Summer 2002

A Letter from Executive Director Rob Boening
   In doing the research to find the retirement community you want to call home, it is important to look at the contract, services and amenities offered, and financial strength of the organization. Unfortunately, there is another key area that many individuals do not take into account – availability. Many established CCRC communities, like Carolina Meadows, have a waiting list. It is important to plan ahead so that your community will be ready for you when you are ready for it!

   To assist those who are planning ahead, Carolina Meadows provides our future residents with the option of two lists, a Waiting List and a Ready List. When an individual joins our Waiting List they receive a sequence number based upon the date that their application is completed. Members on our waiting list can remain there for as long as they wish. In addition, wait list members can utilize many of our amenities such as the indoor swimming pool and golf course, as well as attend resident functions and meetings. Many members who have taken advantage of this option are able to form new friendships as well as become involved in their future home before moving.

   The Ready List is for individuals who are ready to move to Carolina Meadows as soon as their chosen accommodation becomes available. An individual’s placement on the Ready List is determined by their sequence number, which is received at the time of application. The key to achieving your desired move-in timeframe is in planning ahead, shopping early and applying early to insure your place on the community’s waiting list.

   It is never too early to start preparing for your future. Many of our residents started to take the preliminary steps to move to Carolina Meadows years before they were actually ready to make the move. Through pre-planning they were able to find the perfect retirement community, adequately prepare for their move and make some new friends along the way. Through careful planning, the move to your chosen retirement destination can be smooth, pleasant and most of all – timely.

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Carolina Meadows: Enjoy the good life now
   When it comes to retirement planning, sooner is often better than later.

   You may think you need to wait until you feel like slowing down to join a retirement community, but in reality, there is a community just waiting to embrace your active lifestyle. With its numerous activities, involved residents, and commitment to wellness, why wait to move? In fact, residents here at Carolina Meadows are often more active than they've ever been before.

   "You almost have to be careful not to get too involved in the activities here if you want to have any time to yourself," advises resident Ginny Lansing.

   "I see most of the residents here staying active in their churches, in community organizations and with friends and family," says Fiona Holland, wellness coordinator. "When people move to a community like Carolina Meadows, they can choose to be as active as they wish. There are so many ways to continue to be involved with the community at large or the community here on campus."

   The wellness programs here help residents stay involved in a variety of ways, offering activities that appeal to residents' physical, intellectual, spiritual and social needs. Available physical activities include numerous sports as well as exercise programs and various therapies. "Our specially trained staff focus on functional strength, range of motion and flexibility, posture, breathing and having fun!" says Fiona. Residents can also follow their interests in discussion groups or various clubs, and spiritual wellness can be fostered both through on-campus religious gatherings and services and through community churches. Social activities truly run the gamut, from shopping trips to theater outings. "There really is no end to the number of social activities residents can get involved in," she says. "One of the benefits of living in a community like Carolina Meadows is the social support and fellowship of others."

   "Wellness is a holistic approach to personal health and well-being," Fiona says. Carolina Meadows takes this to heart and has something for everyone." To enjoy a greater sense of well being, it is important to strengthen the mind, body and spirit. At Carolina Meadows, wellness clearly means more than fitness and health care. As Fiona points out, the community looks at the big picture of wellness and how it crosses departments. All of the programs in the community incorporate wellness, from the community clinic and fitness programs to the planned activities and resident-organized groups.

   This all-encompassing approach to wellness means that Carolina Meadows is a community concerned with the total well being of its residents’, and is equipped to serve a variety of needs. And perhaps one of the best things about life at Carolina Meadows is this flexibility. Whether you're looking for an activity-packed retirement or some time for quiet reflection and the leisurely pursuit of new hobbies, chances are good that you'll find what you're looking for here. Even better, you'll find yourself in the company of people with similar interests. "If you are interested in something, there's a group of folks here to do it with," Fiona says. "That's the beauty of the community setting."

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Choosing a community: Tips for making an informed decision
   Many factors come into play when people decide to move to Carolina Meadows. Some are attracted to its location, close to renowned universities and cultural activities, while others are drawn to its range of community activities, amenities and healthcare options.

   Residents Jim and Ginny Lansing say Carolina Meadows stood out from the other choices when they were searching for their ideal community seven years ago. Citing the Equity Advantage program, opportunity for independence and the strong management of the community, the Lansings say they made a well-informed choice. "The other communities couldn't hold a candle to it," Jim says.

   Since the Lansings, former Chapel Hill residents, knew they wanted to stay in the Triangle area to remain close to their family, they looked at only three or four communities before choosing Carolina Meadows. Other residents, Jim says, have looked at 30-40 places before settling here. But no matter how wide you cast your net, the following tips should serve you well as you search for the community that you will soon call home.

• Do your research. Before visiting a community in person, visit their website. You can learn a lot about a community from on-line information: some sites offer information on costs and floor plans as well as an outline of health care and activity options. If you're not on the Internet, head to you local library for books that carry information on various communities, such as those published by AARP.
• Decide what amenities are important to you. Carolina Meadows residents receive excellent medical care at our comprehensive on-site Health Clinic. If residents need additional assistance, they have access to the services of our assisted living or health center. Carolina Meadows is a full-service community. Residents have access to many on-site amenities such as an indoor swimming pool, workout room, full service dining, library, and art room complete with a kiln. Once you decide what amenities are important to you, it will help narrow down your options.
• Figure out your financial needs. Cost is a very important factor when choosing a community. Look closely not only at the fees, but whether the community offers flexibility, such as Carolina Meadows allowing some amenities to be fee-for-service. Carolina Meadows also offers financial flexibility through the Equity Advantage program, which promises that if a resident ever leaves Carolina Meadows, regardless of the reason, Carolina Meadows, Inc. will return the resident’s equity in their home. In addition, if the resale value of the resident’s Carolina Meadows home appreciates to cover the sales costs, the resident is entitled to one half of the net appreciation.
• Check to see if the community is accredited. Carolina Meadows is accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Committee (CCAC), which is regarded as a seal of approval for retirement communities. Applying for accreditation is voluntary and the standards for accreditation are demanding; the community must undergo intense evaluations and checks to receive accreditation status from the CCAC.
• Check out the management. The Lansings suggest reading any reports put out by the management. Also pay close attention to how much input residents have in the way the community is managed and how much turnover the community has with its employees. If there is a low turnover rate that means it's a good working environment, which is a sign of good management.

   When it's time to make a visit to a prospective community, be sure to look closely at the appearance of the place and talk to residents and employees. "It's like looking at a house," says Jim, who worked in real estate for 25 years. "It's a lot to take in."

   Whatever your decision, be sure to plan ahead so that the community that you choose is ready for you when you are ready to move. When you put all the factors together, they should add up to a community you would be happy to call home.

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Downsizing: Some tips and tricks
   Moving to Carolina Meadows offers a wealth of opportunities to expand your lifestyle, whether it's through increased community activities or added friends. But before you benefit from this "upsizing," you'll probably have to face the reality of downsizing.

   "It's almost universal," says Herb Harned, who moved to Carolina Meadows two years ago with his wife, Jean. "Almost everyone will be downsizing into smaller places."

   For resident Betty Kent, that downsizing was a positive event: while she enjoyed entertaining and having family visit in her 4,500-square-foot High Point home, when it came time to move to Carolina Meadows, she says the shift into a smaller space was a welcome change.

   "It's nice to have a great deal of space to work with," she says, "but there comes a time when it actually gets in the way. I find that I don't miss all that extra space."

   "And anytime that you do move, you have the fun of redecorating," she points out. Choosing new colors and finding pieces that make your new house a home can be part of the fun of the move.

   Before you start studying paint chips and getting rid of things, it's a good idea to try to anticipate your new living quarters as much as possible. Carolina Meadows offers villas and apartments ranging from 700 to 2100 square feet, which gives residents plenty of choices. Look carefully at the floor plans of the units available, and pencil in where your furniture can fit. Be realistic and honest with yourself about the measurements and your needs in your new home.

   It's also important to keep an open mind regarding the floor plans: if you apply some creativity, you can probably find innovative ways to adapt the floor plan to suit your needs. The Harneds, for example, use their laundry area as a computer room, while other residents have removed closet doors to house large pieces of furniture or built a new enclosed room on the patio area. "A lot of people are creative here," Herb says. "They've figured out how to adapt their space."

   The garage is a popular feature in the villas not just for cars, but perhaps more so for its storage capabilities. While some people make it their goal to get their belongings reduced so they can actually get their car into the garage eventually (some people take weeks after moving in, some months, some never do it), other residents use the garage as an extra room. With its built-in workbench and lighting, it makes a great workshop, or you can elect use it to house your tropical plants or grand piano, as some residents have.

   "It's a running joke at Carolina Meadows," Herb says with a laugh, "about how long it takes you to get your car in the garage."

   "It took us several months," Jean says, adding that it was only after their son, a sculptor, took it upon himself (and made it their Christmas present) to get things cleaned out and organized.

   When it comes to downsizing, there are tips that can help make the process easier. Keep the following in mind when you're faced with such a move.

• Family is key. Go to your children first when you have furniture that needs a new home—you'll be surprised at what they want and don't want, but it's worth the effort to run all objects by them first before donating or selling anything. The Harneds advise making an inventory list (and video, if possible) of all your possessions that you need to get rid of. Jean adds that it helps to put some information about each piece in the inventory so family members can learn about each piece's history.
• Keep a flexible attitude. When giving things to family, don't insist that they display your possessions, and don't expect them to keep your pieces around forever. That cherished 8-foot-high corner cupboard may be beautiful to you, but don't get upset if it's relegated to the attic or sold when it no longer fits in with the décor.
• Give yourself time. It would be nice to have a year to downsize, but the reality is that most people accomplish it in a few months. Regardless of your time limit, give yourself as much time as you can. "It can be a very pleasant nostalgic trip," Herb says of going through old letters and other documents. Don't deny yourself that skip down memory lane in all the hustle and bustle of the move.
• Prioritize your possessions. Bring things that have true personal value: letters from a loved one can make the move, but throw out your old work correspondence. Be picky with your pictures: your wall space will also probably be reduced, so focus on those that bring back special memories that you'd like to cherish in the time to come.
• Enjoy as much of the process as you can. Giving possessions to family now has advantages to waiting until things are dispersed through a will, according to the Harneds. You can find out what each family member really wants and will cherish, and you have the opportunity to pass along the history of each object. "You'll be surprised at what your kids actually want," Herb says. For his children, it was a massive old desk with legs that look like pregnant mermaids. "By going through the things now, you avoid any misunderstanding in the future."

   Whatever your situation, when it comes to downsizing, try to keep an eye on the positive. "You're downsizing objects, not activities," Herb says of moving to Carolina Meadows. "When people come here, they tend to be more active than they used to be."

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Retirement living at its finest: A hassle-free lifestyle
   Though it may be difficult for some people to consider leaving their homes for a retirement community, one of the many advantages of living at Carolina Meadows is the wealth of amenities offered, making the dream of hassle-free retirement living a reality.

   The monthly fee paid by residents makes living easier, covering such needs as security systems, home maintenance and groundskeeping—and all needs are met by prompt professionals. "If something goes wrong with the house," resident Jim Lansing says, "it's usually fixed in a couple of hours."

   Jim also likes the flexibility of the services at Carolina Meadows. For example, while the basic yard work is covered, residents are free to do as much or as little groundskeeping as they like. "I like working in the yard," Jim points out, "but if the time comes that I can't, they'll take care of it."

   Carolina Meadows also offers fee-for-service options, for services such as housekeeping or interior painting." Other places charge you for services whether you want them or not," Ginny, Jim's wife, says." We like having a choice."

   The Lansings, who travel often, also cite the services that let them leave home worry-free, such as the 24-hour security patrol and weekly mail drop-off.

   The staff at Carolina Meadows also makes sure residents are cared for in unusual circumstances, such as the recent snowstorm that immobilized the area. In addition to clearing the roads and driveways, staff members drove snowed-in residents to the dining room and some even stayed at the community for several days to make sure everyone was taken care of. The staff has also been known to rise above the call of duty to clean out traveling residents' refrigerators and freezers in the event of the community losing power in a major storm.

   This concern and care is also reflected in the way residents look after each other, with phone trees and close communication so that any pertinent news circulates quickly. "Neighbors watch out for each other here," Jim says.

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The Carolina Meadows waitlist: Full of benefits
   Being on the waitlist at Carolina Meadows means more than just waiting. Thanks to a system that allows future residents access to many campus activities before they actually move in, the time spent on the waiting list can be used not only as a springboard into the community, but also as a way to enjoy some of the many amenities offered to residents.

   As a member of the waiting list, potential residents can enjoy the use of amenities such as the golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts, seminars, resident outings and dining services. Gene and Elaine Landriau, currently residents of Fearrington Village near Chapel Hill, have been on the waitlist for the past year and enjoy swimming in the pool twice a week as well as lunch in the campus dining room from time to time. They have also attended performances held on campus and Gene participates in the Carolina Meadows Genealogy Club.

   "We really enjoy the swimming," Gene says, "the pool is very nice and it's good exercise." He also points out that being on the waitlist gives them access to pertinent and timely information about what is happening in the Carolina Meadows community; everyone on the waitlist receives a subscription to the Meadowlark Newsletter and invitations to Residents Association meetings.

   Gene and Elaine already have friends who live at Carolina Meadows, which will serve to make their transition into the community easier when they decide to move. "It won't be a big deal when we move," Gene says, "a lot of people there are interested in the same things we are, like theater, ballet and the symphony."

   Many people enjoy taking advantage of the amenities while on the waitlist, according to Marketing Director Michelle Westrom, as they get to build new friendships and therefore already know people when they move in.

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