Hawthorne Estates independent living

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HAWTHORNE ESTATES: The best independent living for the money

When a tornado ripped through Ocala last spring and destroyed Frank Marchisa’s apartment building, he needed to find somewhere new to live. He didn’t have to look far. Marchisa moved across the street into Hawthorne Estates and, looking back, says it was a great decision for his well-being and his bank account.

“It’s the best deal in town,” the 79-yearold retired iron worker said. “When you figure in everything, I’m living cheaper than in my apartment. And this place has class. I get 10 times more here than I did in my apartment.”

Hawthorne Estates, located at 3211 SW 42nd St., Ocala, provides independent living in an affordable, resort-style setting. It’s 93 spacious units provide residents with their own home while providing an array of services from meals and utilities to housekeeping and social activities.

Marchisa, a Marine who served in the Vietnam War, said his studio apartment is spacious and the staff and residents make living in Hawthorne Estates a joy.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “The two meals a day. Anytime there is a maintenance issue, they have a professional crew who are johnny on the spot. There’s transportation if you need it. There are so many activities, too. And look at the place – they keep it immaculate. It’s a well thought out organization run by caring people. They’re people people, there’s no other way to say it.”

Hawthorne Estates is part of a larger senior care complex that also includes a rehab facility and a nursing home.

That’s what brought Harold Bowie to Hawthorne last year. The retired manager for the Detroit city water system moved into the independent living facility after his wife, Mary, had been hospitalized and was sent to Hawthorne’s adjoining rehab facility. When his wife later died, Bowie decided to stay on at Hawthorne, even though he had a home in Beverly Hills.

“I love it here,” the 96-year-old said. “They treat me so well. They’ve never treated me as anything more than another of God’s children. They treat me like I am one of theirs.”

Bowie said after his wife’s passing, the Hawthorne Estates staff went above and beyond to accommodate and comfort him. They even brought his meals to his room.

Beyond the kindness and helpfulness of the staff, Bowie said living at Hawthorne is simply easy and convenient.

“They feed me,” he said. “I don’t have to clean my room. I don’t have to do my laundry if I want to pay someone. Everything I need to do, they do for me.”

That is what makes living at Hawthorne Estates so special, both Marchisa and Bowie said. Included in your monthly rent is an array of essential services and social and entertainment activities that, when bundled together, make Hawthorne a great deal.

Residents can choose between studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, with each unit having a kitchen.

The services and amenities that are included in the cost of the apartments are numerous. All utilities -- except for your personal phone -- are part of the package. That means electric, water and sewer, cable

Frank Marchisa

Carolyn and Merrick Owen Harold Bowie

TV, wireless internet and trash removal.

Hawthorne residents also can schedule transportation on the facility’s van through the front desk, or they are welcome to have their own vehicle, with free parking on the property.

For those who want to see a doctor without having to leave the facility, Hawthorne Estates has an outside concierge physician service that will come and treat residents in their homes.

Every resident has a choice of what size apartment they want, depending on their needs. Again, they can choose between studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The apartments have a full-size modern kitchen, individual heating and cooling units, plush wall-to-wall carpeting, a large bathroom with safety features, spacious closets, blinds, screened porches and smoke alarms and a sprinkler system.

Hawthorne Estates is a smoke-free facility, too.

In addition to all that, residents are provided weekly apartment cleaning as well as weekly linen service. Laundry facilities are located in convenient areas throughout the facility.

Carolyn and Merrick Owen recently moved into Hawthorne Estates. Merrick, 95 and a retired geology professor from Pennsylvania, and Carolyn, 76 and a retired factory worker from Ocala, got married three years ago.

The Owenses said they looked around for an independent living facility for months throughout Central Florida before deciding Hawthorne Estates was the best option.

“We liked the place,” Merrick said. “Having two meals was attractive. And we could afford the two-bed, two-bath apartment, which is the biggest.”

The Owenses said the central location of Hawthorne Estates – near the Paddock Mall and State Road 200 – also made it appealing. But the biggest selling point was the affordability factor.

“We’ve been to some places that cost $7,000 a month, and they aren’t as nice as this,” Merrick said.

Prices for Hawthorne Estates run from $2,111 a month for a studio to $3,708 for a two-bedroom/two-bath.

Anyone interested in checking Hawthorne Estates out is invited to attend any of the Friday night Happy Hours. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Hawthorne of Ocala 3211 SW 42nd St., Ocala www.hawthorneresidence.com (352) 237-7776, ext. 255