There really is no better way to get to know a community than to meet some of the people already living there.
Our residents are diverse. All of them come from different backgrounds, from different towns or states, but they all have one thing in common – they’ve all chosen to make Strode Independent Living their new home. And there really is no better way to get to know a community than to meet some of the people already living there.
Here are just a few of their stories, and why they chose the independent living lifestyle and Strode Independent Living:
Discussion groups help Richard keep up on current events
Richard
As a retired educator, Richard enjoys keeping up on current events. He reads every morning thanks to the privacy he gets from the other residents. He can also talk about what he’s read with the discussion group that meets regularly at Strode.
The Strode community comes together to support Pat
Pat
Pat and Lydia were two of Strode’s earliest residents. The couple, who met in 1995 and were officially married in 2009, moved into independent living in August of 2017. However, just three years later, Lydia would lose her long battle with lung cancer.
Lights, camera, action as David finds a new role at Strode
David
David spent 42 years as a physics teacher at Mt. Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. But David has always been a Vermonter at heart, having grown up in Norwich. So when the time came for his retirement, David wanted to come back to the Green Mountain State and share his passion for classic movies.
Brenda uses Strode’s gardens to help grow and cultivate a community
Brenda
There’s nothing Brenda loves more than spending time in the garden. So, when she decided it was time to downsize and move from Middlesex, Vermont, Brenda looked for a place where she could continue that hobby. With its various gardens and apple orchard, Strode Independent Living was that place for her.
Keeping busy helps keep Barbara focused on the future
Barbara
Moving away from her long-time home in East Randolph wasn’t easy for Barbara. However, through the number of activities offered at Strode, Barbara didn’t have time to sit around thinking about missing home. “There is so much going on here and there’s so much support from the residents and staff,” Barbara said. “It helps you ease into a whole new lifestyle.”
Letting Go of the Past to Embrace a New Adventure
Malcolm and Nancy
When the time came to explore retirement homes, Nancy and Malcolm looked online and visited eight communities in Vermont and New Hampshire. “What struck me,” Nancy said, “was that when we would go to different places, they always invite you for a meal and you sit and talk to people. We came to Morgan Orchards and had a meal, and as soon as we left, we said, ‘This is the place. People have a sense of humor. There’s life here.’”
How Mary found peace of mind in a supportive community
Mary
After spending most of her life in Massachusetts, Mary realized she was missing out on time with her son and grandson back in Vermont. With the passing of her mother and husband, she decided it was time to relocate so she could be closer to her family. Being only a ten-minute drive from them, and having a spectacular view, sold her on Morgan Orchards.
For Linda, independent living meant securing her own future
Linda
When Linda began researching continuing care facilities for her parents, she also decided to start looking into independent living. With no children of her own, she felt she needed to make long-term arrangements for herself so down the road someone else wouldn’t have to make them for her.
How One Couple Downsized without Sacrificing Space
Arny and Priscilla
When Morgan Orchards opened Arny and Priscilla knew the timing was right to move, as the maintenance and upkeep of their home had become an issue. While the decision to move to independent living wasn’t necessarily a difficult one, the actual moving process was a bit of a struggle, as both had to make some hard decisions on what to bring and what would need to go. So the couple got creative and came up with a floor plan arrangement that would fit all the furniture they wanted to bring with them.
Read Arny and Priscilla’s Story
One Resident’s Story of Defeating Loneliness With Community
Jane
Jane moved to Morgan Orchards from the home she’d shared with her husband for 23 years. After he passed, she realized she didn’t want to live alone. And with her companion gone, she found it difficult to eat alone.
“What I like best about being here is that everyone is so gracious and helpful. It’s been so easy to make friends,” she said, noting that she no longer has to eat her dinners alone. “The other residents have made my meals an enjoyable time again.”
Embracing Freedom and a Carefree Lifestyle with Independent Living
Bobbie and Forrest
Recognizing that they were aging sent Forrest and Bobbie on the hunt for a more carefree living environment, one where they wouldn’t have more chores than their energy levels could handle.
They explored several options, from condominiums to independent living. But it was the appeal of Morgan Orchards’ small, rural, and serene location, sense of community, and proximity to their son that won them over.
Read Forrest and Bobbie’s Story
Finding a Home Both Humans and Their Dog Could Love
Sabra with Bella
Though Sabra and Lory were reluctant to leave their home of over fifty years, caring for it had become tiring and they knew they needed to look into a smaller living space. The transition wasn’t without a few bumps, but the couple – and their dog – have found a new home, and lifestyle, that they all love.
Discovering a New Community Rooted Within The One A Resident Already Loves
Carol
For Carol, transitioning to a simpler lifestyle meant saying goodbye to the home she and her late husband had shared for thirty years. But what she couldn’t say farewell too was the community she’d been a part of her entire life. Having grown up in central Vermont, and still employed in the area, Carol’s quest for a maintenance-free home that also put her in closer proximity to other people led her to independent living at Morgan Orchards, just a few short miles up the road from her day job and the town she loves.
Farewell Sunshine State, Hello Green Mountains
Judi and her dog, Buddy
Judi’s spent the past 40 years in Florida. But the changing landscape of her home state had her dreaming of something different. With a scattering of friends in southern Vermont and other parts of New England, Judi turned her eyes to the Green Mountain state. Here she found cleaner air, cleaner water, and cleaner politics. And the idea of living in a rural farming community with access to nonprofit healthcare was just what she was looking for.
Less Stress and Physical Hardship in a New Home with a New Life
Deb and Jay
Deb and Jay moved to Strode from their home, a 106-year old family farm Deb was born and raised on, in Norwich, Vermont. To say they’re an active couple would be an understatement. But sometimes, life asks you to slow down, which is what happened with Deb and Jay. As both developed health issues, they discovered that managing the responsibility of farm work was becoming more and more of a challenge and adding additional stress to their lives. So they decided to look into independent living.
For One Couple, A Friendly Visit Sparked a Major Life Change
Frank and Sandy
Frank and Sandy credit a visit to their friends, Strode residents Bobbie and Forrest, as the moment that spurred their decision to explore independent living for themselves.
