Carol B.
For Carol, transitioning to a simpler lifestyle, one with no house to maintain and closer proximity to other people, meant saying goodbye to the home she and her late husband had shared for thirty years.
But what she couldn’t say goodbye to was the area.
Carol’s lived in central Vermont for most of her life. She grew up in Tunbridge, attended high school in South Royalton before graduating from Randolph Union High School. She went to the Thompson School for Practical Nursing in Brattleboro and earned her LPN. Then in 1976, after several years in health care, she became a real estate broker and a licensed insurance agent at a Randolph insurance agency, where she still works today. And over the years she’s served as a volunteer for numerous organizations throughout Randolph.
With such deep ties to the area, relocating wasn’t an option for Carol. So after selling her Brookfield home, she chose to house-sit for her sister for nearly three years, allowing herself some time to consider her options, options which included Strode Independent Living.
But for Carol, the decision to move to Morgan Orchards was an easy one, as it offered not just the perfect location, but an apartment layout she loved, and the opportunity to support a local organization she has a long history with – Gifford Health Care.
It also offered her the support of the staff 24/7, no home maintenance to take care of, and only one monthly fee to pay for the majority of her living expenses. And with a daily meal prepared by a professional chef, she didn’t even have to cook dinner unless she wanted to.
It was the perfect fit, so much so that she says her apartment felt like home right away.
“It’s small but very well designed so I have plenty of storage space,” she commented. “I love my neighbors and feel comfortable knowing that someone is here in case I need help.”
Help she recently received when she broke her ankle, a situation she realized would’ve forced her out of her former home. But in her apartment, with her neighbors and the Morgan Orchards’ staff just steps away, Carol was able to remain in her new home and heal with their support.
When asked what she’d tell others who are considering a lifestyle change to independent living, and Morgan Orchards, in particular, she shared this.
“You can lead a very active life within the building and outside. You can join activities or not,” said Carol who spends most of her free time enjoying walks or reading. “You have a wonderful view and neighbors. It is very easy to live here. You may live alone in your apartment but you will never be lonely.”
[box title=”Looking to downsize your home and upsize your life?” bg_color=”#dbf3f1″ align=”left”]Independent living is about more than having a beautiful home. It’s about connecting with your neighbors and the greater community around you as you create an active, carefree lifestyle you love.
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