we call them and they come and change it,” Mrs. Hargett said. “If I call today about a problem, they either show up that day or the next. None of this waiting for a long time to have it done.”

After moving to the Manor, Mrs. Hargett says, “The only comment one of our sons made was, ‘Now don’t go acting old.’ ”

Scheffler’s experience echoes that of the Hargetts. She still drives and goes to auxiliary meetings and doesn’t think she has lost any of her independence.

Misperception 3: Moving to a retirement community means giving up a feeling of home.

Scheffler has always hosted her family for Christmas. That didn’t change when she moved to the Manor, thanks to guest apartments, a second bedroom and other facilities available to residents.

“We use the library and it’s big enough to accommodate the whole family (of 18),” she said. A nearby guest apartment allows a place for young children to nap.

During college football season, Scheffler said her son and his family spend Friday night with her before driving to Manhattan for Kansas State University games on Saturdays. After the game, they spend Saturday night with her before returning to their Dallas home on Sunday.

“Whenever they come, they use my extra bedroom and my living room is big enough that we can put down air mattresses,” she said. “The nicest thing is that you can bring your own things and that makes it so easy to adjust.”

Her apartment includes a porch, where Scheffler was able to grow a few tomato plants last summer. She said she had always been a big gardener and used to sell vegetables in front of her home.

Mrs. Hargett said when they visited the Manor, “There was something about the environment that just spoke to us. It was gentle, warm, the people were very friendly and we thought it looked like a good deal.”

Plus, “we were getting to a point in our house – we had three bedrooms but they were small so we knew we would have to pay for hotel rooms” when family visited, she said. Now, with a reservation, a guest apartment is available for a nominal fee.

Misperception 4: A retirement community costs more than living in your own home.

Mrs. Hargett said she did cost comparisons before she and Ron moved to the Manor.

“My husband thinks sometimes we could have had help at home as needed, we could have hired workers. But I don’t. By the time you count all your insurances, repairs, utilities, property taxes – when I added all of those up, it was very little difference” in cost to live in a retirement community.

“For me, the freedom to know that I don’t have to call somebody to mow the lawn and make sure they’re doing a good job, or someone to do landscaping – given all that, I don’t think we’re out any extra money. Plus we don’t have to worry,” she said.

She and Ron wanted to have control over their decision to leave their home and by taking control, they gave their children a wonderful gift.

“We were able to liquidate the excess baggage. We were able to do that ourselves instead of the kids coming in. We did that,” she said.

Taking into account the feelings of their adult children was important.

Scheffler said, “For one thing, my children are a lot more at ease now. It just kind of takes a load off their mind. They know if I need help, I can get it. They used to call all the time. I know it was to check on me.” She summed up her feelings about life at the Manor this way: “I don’t have to scoop snow and I don’t have to mow lawns. I really enjoy being here.”

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