Choices 20th Anniversary

CHOICES SPECIAL 20TH A NNI

VER

SARY

EDITION

Tw o D e c a d e s o f F l o u r i s h i n g To g e t h e r

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: FROM THE BEGINNING: SETTING NEW STANDARDS

THE FIRST DECADE: THE NATION’S FIRST LIFE FULFILLING COMMUNITY®

THE SECOND DECADE: “THE GLENRIDGE EFFECT” KICKS IN

Defying conventional stereotypes, the visionaries who planned and architected The Glenridge chose a towering spiral staircase as its centerpiece. As CEO Jim Cater recalls: “There was a bestselling book called ‘Up the Down Staircase,’ and we thought that would be the perfect metaphor for the people who would be moving to this community – a very select group called the ‘super agers’. They’re the ones who are going up that staircase, despite the fact that everybody else is going down.”

FR O M T H E B EGIN N IN G:

Setting New Standards For years on end, The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch® has been acknowledged as Sarasota’s best senior living community. And while we’re understandably proud of that accolade, it does not surprise us – because that’s exactly what our founders envisioned. On the occasion of our 20th anniversary, we want to share our journey with you: how our community was imagined, how the vision became reality and how we’ve continued to grow and improve.

Ahead of the Rest Before one blueprint was ever drafted, one shovel of dirt moved, or one footer poured, it was clear that The Glenridge was not going to be like any other senior living community. That’s because Praxeis LLC, the visionaries who developed the project, strategically conceived and designed it to be different.

In the early 2000s, as 76 million Baby Boomers began to age and life expectancies began to rise, it was clear that this demographic shift was not only going to strain healthcare systems and create a shortage of long-term care providers, it was also going to force a paradigm shift in the senior living market.

Praxeis saw that “silver tsunami” coming – and while the rest of the industry was still attempting to adjust, they had already adapted, knowing that the future growth of the industry would belong to those who could innovate to reflect the desires of this emerging demographic.

But Praxeis didn’t just recognize the need for change; they led it – launching

a national movement away from traditional thinking about senior living and carving out a niche that others have since emulated. They branded a new concept called the Life Fulfilling Community® (LFC).

The Glenridge was the nation’s first – and it was a game changer.

Redefining Aging “You cannot solve a problem with the same consciousness that created it,” said Albert Einstein – and in The Glenridge’s early planning stages, Praxeis heeded those words. Rather than building bigger and better “retirement centers,” they chose to create vibrant environments geared to the values and priorities of a new generation who valued personal growth, autonomy and involvement – environments where age was revered as a source of wisdom, where life experiences were valued, and where life’s third stage could become the most rewarding.

In other words: They set out to redefine aging itself. And that meant rethinking everything about the way communities were designed and operated.

Designed To Be a “10” The LFC concept was dramatically ahead of its time – philosophically, conceptually, and even architecturally.

“There were a lot of naysayers,” recalls Jim Cater, Glenridge CEO. “They said, ‘You can’t do it that way … it won’t work that way.’ But we just took that as fuel to make sure we did it that way.”

Architect John Birge recalls the forwardthinking resolve of Praxeis and the Board of Directors whose goal was to build a community that would positively shape the lives of the people who lived there.

“They challenged us to take a truly creative approach,” Birge says. “Now, when you see how all that has evolved – the spectacular setting, all the amenities – it’s amazing. The Glenridge literally has it all – it’s a ‘10’ … exactly as planned.”

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T H E FIR S T DECADE

The Nation’s First Life Fulfilling The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch burst onto the Sarasota scene as a new brand with a new outlook on life – challenging the status quo … wowing its members … and blazing one new trail after another.

During the first 10 years, the community grew steadily – establishing itself as “Best in Class” and putting into place the LFC philosophy of preventive health, wellness, personal growth, and enrichment.

“It’s Extraordinary!”

On the day The Glenridge opened its doors – November 18, 2003 – members knew that they were part of something truly special. Maybe it was the expansive, 6,000-sq.-ft. Village Commons area … the elegant residences … or the sheer magnificence and natural beauty of the campus. But from all perspectives, the community proved to be everything members hoped it would be. And more.

“In a word, The Glenridge is extraordinary,” said then-CEO Howard Crowell. “It epitomizes the Life Fulfilling Community we all envisioned. The enthusiastic feedback from members has validated everything that founders and visionaries knew from the beginning: that this community was going to be truly one of a kind.”

2003–2013

A Real Showstopper When the curtain rose on The Glenridge, one feature among a stellar cast of amenities really did set it apart. Reflecting Sarasota’s passion for culture, the Glenridge Performing Arts Center (GPAC) – a sophisticated, intimate “gem-of-atheater” – had no peer among senior living communities.

According to the team at Arthur Shuster, Inc., the community’s interior designers, this was “not just a large all-purpose room with folding chairs.” No indeed. GPAC was the real deal: a multi-million-dollar 260seat venue with a proscenium stage, special stage lighting, ceiling and wall acoustic panels and a sophisticated sound system. Said one of the community’s first members: “Honestly, it’s mind-boggling

The Glenridge opened November 18, 2003 — and both members and staff found the community “extraordinary.”

Other milestones of 2004: The Glenridge Academy was launched; and the Highlands (Assisted Living) and Carroll Center (Skilled Nursing) opened.

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that a life plan community would make this kind of investment; it is truly groundbreaking.”

Today, under manager and director Ben Turoff, GPAC continues to present

The Glenridge brand — the nation’s first Life Fulfilling Community® — changed perceptions about senior living.

As demand for this trend-setting lifestyle caught on, The Glenridge expanded, completing the Palm Residences in 2006.

In 2007, readers of Sarasota Magazine named The Glenridge “Best Retirement Community” — the first of 14 times (to date) it would do so.

Community Takes the Stage ®

an array of entertaining performances and enriching educational events.

And The Glenridge’s commitment to investing in the arts remains firmly intact (see An Array of New Amenities, p.7).

Built for Wellness Foundational to the mission and vision of The Glenridge is a focus on physical and intellectual wellness, which was woven into the fabric of the community from the get-go – starting with the campus itself. With miles of biking and walking trails winding around lakes, wetlands, and lush landscaping, The Glenridge provides an ideal setting for exercising while enjoying the beauty of nature.

Our 9,000-sq.-ft. Fitness Center & Spa is outfitted with the latest workout equipment and comprises an aerobics studio; two massage therapy rooms; two HAR-TRU® tennis courts; and a 75-foot heated saltwater pool.

Classes range from yoga to Zumba, and one-on-one sessions with certified personal trainers are also available.

Intellectual wellness was also integral to the Glenridge brand – and before the community even opened its doors, members had been working on curricula

In 2008, the National Active Retirement Assn. honored The Glenridge with a Gold Award for “Best Community”— and in 2009, we garnered the highly coveted national PLANET Grand Award for landscaping — validating what members already knew: The grass really is greener here!

for a program they called the Glenridge Academy. With a peer-to-peer dynamic dedicated to life enrichment and lifelong learning, the Academy had the dual benefit of both education and socialization, as members taught, and learned from, each other. Over the years, classes have ranged from “Art across the Ages” to “Foreign Affairs” to “19th Century Romantic Composers,” among others.

It didn’t take long for Glenridge members to immerse themselves in the community’s exhilarating social scene — and once they did, The Thistle Stop became the “goto” place to unwind and have fun.

Again named “Best Retirement Community”

by Sarasota Magazine, The Glenridge continued to be the place to go for savvy seniors.

After receiving back-to-back high rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Nursing Homes, The Glenridge reopened the renovated and expanded Carroll Center in 2012.

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T H E S E CO N D DECADE

“The Glenridge Effect” Kicks In When The Glenridge began with the bold vision of redefining an industry, the challenge over time was clear: Prove that we did what we promised. And then, continue to refine and improve the concept.

By the time we rolled into our second decade, The Glenridge had indeed raised the bar for senior living: The LFC “experiment” was working … members were flourishing … and the community was evolving to meet their needs.

2013–2023

Positively Flourishing When The Glenridge set out to redefine what a senior living community could be, we mindfully created a culture of trust, kindness and positivity in a lifestyle that was liberating and empowering. That approach was firmly rooted in the science of positive psychology and wellness research – including Dr. Martin Seligman’s PERMA Theory of Well-Being, from which we adopted the five building blocks that help people to flourish: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment.

“This ‘whole person’ approach laid the foundation for a life of profound fulfillment – where people, regardless of age, find renewed purpose and meaning at every stage of their lives,” said CEO Jim Cater. “And this culture creates a force we call ‘The Glenridge Effect.’

We’ve seen it positively impact so many people who move in and just get a ‘second wind.’ They really do flourish here. This isn’t about shuffleboard and bingo; this is about living life to its fullest.”

At The Glenridge, the challenges of 2020 became an opportunity to meet the moment — and by fall, members were resuming normal activities with a renewed appreciation for the security the community provides.

In 2018, The Glenridge marked a decade of capturing consecutive “Best Retirement Community” accolades from Sarasota Magazine.

In 2013, The Glenridge launched a new branding campaign that focused on how members flourished. That same year the Carroll Center earned 3 national awards, including a Five Star overall rating for quality of care.

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Making good on its promise to evolve with the needs of its members, in 2019, The Glenridge acquired 59 acres adjacent to the existing 90-acre campus with plans for expansion.

and the Community Expands Continually Evolving The Glenridge was designed to be evolutionary – so we constantly strive to improve, stay on the cutting edge and make sure that we evolve with our members so that they can enjoy the highest quality of life throughout the aging process. That mantra applies to all aspects of our community – which is why, to this day, life here just keeps getting better.

• Wellness at the Center. Building on the PERMA concept, we developed our own Six Keys to Living Well® philosophy to address members’ mental, social, physical, spiritual, emotional and financial health. That philosophy manifested itself in the construction of the Kamberg Center, where members can access a host of wellness services in a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere.

• A Brand-New Neighborhood.

Planning ahead for future generations of members, The Glenridge did what we had always done: We dared to

dream big. We were the only senior living community in Sarasota to build brand-new, single-family residences in an area with lots of greenspace and less density. Built on 60 acres to the north of the main campus, the Northside Neighborhood featured energy-efficient Club Homes with smart home technology, hurricane-impact windows and sliders, and supplemental emergency generator power.

• An Array of New Amenities.

The Glenridge’s second decade culminated with the completion of enhanced amenities that make the community a one-stop cultural experience. Among them: a stunning modernization of our Performing Arts Center area that will include an adjacent Art Gallery featuring the work of our members, as well as visiting artists – and the Kiltie Grille, a convivial, pub-style dining experience.

AND WE’RE NOT DONE YET! Always looking forward, The Glenridge broke ground in October 2023 on an expanded Fitness Complex to include Pickleball and Bocce Ball – right next to our HAR-TRU® tennis courts.

The Kamberg Center, an impressive 8,000+–sq.–ft. health and wellness pavilion, opened its doors in January 2023.

In Spring 2021, site work began on the Northside Neighborhood, the 3rd expansion since The Glenridge opened. The first members moved in the following year while work continued on Phases 2 and 3.

In Fall of 2023, refurbishments and additions to the existing campus were completed — including a new Kiltie Grille and upgrades to the Glenridge Performing Arts Center, along with a brand-new art gallery.

November 18, 2023 marked The Glenridge’s 20th anniversary.

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7333 Scotland Way Sarasota, FL 34238 A Not-For-Profit Community

88171 PRAD SENL 10/2023 Copyright © 2023 The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch®. All rights reserved.

We Don’t Let Aging Define Us.

W E. DE F I N E. I T.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FUTURE! At The Glenridge, our members define their own futures … and make life extraordinary in the process. You can, too!

Contact our Life Planning Team today to schedule a tour:

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