Residents of Wesley share when they knew it was time to move.
After Karleen Kennedy’s husband passed, she was hesitant to leave her home of over 30 years. Although it was well maintained, the home needed repairs and the nearly three acres of landscaping was more than she could handle alone. This got her thinking about making a move to a retirement community.
“I rented out an apartment above my garage and at times had foreign exchange students or refugee families from my church living with me, but I began to notice I was feeling more and more alone. While I wasn’t afraid, I did begin to feel like my security could be an issue,” said Karleen.
During one cold winter night when the furnace quit working, Karleen began thinking more seriously about making a move.
“It was hard to imagine leaving the home my kids grew up in and all the memories there, but when I first walked into the Brownstone at Des Moines, I was blown away,” reminisced Karleen.
“It seemed like once I made the choice to move, everything else fell into place.”
When Nancy Robertson turned 75, she started to think about her future. She was a single woman living in a condo with no relatives nearby, and her only son lived on the East Coast.
“I enjoy the independence of living here. I feel secure, and not having maintenance has been a relief. The people are wonderful and easy to be friends with. There are so many things to do here. I struggled to leave my old home, but once I looked at what I was moving into rather than what I was leaving behind, I knew it was the right step,” said Nancy.
“I wanted to look for a place that offered education, physical fitness and felt like home. Wesley was high on my list because of these things,” Nancy continued. I participated in the Wesley U classes before moving in, and I met a lot of people. It seemed like a good fit. Living in my condo, I didn’t have as much socialization. I would have lunch with friends, but I didn’t see anyone if I wasn’t out in the community. Here, I have a much richer social life. I’m meeting new people all the time. In the first 30 days, I met 30 new people over dinner. It was delightful to meet them so easily.”
Social activities are imperative to the mental health of mature adults. Each Wesley campus strives to enhance the lives of residents by combining the physical, mental and spiritual connection through daily activities, inspiring architecture and outdoor gathering spaces that promote community.
“When you tell people you’re moving into a retirement community, they think of a nursing home with long hallways, walkers, wheelchairs and something that feels like a hospital. The people living here are active, interesting and educated. Most of my friends at the time thought I was crazy to make a move so early. I wanted to move while I was still active and able to take advantage of everything to offer. I didn’t want to move because I had to,” said Nancy.
If you think it’s the right time for you or a loved one, contact us today!