HEART & HOUSE

Heart & House is a publication of the Acts Sales & Marketing Team

For Suggestions And Comments

HeartHouse@actslife.org

Editorial Group

Lori Woodward

Chief Marketing Officer

Beth Carey

Corporate Director of Brand & Promotions

Kimberly Burke

Director of Sales

Lisa Sileo

Marketing Manager

Jill Quirk

Marketing Manager

Contributors For This Issue

Editorial

Lisa Sileo

Design

Lia Calhoun Graphic Design

Acts Resident Photography

John Warner Photography

Production

Beth Carey & Jill Quirk

Acts Mission Statement

PENNSYLVANIA

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Acts is committed to providing security and peace of mind to seniors by being a preeminent provider of retirement-life services, responsive to individual, social, personal, health and spiritual needs in a Christian atmosphere graced with Loving-Kindness, dignity, sensitivity, honesty and respect, without prejudice or preference.

Acts Retirement-Life Communities Corporate Services Center 420 Delaware Drive Fort Washington, PA 19034 www.actsretirement.org

The Best Lifestyle for Health & Happiness!

Gwen Blackwell, resident of Normandy

Farm Estates

Gwen Blackwell researched retirement communities for years until home repairs became a nuisance. A widow of 12 years, she hesitated to move because she had never lived in an apartment and loved her threestory home. She ultimately took a leap of faith.

Today, she is happy to live at Normandy Farms Estates, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, a decision that’s helped her stay healthy, fit, active and more social than she ever imagined! “I was concerned because I’ve always been in a home of some type. This transition was like slipping on a nice pair of slippers, easy and comfortable!”

“The people who live here are special. I feel like I have picked up a new family,” Gwen said. “I have no regrets. I wake up every morning so glad that I left my house. If I were still there, I would not have this social activity. It was so easy to make friends.”

Living in the retirement community with access to the fitness center, group exercise classes, rehabilitation services and a full-time nurse practitioner also enables Gwen to stay healthy. She feels safe while enjoying two- to four-mile walks every morning on its beautiful campus, and participates in Aqua Pump, a water exercise class. “We have a wonderful gym. If you just go down and talk to the fitness director, he will set up a whole program for you with great ideas to help you,” she said.

“Everyone who works here is so wonderful and truly care about us. I really believe they think their job is to make us happy. They are there whenever we need them,” she added.

Gwen says she also is motivated to keep active because she can’t resist the temptation to overindulge at the campus restaurants. “The food is so phenomenal, I have to control myself,” she laughed.

Her envious visitors and friends also rave about the community’s professional chefs and delicious menu items. “I have a friend who says the food here is better than a lot of the high-end restaurants he’s been to,”

Gwen said, “We just had a lobster bake and oh my goodness, it’s amazing. In fact, my youngest daughter loves to visit me because the restaurants are so great.”

“I usually tell people, if you’re smart, you’ll visit several communities, not just Acts, and be aware that ‘continuing care’ does not necessarily mean they’ll take care of you for the same cost in different situations.”

Gwen advises retirees to be mindful of how other senior living communities may impose additional fees for higher levels of care. “My prices are reasonable with outstanding care—private rooms for skilled nursing and assisted living, and also memory care,” Gwen said.

“My children are relieved I live here. My older daughter has told me, ‘I can’t tell you what a load this is off my shoulders.’ They are just so happy that I’m happy.”