Willow Fall 2022

Willow Valley Communities Life Lived Forward Is All About Well-Being

If you’ve read previous issues of Willow, it may be familiar to you to see a letter in this space from John Swanson, former CEO of Willow Valley Living, who dedicated more than 30 years to growing the success of Willow Valley. In this issue, in my role as chair of the Willow Valley Communities Board of Directors, I am delighted to have the opportunity to express my enthusiasm for the next exciting stage in the history of this organization: the strategic alliance that Willow Valley Communities has entered into with Acts Retirement Services (ARS). ARS is the parent organization of Acts Retirement-Life Communities (Acts). The article on page 23 of this issue of Willow will provide more information about the alliance. As Board chair, I am privileged to have been personally invested in the formation of this alliance; that has given me a unique perspective on the many benefits this relationship with Acts brings to Willow Valley Communities.

The alliance, which became effective on May 1, 2022, represents two not-for-profit organizations working together — like sister organizations — learning and benefitting from each other’s unique strengths to continue to advance successfully into the future. Willow Valley Communities has a long history with Acts and has always held the organization in the highest regard. In fact, Marlin Thomas, a member of the founding family of Willow Valley Communities, along with the original Board of Directors, consulted with Acts leadership when the idea of a Willow Valley senior living community was first conceived some 40 years ago. As an organization, Willow Valley Communities has always had the utmost respect for Acts, its values, and its culture.

As part of this new alliance, the uniqueness of Willow Valley Communities remains at the forefront of what makes

this organization so distinctive. As evidenced by the stories you will read throughout this magazine, the attributes that Willow Valley Communities Residents have grown to love about daily life here will continue for generations to come. The distinctive attributes that set Willow Valley Communities apart as a premier 55+ community in the nation will remain in place: exceptional amenities, award-winning innovation, a four-decades-long tradition of excellence, and the peace of mind our Type-A Lifecare contract brings. These are all reasons why individuals from 40 states across the country have chosen to make their home at our stunning campus in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Just as this issue of Willow goes to press, I am gratified to report that Willow Valley Communities has been named a Best Independent Living Community by U.S. News & World Report in its inaugural Best Senior Living ratings for 2022–2023. Additionally, Willow Valley Communities has again received a coveted “A” rating with a Stable Rating Outlook from Fitch Ratings, a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary, and research, for 2022. You’ll enjoy reading more about these achievements on page 25.

In closing, I wish to say again how very optimistic I am about this new chapter in the future of Willow Valley Communities. I also want to express my sincerest appreciation to all Residents and to all Team Members who make Willow Valley Communities the very special community that it is.

Sincerely, Jill E. Gilbert Chair, Willow Valley Communities Board of Directors

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WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES' STRONG TRADITION OF WELLNESS & WELL-BEING | 3

For nearly 40 years, Willow Valley Communities has provided rich, varied opportunities for Residents to engage the Mind, Body, and Spirit for total well-being. Residents pursue their wellness journeys through nutrition, reading, writing, volunteering, and much more.

PASSIONS GROW, PASSIONS BLOOM: CULTIVATING WELLNESS AT WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES | 16

From novices to Master Gardeners, Residents indulge their passion for gardening across Willow Valley Communities’ sprawling 210-acre campus.

PERSISTENCE TO WELL-BEING | 19

Resident George Myers brought his love of sailing and woodworking to Willow Valley Communities and found the support he needed to build Persistence, his 16-foot skiff.

AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER: STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH ACTS RETIREMENT SERVICES | 23

A strategic alliance with Acts Retirement Services, a like-minded senior living provider, is making Willow Valley Communities an even better place for Life Lived Forward.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED | 25

Two renowned national organizations, U.S. News & World Report and Fitch Ratings, recently recognized Willow Valley Communities for excellence in senior living.

LIFECARE: ONE QUESTION IS KEY TO WELL-BEING | 27

Willow Valley Communities’ Type-A Lifecare contract provides financial peace of mind that enhances Residents’ mental and emotional well-being.

SAY HELLO TO MOSAIC | 28

At a special preview event, potential Residents got to know Mosaic, Willow Valley Communities’ residential high-rise that will soon be part of downtown Lancaster’s skyline.

WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES'

OF WELLNESS & WELL-BEING

As a leader in extraordinary senior living lifestyle choices, Willow Valley Communities has an almost 40-year history of providing outstanding options for our Residents’ personal wellness journeys. Residents enjoy almost limitless possibilities to enhance their sense of wellness and well-being with innovative programming, world-class entertainment, inspiring classes, and engaging activities.

At Willow Valley Communities, we understand that being in a healthy state of wellness means that the many dimensions of the whole person work in unison: mental, emotional, social, environmental, spiritual, and occupational, along with the physical. Our Renaissance programming provides Residents a multitude of options to be engaged in all these dimensions; we call it Mind, Body, and Spirit.

In the year 2000, Willow Valley Communities designed and constructed our innovative 80,000-square-foot Cultural Center as a hub of Resident wellness engagement. The award-winning Cultural Center (across the street from the newly constructed SouthPointe community) houses a 500-seat performing arts theater, art gallery and art studio, Day Spa, Fitness and Aquatics Center, and much more.

The education rooms at the Cultural Center host the thoughtprovoking classes of The Socrates Café and other Life of the Mind programs, with a wide variety of intriguing discussions taking place. The Vitality Café, located on the lower Vitality level of the Cultural Center, is a culinary gathering space offering nutritious meals and snacks perfect for after a workout, swim, art class, or soothing Day Spa treatment.

And although Willow Valley Communities recognizes that physical fitness is not the only dimension of wellness, we were among the first senior living communities to offer truly innovative weight training and fitness programs for those over 55. Pam Schorr, Willow Valley Communities’ Wellness Manager, along with her team of professional fitness trainers, leads these programs with the mindset that everyone can get stronger.

Pam recalls the research presented many years ago by renowned fitness research director Wayne L. Westcott, PhD, at a Willow Valley Communities Health and Fitness Expo. Dr. Westcott is a strength training consultant for numerous national organizations, and an author and editorial advisor

of many fitness publications. As the expo keynote speaker, in his address, he explained to Residents of Willow Valley Communities and their guests the astounding age-reversal effects of resistance exercise.

Pam enthusiastically concurs. “The Willow Valley Communities Fitness Center, with our state-of-the-art equipment and programming, along with the expertise of our team of fitness professionals, can train any athlete at any age to any level,” she says. “We even have a fitness center at our supportive living communities.”

At Willow Valley Communities, our philosophy is that the wellness journey is ageless and involves the whole person. Since 1984, we’ve provided opportunities for seniors to engage in their cherished passions — whether they’re rediscovering those from the past or exploring new ones for the future.

On the following pages, you’ll meet just some of the Residents embarking on their personal wellness journeys every day, in their own ways. At Willow Valley Communities, they have countless opportunities to do so.

Climbing the Mole Hill is the publication of the Writers Group.

Members of the Next Chapter Book Club

Dale and Christine Orth help during Willow Valley Communities' Sneakers for School event.

Resident Ann Ratcliffe enjoys photographing nature.

Willow Valley Communities' Dog Parks are social hubs for furry friends, as well as their humans! Dinner at Local Table is always a gourmet treat.

PAMPERING FOR SELF-CARE & WELLNESS

The Willow Valley Communities Day Spa is a destination for wellness and renewal. It’s a critical component of the comprehensive Mind, Body, Spirit approach to wellness of Willow Valley Communities.

The Day Spa offers many ways to soothe, calm, invigorate, or rejuvenate. A full range of professional services, all performed by our attentive and inviting staff, allows Residents to create their own regimen for personal well-being and beauty. These services include: manicures and pedicures, skin care, facials, revitalizing peels, waxing, tanning, microdermabrasion, and body treatments with a wide range of different massage modalities, wraps, and scrubs.

The Relaxation Room, with its beautiful waterfall and Himalayan Salt Wall, is a main feature of The Day Spa. It provides a peaceful and well-appointed environment in which to relax, and offers a perfect and welcome respite between services. Himalayan salt — rich in negative ions and essential nutrients and minerals — offers numerous health benefits for our bodies, such as stress reduction, energy increases, and mood boosts at a biochemical level. Day Spa Manager Diamando Wallace says, “Self-care is essential. Although manicures and pedicures are a

well-deserved treat, they offer so much more to Residents’ sense of well-being. You can see the boost in a client’s self-confidence as they walk out feeling refreshed.”

Massages are one of the most popular services requested by Residents, and The Day Spa offers a wide menu of options, including hot stone and aromatherapy. Emily Ransing, Willow Valley Communities’ Day Spa Massage Therapist, says, “Massage is meant to enhance your well-being physically and mentally. I frequently remind my clients that this is their time to focus on themselves to feel healthier. I do all I can to send each client home feeling better than when they arrived.”

A Willow Valley Communities Resident was asked about her massage as she was leaving The Day Spa one afternoon. She said, “After a massage with Emily, your body is so relaxed that you can focus on the things that you often overlook — the air is sweeter, the birds are more melodious, the day is brighter. You are better equipped to face the next days, whatever they may bring.”

As she walked out of the Cultural Center to her car, she added with a smile, “It’s also a way to take the tension out of your body — although there’s not much tension at Willow Valley Communities!”

Day Spa Manager Diamando Wallace and Massage Therapist Emily Ransing

The Himalayan Salt Wall in The Relaxation Room at The Day Spa

WRITING THE BOOK ON WELL-BEING

Writing has always been a peaceful way to release one’s emotions and to organize thoughts and decisions. But did you know writing can also add to your well-being? Writing expressively can improve cardiovascular health by lowering your heart rate and improving the heart’s response to stress. Writing about positive experiences can lift your mood, too. Journaling before bed about what you’re thankful for results in longer, better sleep, according to an Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being study.

And when you share your writing with others, you promote social interactions and connections, thus reducing loneliness. The Willow Valley Writers Group probably knows this better than anyone. The only qualification to be a member is to enjoy writing. Resident Lynne Heins, president of the group, says, “My goal has always been to make the ordinary passionate writer feel empowered to be in this collaborative group.”

Resident Carol Reeves concurs. She joined the Willow Valley Writers Group seven years ago. “I wasn’t an author, I didn’t keep a journal, but I was looking for new interests and new friends in our new community. I found both.”

Members write fiction and nonfiction, including stories, poetry, memoirs, and more. They are amateur, professional, or aspiring authors who come together as a group to share their writing or ask for help and suggestions to improve it. Some members enjoy offering (kind) critiques from their wealth of experience, while others come simply to listen. The group also produces Climbing the Mole Hill, a collection of their writings published annually and distributed to each Willow Valley Communities Resident.

Resident Jean Mitchell, the editor of Climbing the Mole Hill, says, “Writing is in my DNA. I’ve enjoyed it from as far back as I can remember.” In high school, Jean wrote a weekly column for the county’s newspaper and later became an editor as a profession. “To me,” she reflects, “writing is both a soothing balm and an escape into imagination.”

Resident Kay Collier, another Writers Group member, adds, “Writing to me is an everyday, almost every hour involvement. I always have a pad and paper beside me: in the car, on my night table, in the kitchen. I often get a thought for a poem or story at odd moments: in the middle of the night, in a dream, or while sitting at a stoplight, cooking, or gardening.”

Resident Don Helin is the planning chairman for the group. He says that writing is something he can do anytime, and because of that, he’s never bored. “Writing has given me a wonderful gift,” he says, “the gift of staying busy, doing what I like, and creating something for others to enjoy.”

TURNING THE PAGE ON WELL-BEING

Numerous studies show how reading can benefit our well-being. It exercises our brains to help improve concentration and memory, reduce stress, teach us about others’ perspectives, and increase our empathy. Reading can also take us to faraway lands and times without ever leaving our chairs.

And if you are part of one of the many social book clubs at Willow Valley Communities, you also get to gather regularly with friends and have thoughtful discussions about characters, themes, style, and plot lines.

Resident Trish Macvaugh facilitates the Next Chapter Book Club at Willow Valley Communities. “Reading has been my passion since I was a little girl curled up next to my grandmother as she wrapped me in Longfellow’s Hiawatha It was no surprise, then, that I pursued a doctorate in English and taught literature for 48 years, and when I moved to Willow Valley Communities, working in our library and organizing a book club was a natural.”

The group meets monthly, with Trish and members Carole Calhoun, Carol Sandt, Carole Repici, Bettyann Hall, Judi Schiff, Jo Burnett, Sandy Saul, and Candace O’Donnell all taking turns choosing a book and leading the discussion. Subjects and genres may vary extensively, but when the group gets together, there is always laughter and smiles throughout the lively discussions.

Other members of the group agree with Trish that reading enhances their well-being. Bettyann Hall says that reading “takes me out of myself and my own circumstances and

immerses me in the lives of the characters in the book. Identifying with those characters, empathizing with their problems, and sharing in their hopes and dreams broadens my perspective and enriches my life.”

Carole Repici agrees. “Throughout my life, reading has been a wonderful escape. Reading a book can always take me miles and/or millennia away. I don’t know how I would live without books,” she adds thoughtfully. “I’m so very grateful for the library and the book club right here at Willow Valley Communities.”

Trish sums up how truly beneficial reading has been for her well-being, as well as for that of the rest of the group. “It has been a joy sharing and discussing good books with other book lovers who have become cherished friends. Even during a pandemic, I could travel the world and meet fascinating people. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that reading has kept me sane.”

I’m so very grateful for the library and the book club right here at Willow Valley Communities.

Carole Repici, Resident

OF WELLNESS IN NATURE

Resident Ann Ratcliffe moved to Willow Valley Communities in 2017 after a fulfilling, but intensely busy 32-year career as an English teacher of “at-risk” high school students. She loved teaching — but it could be stressful. Ann learned that after particularly long days, walks in nature helped her release tension and rejuvenate her spirit.

When Ann first walked the 210 acres comprising the Lakes and Manor Campuses here, she was delighted to discover so many beautifully landscaped rolling paths where she could continue to savor nature. She has also come to love Lancaster County Central Park, just a five-minute drive away. “The park offers me such treasures as the Garden of Five Senses, beautiful Mill Creek, Muhlenberg Meadow with its profusion of wildflowers, the Conestoga River, and miles of well-tended trails.”

Ann has rediscovered her passion for photography too, inspired by the Willow Valley Communities Camera Club and its monthly “challenges” to explore avenues she might have otherwise bypassed. She now takes her camera everywhere. “I love to wander through the gardens at

Willow Valley Communities and walk along the edge of the wetlands. There are scores of native plants, many ponds, and beauty in all four seasons.” Ann often follows the bridge near the Spring Run community, over the stream and into the quiet woodlands. “To photograph nature, to focus on all that surrounds me, is deeply therapeutic,” she says quietly. “I have learned to slow down so that I don’t miss anything this life has to offer. I have learned not only to look, but to see.”

Ann’s stunning photographs can often be seen on Willow Valley Communities’ Facebook page, and she’s happy to share them. “I have learned to patiently wait until the flitting monarch finally settles on a milkweed leaf, to patiently wait as the blue heron stealthily approaches his prey and finally spears his dinner. These moments are precious, and to capture them in photographs gives me untold pleasure.”

Reflecting on her almost daily walks through the lovely grounds of Willow Valley Communities, Ann adds, “I am so thankful that I have the time to absorb this beautiful life, and I hope to continue nurturing the sense of wonder I had as a child — and still have.”

There’s probably nothing better for our well-being than being with friends — people who understand us, respect us, and yes, get us. Sharing memories and laughs over a drink or a meal is a wonderful gift for our spirit, but did you know it’s good for our physical well-being too?

We all know that finding friends to connect with, to spend time with, and to just be with enhances our lives. Emotionally, we feel good being with people and sharing our thoughts, hopes, and dreams. We share both good times and bad. Sometimes when we talk with our friends, we aren’t looking for advice or even a solution to our problems. Just having friends listen to us is all we need to feel better.

Physically, it’s been proven that friendship can extend life expectancy and lower the chance of heart disease. Being with friends ignites the part of the brain that makes us feel good, which makes us want to keep hanging out with them. So in a way, having friends makes us healthier. Friends are important. And when we find good ones, sometimes neither time nor space can sever our bonds.

Over 30 years ago in New Hope, PA, Susan Kenkelen worked for a real estate agency, and Barbara Czepukaitis was her manager. The two women became close. Another woman, Sue O’Neill, along with her husband, Dan, purchased a home through that real estate firm. Sue joined the two, and soon it was a trio of fast friends. Their bonds were further cemented when Vince Czepukaitis became the O’Neills’ financial advisor and Susan Kenkelen’s daughter

babysat for the O’Neills’ children. Along with their husbands, the group enjoyed many fun times together. However, as is often the case, years went by, life went on, and the friends lost touch with each other. Fast-forward to 2017, and the Czepukaitises moved to Willow Valley Communities’ Vistas community. They were thrilled to learn that, since 2016, the Kenkelens had been Residents of the Villas in Providence Park. Astonishingly, the O’Neills also moved to The Vistas.

The three started up right where they had left off. Barbara, Susan, and Sue now get together regularly, and it’s always a fun time. Over a meal or drinks, they share memories and laughs, sometimes just the three of them and sometimes along with their husbands. They’ve enjoyed events at Willow Valley Communities, trips, and also dinners out at favorite restaurants in Lancaster City.

At Willow Valley Communities, with 2,600 Residents and over 100 different clubs, groups, and classes, along with world-class entertainment and programming, there are plenty of opportunities to meet new friends who share your interests. But it’s also fun to reconnect with friends from the past. Barbara, Sue, and Susan have many memories to share with each other and a wealth of experiences that still await them.

“Willow Valley Communities brought us back together again, and we are so very grateful,” Barbara says. “We’re not going to waste a moment!”

L–R: Sue O'Neill, Susan Kenkelen, and Barbara Czepukaitis

GOOD FOOD EQUALS GOOD FEELINGS

It’s no secret that eating good, nutritious food helps maintain our physical health. But a healthy diet doesn’t just help us feel better physically; it can benefit our mental health and emotional well-being as well.

Simply stated: What greater joy is there than to gather around a table full of good friends, family, and food?

Willow Valley Communities’ Manager of Nutrition and Culinary Services, Stephanie Sodak, says that there are psychological, social, and biological benefits of eating meals with other people. “It gives us a sense of regularity in our lives, a chance to reflect on the day and feel connected. Also, sitting at a table, talking and listening, slows us down, helps with digestion, and helps us to not overeat.”

Stephanie also believes that a meal shared with loved ones can be made even better by choosing a well-balanced diet full of vegetables and nutrients. Research shows a link between what we eat and how we feel — and not just physically. “Our diet can affect our brain,” she says. “Some foods can actually

help us feel better.” She recommends a Mediterranean-style diet that includes a lot of vegetables, seafood, fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, and whole grains, which can reduce the symptoms of depression. “This can improve your sense of well-being and your mood.”

Willow Valley Communities offers 12 different culinary venues to satisfy every palate, from casual coffee shops and wine bars to full-service gourmet restaurants. Stephanie works with all of the chefs of Willow Valley Communities as they plan their menus, assessing them for overall nutritional balance — and, of course, taste.

Stephanie is passionate about helping Willow Valley Communities Residents learn about how what they eat affects their sense of well-being, both physically and psychologically. “Food can have a significant impact on our quality of life and can help us to maintain good health, both physically and emotionally. As a registered dietitian, I think it is very important to make informed decisions about what we eat.”

Stephanie Sodak

GIVING BACK TO LANCASTER: THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING

In addition to her role as Willow Valley Communities’ Manager of Resident Services, Cori Steiner is also chair of the Community Outreach Committee. This committee, made up of Willow Valley Communities Team Members, coordinates three giving events annually: Sneakers for School, Cornhole for a Cause, and the Holiday Gift-Giving Project. The committee’s work helps thousands of children through several Lancaster-area organizations, making a real difference in their lives.

But as much as their work helps others, Cori also sees how much the act of giving enhances the well-being of those helping. “For our Residents, being part of engaging the community gives a sense of belonging. Our Residents come from all walks of life, and being involved in the Lancaster area and being part of its future makes a lasting impact on those they serve as well as themselves. Although the Residents are the ones giving, they often thank us for the opportunity to help shape the future of the next generation.”

The Community Outreach Committee started in 1998, and their first project was purchasing Christmas gifts for foster and protective-service children in Lancaster County. That effort grew, and today the annual Holiday Gift-Giving Project Party is a wonderful celebration for children and their families, providing them with hundreds of practical gifts. Other annual events soon followed: Sneakers for School provides hundreds of pairs of new sneakers and socks to children for their first day of school, and Cornhole for a Cause raises money to help high school seniors take their next steps toward long-term success after graduation.

Willow Valley Communities Residents and Team Members work together closely for these events — collecting, wrapping, shopping, and serving — to make each one a meaningful success for all. Willow Valley Communities clubs and organizations help, too, by donating their time and talents with special projects. Cori says that because Willow Valley Communities Residents come from a wide variety of

backgrounds and geographical regions across the country, the committee benefits from a varied wealth of experience and ideas.

Resident Carol Giersch is a retired teacher and school administrator who currently volunteers as a Student Mentor for the School District of Lancaster (SDoL). She loved being a teacher and always relished in the challenge of using her creativity to build a program where one did not exist. “Starting off with ‘Wait — there’s another way to teach that’ just fills my soul with joy,” she states. Carol agrees that her sense of well-being is enhanced through volunteering. “There’s no better feeling,” she says, “to truly know that God placed me here for a reason.”

Carol adds that there are many people at Willow Valley Communities who have worked as mentors with Lancaster students. When virtual learning was the norm, some Willow Valley Communities Residents, such as Lynn Andrews, Cheryl Reid, Tom Connelly, and Tom and Cathy Newell, joined her in continuing to mentor SDoL children. All Willow Valley Communities mentors have had rich, full careers and wish to share their talents with others, especially with younger generations.

Cori is grateful for all the support she receives from Willow Valley Communities Residents and Team Members — but she’s really not surprised. “This is our culture at Willow Valley Communities,” she explains. “We serve and we help any way we can.”

For our Residents, being part of engaging the community gives a sense of belonging.

Cori Steiner, Manager of Resident Services

Carol Giersch

Cori Steiner

SPIRITUALITY: A TOUCHSTONE OF WELL-BEING

Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, Willow Valley Communities has understood the importance of spirituality to overall health and well-being. A team of chaplains is here to enhance and support the spiritual well-being of Residents, Residents’ families, and Team Members throughout our community. Chaplains are available to all Residents regardless of their faith tradition.

Willow Valley Communities’ Chaplains — Edward Runkle, Supportive Living Chaplain; Scott Johnston, Lakes Campus Chaplain; John Kelly, Lakeside Chaplain; and Ken Phillips, Manor Campus Chaplain — all agree that taking care of our soul leads us to being a fully whole, fully integrated, healthy person. They say that we can become sick in our soul just as we can become sick in our mind and body, and neglect and disregard of our spirit will eventually lead to “soul-sickness.”

The soul, mind, and body all work together. Chaplain Runkle explains, “There’s a synergy. A relatively healthy soul will positively influence our mind and body.”

At Willow Valley Communities, just as there are opportunities for Residents to take care of their minds and bodies, there are a multitude of ways to tend to their souls. The chaplains minister in all levels of our community, such as Residential Living, Personal Care, and Skilled Nursing Care. They provide weekly worship services, small groups

for prayer, Bible study, grief support, religious-themed lectures, mission trips, home and hospital visitation, one-on-one support and counseling, Celebration of Life services, and help in connecting Residents with spiritual resources. (Willow Valley Communities is within a few minutes’ drive of a wide variety of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other places of worship.)

At Willow Valley Communities, we encourage a Mind, Body, Spirit approach to all areas of wellness. Our team of chaplains is on campus to ensure intentional, consistent, and persistent care to prevent the decline in spirit — just as Willow Valley Communities does for the body and mind.

There's a synergy.

A relatively healthy soul will positively influence our mind and body.

Chaplain Edward Runkle

L–R: Chaplains Scott Johnston, Lakes Campus; John Kelly, Lakeside; Edward Runkle, Supportive Living; and Ken Phillips, Manor Campus

WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES VETERANS: SERVING OUR COUNTRY, SERVING EACH OTHER

After moving to Willow Valley Communities in 2018, retired Air Force Colonel Betty Price became involved in the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group. She is now the chairperson.

As is true with the rest of the group, Betty has had an exciting career. As an officer in United States Air Force intelligence, her duty assignments included a year in South Korea; four tours in Washington, DC; four months in Turkey overseeing intelligence related to Iraq; and school at Stanford University (for her master’s degree), at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and at the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. She says the most challenging assignment of all was a tour as commander of the 480th Intelligence Group at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. Betty also served at the Air Force Academy on a special team planning for admission of the first women. She went through SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) training with a group of women who first received that training at the Academy and jumped out of an airplane five times in the free-fall parachuting program.

Betty says that although the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group shares the common bond of having served

in the US military, and that all have had amazing careers serving our country, right now the true purpose of the group is to help and serve all Willow Valley Communities veterans.

“One of our most important missions,” she says, “is to share experiences and help each other.” The group is eager to help other veterans by providing information about benefits, contacts, and other items of interest through a newsletter and by hosting visiting experts. “In addition,” Betty says, “we strive to meet veterans’ needs through personal interaction.”

The Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group also honors the service of all veterans by coordinating special programs on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and other national holidays. On Flag Day, June 14, the committee conducts a flag retirement ceremony to dispose of old flags by way of respectfully burning them.

Betty says she receives so much from being a part of the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group: “Being of service to fellow veterans, being a source of information, support, and camaraderie — now that’s a real contribution to well-being.”

Betty Price

PASSIONS GROW, PASSIONS BLOOM: CULTIVATING WELLNESS AT WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES

Among the most popular passions at Willow Valley Communities is gardening. And, Residents here have a wide variety of ways to indulge. Three generous gardens are situated across our sprawling 210-acre campus for Residents to use in a multitude of configurations of their choosing. Willow Valley Communities’ hardworking Grounds Team tills each garden in the spring and plows them in the fall, making them ready for Residents to dig right in.

Whether Residents are experienced pros or novices, gardening is a wonderful way for them to get outside, enjoy nature and each other, and learn new things. Some Residents have been gardening for decades, while others have only started gardening after moving to Willow Valley Communities.

In keeping with our Life Lived Forward philosophy, some Willow Valley Communities Residents take their love of gardening to deeper levels. For example, several Residents from across the country have achieved the distinction of Master Gardener. Master Gardeners are certified in their home state, and the program can take six months to a year to complete and includes a minimum of 40 hours of classroom

training, a score of 80 percent on the final exam, and 50 hours of volunteer service.

In another example, Residents Annabelle Simpson and Susan Kelly worked with the Penn State Extension of the Pennsylvania State University to have one of their gardens certified as an official Pennsylvania Pollinator-Friendly Garden. The stunning garden is well-known for attracting huge numbers of bees, butterflies, insects, and birds, helping our ecosystem to thrive.

Residents are also able to partner their gardening skills with their desires to volunteer and give back to the Lancaster community. With the area’s rich, fertile soil, and the extraspecial care and attention the plants receive, Residents often have an abundance of vegetables and donate them regularly. Throughout the growing season, the Solanco Neighborhood Ministries food bank receives a variety of beans, lettuce, kale, peas, carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and much more from Willow Valley Communities Resident gardens. Additionally, every fall, a harvest of hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes and butternut squash goes to the Lancaster County Food Hub, a community

Mike and Sue Ziegler harvest vegetables at their garden

Angela Booker-White

Ed and Jean Mitchell

Pat Mortenson

resource for free, nutritious food and gently used clothing. Some Residents maintain gardening plots every year just for this purpose.

Gardening time is couple time for Residents Mike and Susan Ziegler. Sue is an avid gardener, and Mike loves being outdoors supporting her gardening passion at Willow Valley Communities. They both love being together in nature, and Sue is amazed by how magical gardening can be. “It’s just a miracle when the seeds come up,” she says.

Resident Pat Mortensen challenges herself every year by growing something completely different. Once she enjoyed a robust harvest of King Tut Purple Peas, a very rare garden pea said to have been taken out of the tomb of King Tut!

Resident and Master Gardener Angela Booker-White is originally from Virginia, but has lived all over the country. Her interest in gardening grew as she read and learned more about it. In her plot at Spring Run, Angela grows all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and flowers and always tries something new. She has the most success with seeds she purchases from the dollar store!

Angela has also learned how gardening can help during challenging times. She is grateful to her garden, as well as to her fellow Willow Valley Communities gardeners, for helping her during the difficult time of her husband’s unexpected passing. Gardeners, and she doesn’t know exactly who, would come and help by doing extra work around her plot.

“Residents just came in and helped,” Angela says. “Weeding, cutting, trimming, harvesting — whatever work needed to be done. That’s the way Residents are here at Willow Valley Communities: very supportive.”

Resident Keith Yoder, who coordinates the Spring Run Garden, is not at all surprised by the variety of gardeners at Willow Valley Communities or by the reasons they enjoy the activity so much. He agrees that gardening is definitely a hobby that enhances well-being. Though he’s known this himself for years, he refers to an article put out by CNBC that states how gardening can add years to your life.

“And life to your years,” Keith adds. “Gardening gets you into nature. It’s good exercise for your body and your mind — plus, you get to eat what you grow!”

Gardening gets you into nature. It’s good exercise for your body and your mind — plus, you get to eat what you grow!

Keith Yoder, Resident

Annabelle Simpson and Susan Kelly

Keith Yoder

PERSISTENCE TO WELL-BEING

Resident George Myers says two of his longtime passions are sailing and woodworking. Years ago, he found that participating in either one of those pursuits, with companions or in solitude, would relax him and take his mind off of his job at Eastman Kodak. And at Willow Valley Communities, he’s been able to combine those two loves — and get a lot of support along the way.

George and Carol Myers are most recently from North Carolina, where George volunteered at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort after retirement. The museum had a large boatbuilding shop where volunteers would build new wooden boats and restore old ones.

“That’s where I got the boatbuilding bug,” he remembers. Afterward, George built a pair of kayaks for his daughter and her new husband as a wedding present. He and Carol also built a solo canoe.

The couple owned cruising sailboats for over 40 years. Carol would join George on many sailing trips, “though not always willingly,” he laughs. Still, the couple sailed together on Lake

Ontario, through the Florida Keys, and on the Chesapeake Bay. Twice, in 2007–2008 and in 2010–2011, they actually spent six months living on board the boat.

Carol was able to adapt to the small quarters of the sailboat and found enjoyment in exploring the many towns they would dock at along the way. However, after getting through a very nasty storm in Florida in 2011, she declared she was “definitely retired” from sailing.

So, in 2015, George decided to build a boat that he could sail alone safely. Persistence, a 16-foot Melonseed Skiff, would become his most ambitious boatbuilding project yet. He started it in their garage in North Carolina.

During this time, the couple also started to explore senior living communities. They knew they had found their new home after they toured Willow Valley Communities and our comprehensive woodshops.

“That was a real blessing,” George says. “The tools were all there; the machines were all there.”

Carol and George Myers in the Manor Woodshop

Carol agrees. “The number one priority was the woodshops. We would never have moved anywhere that didn’t have one.”

George continued his boatbuilding project at Willow Valley Communities, in the Manor and North Woodshops. He soon discovered something else that would help him in his project: the users of the woodshop.

“There you have a number of skilled woodworkers — retired shop teachers and cabinetmakers — all with much more woodworking experience than I had, all available to help me solve any problems I encountered,” George says. “I’d sit there puzzled about something. All I’d have to do is ask the question, and all of a sudden I’d have two or three great ideas that I’d never have thought of.” He adds, “That was a big bonus to moving here to Willow Valley Communities.”

After what George estimates as “thousands of hours of work,” the day came to launch Persistence for the first time. Carol remembers fondly how other Residents joined them at the Muddy Run Reservoir launch ramp. Members of the Willow Valley Communities Bike Club (George is a member and past president) even biked to the site.

“There were about 20 of our friends from Willow Valley Communities who came,” Carol recalls. “They brought food, and it was a phenomenal celebration.” But the best part of the day? “The boat floated!” she chuckles.

George says he continues to make little enhancements to Persistence, and he’s still taking advice from his fellow woodworkers, who have become dear friends. He is also busy traveling the area discovering other waterways to sail.

“I want to really test the limits of Persistence,” George says.

Whether he sails alone or with someone else, we are sure he will.

I’d sit there puzzled about something. All I’d have to do is ask the question, and all of a sudden I’d have two or three great ideas that I’d never have thought of. That was a big bonus to moving here.

George Myers, Resident

More of what you love

Here you are, ready for life’s next adventures. But with a new kind of ease that frees your day for more, well, adventure. Perfect. Welcome to a fresh view of 55+ living at Mosaic, a residential hub coming to Lancaster City.

5 PLACES TO RETIRE

furry families together at the dog park. Just outside your door is a walkable city of historic streets buzzing with cafés, galleries, boutiques and cultural events, too. And not only is there fun in your future, there’s peace of mind. Mosaic is part of Willow Valley Communities’ innovative Lifecare program — a seamless continuum of care, should you ever need it.

events,

What to do is never a question in this elegant high-rise of 2- and 3-bedroom residences. Make friends at the rooftop terrace (what’s more neighborly than cocktails at sunset?). Share a fitness or art class. A foodie-worthy meal. Get your

AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER FOR WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES: STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH ACTS RETIREMENT SERVICES

Nearly 40 years ago, Willow Valley Communities began welcoming Residents through the doors of our first community, the Willow Valley Manor. Inspired by a legacy of hospitality, we committed to strive to deliver an exceptional senior living experience for Residents seeking a premier community. Many say that we have succeeded, naming us among the nation’s best 55+ senior living communities, with more than 2,600 Residents originating from nearly 40 states across the country. With the recent addition of SouthPointe at Lakes and our planned expansion into downtown Lancaster with Mosaic, we’re maintaining that commitment.

To further enhance our abilities to meet the needs and desires of today’s and tomorrow’s Residents, we are delighted to share exciting news. Willow Valley Communities has

entered into a Strategic Alliance with Acts Retirement Services, Inc. (ARS). ARS is the parent organization of Acts Retirement-Life Communities, Inc. (Acts). The alliance became effective May 1, 2022.

Established in 1972 and based in Fort Washington, PA, Acts is the nation’s third-largest not-for-profit senior retirement living provider, with 26 communities in nine states, currently serving approximately 10,000 residents. Like Willow Valley Communities, Acts enjoys a strong reputation for service, financial strength, and commitment to the mission and values within the senior living industry. This strategic alliance brings together two of the nation’s most respected organizations in a mutually beneficial relationship continuing an exciting upward trajectory.

Willow Valley Communities has known the principals of the Acts organization for many years — going all the way back to Acts’ involvement in our start and development. Like Willow Valley Communities, Acts is committed to the highest standards of quality and service excellence. In many ways, the alliance can be described as a coming together, via a strategic alliance, of two historically connected and strategically complementary organizations.

An important goal for this alliance is for both organizations to learn from each other and become stronger. Through the alliance, Willow Valley Communities will benefit from Acts’ significant resources, operations expertise, and scale; Acts will benefit from Willow Valley Communities’ expertise in operations, hospitality services, and real estate development. Importantly, with the alliance in place, Willow Valley Communities’ vision, culture, distinctive identity, and standards of excellence remain unchanged.

While part of the extended Acts family, Willow Valley Communities remains a separate entity with its own Board of Directors, management team, brand identity, charitable foundation, budget, and operations practices.

Willow Valley Communities and Acts are two of the most successful and highly regarded senior living operators in the nation. This strategic alliance creates a “sum-greater thanthe-parts” scenario, leveraging greater scale, combined expertise and capabilities, and common values and missions. It also builds financial strength and sustainability while enhancing the growth outlook for both organizations.

Willow Valley Communities Residents and Team Members are currently enjoying additional resources through the alliance with no substantive change in service, amenities, programming, or work environment. As both organizations continue to become stronger, today’s and tomorrow’s Residents of Willow Valley Communities can be confident that this alliance will only enhance their Life Lived Forward lifestyle well into the future.

In many ways, the alliance can be described as a coming together of two historically connected and strategically complementary organizations.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE: EXCITING UPDATES FROM U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT AND FITCH RATINGS

For nearly 40 years, Willow Valley Communities has earned a nationwide reputation as a premier, award-winning 55+ senior living community. Residents, Residents’ families, and professionals within the senior living industry have celebrated Willow Valley Communities for our trusted tradition of excellence.

Recently, Willow Valley Communities was honored with two additional acknowledgements from renowned national organizations:

y U.S. News & World Report, publisher of news, consumer advice, rankings, and analysis, named Willow Valley Communities as a Best Independent Living Community in the nation in its inaugural Best Senior Living ratings for 2022–2023.

y

Fitch Ratings, a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary, and research, again affirmed Willow Valley Communities’ “A” rating with a Stable Outlook.

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report and its survey provider collected data on more than 3,000 communities throughout the continental US and Hawaii. Residents and families were asked to rate their experiences on various aspects of senior living. From that data set, U.S. News analysts rated Willow Valley Communities as a “Best” in the category of Independent Living.

This “Best” Independent Living Community rating fits in perfectly with our Life Lived Forward philosophy. Willow Valley Communities Residents are continually rethinking retirement — embracing the idea of not looking back, but looking forward to the rich, thriving, passion-filled life ahead.

Just as important as the rating are the nearly 200 comments of praise and appreciation that Residents and family members added to their survey responses about their experiences at Willow Valley Communities. These comments,

posted on the U.S. News & World Report website, are what are most meaningful to us.

Fitch Ratings

Willow Valley Communities has again received a coveted “A” rating with a Stable Outlook from Fitch Ratings, a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary, and research. Based in New York City and London, Fitch Ratings is the predominant debt rating agency in the senior living sector. The “A” rating communicates overall financial health, stability, and confidence to the Residents of Willow Valley Communities, as well as to prospective Residents, as they assess the organization's strength.

Fitch stated in its analysis that the “A” rating reflects the expected future resilience of Willow Valley Communities’ financial profile. The agency listed our unique national draw, modest pricing relative to our higher-end amenities, strong operating risk, history of solid operations and robust capital spending, and our Type-A Lifecare contract (providing personal care, nursing care, or memory support, should it be needed, with no change to a Resident’s monthly service fee because of the increased level of care).

Fitch also noted that the demand for services at Willow Valley Communities is indicated by its independent living occupancy above 90% across its more than 1,500 independent living residences. Additionally, Willow Valley Communities’

position as a destination community — with approximately half its Residents coming from outside of Pennsylvania, from about 40 different states — further insulates it from changes in the local economy or housing market.

Willow Valley Communities is humbled by the distinctions from these two respected national organizations. We wish to thank the hundreds of Residents and family members who took the time to voice their opinions on their senior living experience here, as well as our 1,400 professional Team Members. Day in and day out, they continue to dedicate themselves to providing an exceptional lifestyle to more than 2,600 Residents across our campus.

LIFECARE: ONE SIMPLE QUESTION IS KEY TO WELL-BEING

Willow Valley Communities Residents have an advantage when it comes to their mental and emotional well-being — and it comes from an unexpected source. It’s not meditation or dinners with friends (although those are great too!). It’s our Type-A Lifecare contract, which protects their assets from the ever-escalating costs of long-term care.

Residents often advise others to ask one question while exploring senior living communities:

What happens to my monthly fee if I ever need additional care?

At Willow Valley Communities, the answer is…nothing. Our Type-A Lifecare contract ensures your monthly fee never increases because of a need for additional supportive care. When you come to Willow Valley Communities as an Independent Living Resident, the one-time entrance fee and ongoing monthly service fee include exceptional, compassionate short- and long-term care, if ever needed, in a range of supportive living environments, including personal care, skilled nursing care, and memory support.

Willow Valley Communities is the only exclusively Type-A Lifecare contract community in Lancaster County. In contrast to some communities’ fee-for-service contracts, which often charge a daily rate that quickly adds up and can deplete assets, our Lifecare contract protects assets by keeping Residents’ monthly fee consistent. (Additionally, a portion of their entrance and monthly fees may be tax deductible as a medical expense.) Residents and their

families are grateful for this financial safety net, saying that knowing what their costs are going to be in the future is paramount to their mental and emotional well-being.

Lifecare was one of the reasons brothers John Comey, from Camp Hill, PA, and Jim Comey, from Kennett Square, PA, moved to Willow Valley Communities. John and his wife, Barbara, moved to Spring Run in October 2021, and Jim soon followed with his wife, Patricia, to a SouthPointe villa in November 2021.

The Comey brothers knew they had to be proactive with their own long-term care needs having experienced care challenges for their aging parents and other loved ones in the past. “Willow Valley Communities checked all the boxes on our list,” says John. “A beautiful campus, tons of amenities, a perfect central location, and a sterling reputation for addressing long-term care needs via their Type-A Lifecare contract. Now we have the freedom to enjoy life’s next adventure knowing that our future is secure.”

As a published writer, Jim often refers to a simple quote from one of his favorite authors, Jonathan Swift, when asked how he feels about the peace of mind of Lifecare: “May you live every day of your life.”

He adds, “Willow Valley Communities’ Lifecare is one of the finest gifts we’ve given ourselves and our children. Peace of mind wrapped in a gorgeous campus filled with remarkable, vibrant people.”

Now that’s well-being.

L–R: Trish and Jim Comey, Barbara and John Comey

Jim with the cover of his book, The Wild World

SAY HELLO TO MOSAIC

Guests recently had the opportunity to “say hello to Mosaic” when they were invited to attend an exclusive preview event of Willow Valley Communities’ Mosaic. Mosaic is a 55+ premier residential high-rise coming to the heart of downtown Lancaster.

During the event, up-to-the-minute details about floor plans, residence selections, luxury amenities, and more were presented to the excited audience. There was also an extensive question-and-answer session.

Renderings of Mosaic’s striking 20-story tower and select floor plans — making up the 146 exquisite single-level, two- and three-bedroom residences — were shown. And guests learned more details about Mosaic’s exquisite amenities, including gourmet restaurants, spa services, wine tastings, a dog park, and so much more.

Visitors also learned more about how residents of Mosaic will enjoy exciting urban living just outside their door with Lancaster’s vibrant and culturally rich city experiences. Shopping, dining, theater, music, art, and more — all that help Lancaster consistently rank among the nation’s top five best places to retire. Afterward, guests received an enticing bag of treats from some of the best Lancaster has to offer.

During the presentation, attendees were also reminded of the financial predictability, security, and peace of mind enjoyed by all Willow Valley Communities Residents. Willow Valley Communities’ Type-A Lifecare contract promises long-term care if needed in the future, without an increase to the monthly service fee because of that need of an enhanced level

of care. Willow Valley Communities is the only exclusively Type-A Lifecare community in Lancaster County and has been a trusted provider of premier senior living for nearly 40 years, earning numerous awards and an “A” financial rating from Fitch Ratings.

Charles and Doreen Snyder were two of the guests who attended the Mosaic preview event. The couple lives in Lancaster and just loves downtown. “We find ourselves spending more and more time there,” Doreen said. “Many of our favorite restaurants and shops are in the city, and we both love live theater and the art walk along Gallery Row.”

Charles also explained, “When we first learned about Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities and that we could have the opportunity to retire in the urban environment we’ve grown to love, we had to find out more.”

Both agreed the presentation was very informative and gave them both enough information to consider future steps.

“We’ve lived in Lancaster all of our lives,” Charles added. “Willow Valley Communities has always been on top of their game, so we knew an urban campus from them would provide an extraordinary lifestyle. This preview was an event we had to attend.”

Doreen quickly added, “Yes! And we can’t wait to find out even more about Mosaic!”

Mosaic Preview Events are happening now and fill up quickly. Find out more information and secure your reservation today by visiting MosaicLancaster.com.

Willow Valley Communities has always been on top of their game, so we knew an urban campus from them would provide an extraordinary lifestyle.

Charles Snyder, Lancaster Resident

Brian T. Rutter, Chief Marketing Officer, Willow Valley Communities

Charles and Doreen Snyder

The Willow Valley Way

For almost 40 years, Willow Valley Communities has been dedicated to helping people pursue exceptional lives. Our mission is simple: to inspire each person to embrace the possibilities of a Life Lived Forward. We are committed to innovative programming, operational excellence, and prudent financial practices.

Our communities provide the security of Lifecare, which includes short- and long-term care should you need it later

— with no change to your monthly service fee due to the increased level of care.

And we are grateful to have been affirmed for our efforts. In addition to the many awards and recognitions we receive every year from various organizations, we consistently receive an “A” rating from Fitch Ratings, affirming our proven financial stability. Our most important recognition, though, comes from the people who live here.