Otterbein Cridersville resident Ann H. moved to Otterbein in 2019, and independent living in her two-bedroom patio home has been everything she hoped it would be. Read on to learn why she chose Otterbein and what she loves most, or watch the full video interview below.
Moving Back: Independent Living Close to Home
Ann and her late husband lived in Lima for 30 years before moving to South Carolina upon their retirement. After her husband passed away, living on her own became more and more challenging. Mowing the yard and keeping up with the house became a burden, and she began having health problems.
“My kids said, ‘Mom, you need to move closer to us.’ Naturally, Lima was where I wanted to come. I have a lot of friends in Lima, and it’s been nice to reunite with my old work friends,” she said.
Life at Otterbein SeniorLife: Everything You Need
Ann couldn’t be much happier with independent senior living at Otterbein. She loves being involved with the choir and gets exercise at the gym as much as possible.
From the fenced-in backyard for her dog to the attached garage, her patio home is a perfect fit for her needs and preferences. She especially loves her four-season “Florida room,” which she uses as her living room.
With a back patio that faces the woods, her home has also been a great place to experience wildlife. Watching the deer wander out from the trees reminds her of her former home in South Carolina, where she lived in the middle of the Sumter National Forest.
Ann also enjoys maintenance-free independent living and knows that if she needs anything, help is always readily available. Whether it’s a lightbulb change or other home maintenance, the Otterbein staff promptly takes care of everything.
Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic
Otterbein’s COVID-19 response included offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents and staff at all of its locations. For Ann, the process of receiving the vaccine couldn’t have been easier.
“They had it set up perfectly. They had several stations and kept us apart. They were really well organized, and it just went like clockwork, I thought. I thought everybody did a great job,” she said.
Now that Ann and her fellow residents are vaccinated and protected, she’s looking forward to gradually resuming normal life, particularly Thursday night euchre with her friends.
The Otterbein Difference
There are a lot of reasons Ann loves Otterbein, but perhaps the most meaningful is how the people around her make her feel - well loved and taken care of.
“The people that work here - they are so kind and so caring. I just can’t believe it. And I really appreciate it.”
