Submitted by Lutheran Hillside Village
Frank Sinatra sang those lines in his song, “The Best Is Yet to Come.” His song is true for so many things in life, including how we approach aging. We all want to successfully age, confident that the best is still yet to come. The real question is, how can we do that?
For a growing number of older adults, the answer to successfully aging translates to a lifestyle designed specifically for them in a life plan community, formerly known as a continuing care retirement community, or CCRC.
The term continuing care retirement community was coined nearly 35 years ago to describe senior living communities that provide a continuum of living and care options for older adults. Options include apartments and homes in which residents live independently, to assisted living, memory care assisted living, and skilled nursing residences that residents can move into if and when their health needs ever change.
Life plan communities most often have residential homes or apartments with full-size appliances and all the amenities found in new homes today. “More importantly, we offer fitness and wellness programs, fine dining, creative enrichment programs, socializing opportunities, and much, much more,” said Shelly Heiden, Executive Director of Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria, Illinois. “And of course, we take care of all the home maintenance, housekeeping, yard work, and snow shoveling!”
Lutheran Hillside Village sits on 37 acres and features the following amenities.
- Multiple venues featuring restaurant-style dining
- Varied activity and social calendar
- Exercise rooms
- Woodworking shop
- General store
- Community garden and walking paths
- Religious services with on-site chaplains for spiritual support
- Concierge and transportation services
- Scheduled housekeeping
- Beauty salon/barbershop
- 24-hour home maintenance and repair
This level of amenities and services distinguishes a special kind of senior living offerings. “It’s especially beneficial for older adults who are not only planners for the future, but want to live life to the fullest, exposing themselves to new experiences and friendships.
Lutheran Hillside Village is a non-for-profit, faith-inspired organization currently offering independent living, assisted living, memory care assisted living, long term care, and REACH Short Stay Rehabilitation. Lutheran Hillside Village recently has undergone renovations in its Care Center and added assisted living apartments, and built a state-of-the-art REACH Short Stay Rehabilitation center.
According to Shelly Heiden, “The most common thing we hear from new residents is that they wish they moved in sooner. In a recent survey, 99 percent of our independent living residents responded that they would recommend Lutheran Hillside Village to their friends. I think that says a lot about what a life plan community can offer.”
Frank Sinatra had it right. Especially when it comes to senior living, “The best is yet to come.” At a life plan community like Lutheran Hillside Village, the opportunities are endless to experience all that life has to offer.
Lutheran Hillside Village is a Lutheran Senior Services community. For more information, visiting LutheranHillsideVillageLiving.org or call 309-692-4600.