COMMUNITY
MOVING WITH
FOREVER IN MIND story by Kacey Finch photos by Sarena Seeger
gym in Palm Coast, they’ve added tai chi and total body fitness classes to their exercise routine. “With the 'five years too early rather than being five minutes too late' sort of thing, particularly with a place like Oak Hammock when you're still fit and active, there's so much to do,” Bill says. “If you are here five years too early, so what? There’s [a lot] going on and things to do.” The Connor had a smooth transition at the retirement community. It’s given them peace of mind. No longer do they have to worry about having to upkeep their yard or cook dinner.
“Now, everything's just taken care of,” Mary says. “I didn't know how I would adjust to not preparing meals, but I just did really quickly.” “I’ve heard some people here use their oven for storage,” Bill jokes.
Moving can be emotional at any age. But choosing to move for the last time in life is a completely different ballgame that can mean
But what’s really brought peace of mind to the Connors is knowing
downsizing, packing up a lifetime worth of items and even facing
they will be taken care of when they need it.
one’s mortality. There’s a lot for someone to consider when deciding a place to live out the rest of his or her days. For the residents of Oak
Oak Hammock offers all levels of care for seniors at a CCRC, including
Hammock, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) at the
independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.
University of Florida, the biggest consideration is care. “People come to us, and they pay an entrance fee that is basically the While living in their Palm Coast home for about 20 years, the thought
purchase of a long-term care contract,” says Nickie Doria, the director
of downsizing constantly loomed over Bill and Mary Connor’s heads.
of sales and marketing for independent living at Oak Hammock.
They thought about downsizing to a condo nearby, something with less maintenance. But they knew it would be pushing off the inevitable.
Entering the community at the independent-living level locks in a resident’s health care rate. It gives the resident first rights to a space
“With that, it was postponing another move later on,” says Bill, who is
in the next level of care.
retired from the computer software industry. “We were introduced to the idea of a CCRC. So we decided, ‘Let's just get it over with right off the bat.’”
“The idea is that you will continue to age and move through the continuum of care with your community, with the people you know, with
A few people they knew in the retirement community industry told
your neighbors, with your friends, with your dinner mates,” Doria says.
them it was better to move five years too early rather than five minutes too late. With that in the back of their minds, the Connors,
When making the choice to move to a CCRC, residents are
who were originally from Pittsburgh, took the leap and looked at
intentional with their decision. They are buying into an insurance
CCRCs in Florida.
policy that will provide them with care for the rest of their lives.
They first heard of Oak Hammock while visiting another CCRC. They made a phone call, visited within a few days and were sold.
“My hope is that when people make the choice to move into a community like Oak Hammock, they have a level of comfort and peace because they have everything laid out for them,” Doria says.
“We liked it because of all the amenities, activities and the proximity
“I'm proud to work for a place that can give that opportunity to a
to UF Health,” says Mary, who was a professor at the University of
couple or to a person that's moving up in age to have something like
Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
this as an option.”
Since moving to Oak Hammock in March, Mary and Bill have become
Oak Hammock has given that comfort and peace to Satya and
more physically active, she says. While they worked out at their home
Pushpa Kalra, retired UF professors and researchers. The Kalras,
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