Here are stories of how some residents embrace living.
“I'm proud to live here because it's such a welcoming, clean, safe environment. And they care so much for all the people that live here.”
Diana has lived at Immanuel Residences for 13 years and seen many changes made to the community, one of the biggest being substantial renovations to residents’ apartments and the common areas. While Diana said these changes were difficult, they were well worth it as they “brought the building into the 21st century.”
“The improvements have been just wonderful,” says Diana. “I love that they took out the carpeting. I have asthma, so the new flooring that we have makes it just so much easier for me to breathe… I also love the new exercise room. We go in there for cardio drumming and sometimes yoga. It’s just been a wonderful improvement.”
“[Embrace Living] just goes above and beyond to help you,” says Diana. “I think, especially nowadays, most companies would not have gone above and beyond. I have different friends that live in different communities like this, and they are all amazed by where I live.
“I’m proud to live here because it’s such a welcoming, clean, safe environment. And they care so much for all the people that live here.”
“Every morning, I wake up and wonder, ‘how did I arrive at this beautiful place with an apartment in this great location in this beautiful building?’ It’s a miracle,” says Sue.
Sue has lived at Immanuel Residences since 2019 and has become a staple of the community with her warm and welcoming presence and consistent volunteer work.
She makes a point of improving the community in any way she can, including helping with their mobile food market. She also helps other residents in the building unfamiliar with technology (smart TVs, WiFi, phones, etc.) to make sure they can use their devices.
“Every morning, I wake up and wonder, ‘how did I arrive at this beautiful place with an apartment in this great location in this beautiful building?’ It’s a miracle,” says Sue.
“To come out, exercise and mingle with the children, the staff, the tenants… It’s good to come out and do that,” says Louisa. “I don’t have time for feeling down and all of that. I like to stay active.”
Louisa has been a resident at Castle Towers since 2020 and loves the Bensenville neighborhood in which she’s found community. She’s made a point of not “going to sit up behind four walls and get stiff” but instead is actively involved in her community, especially intergenerational programming.
As someone who used to work with kids before retiring, interacting with younger generations is a passion and joy for Louisa. That’s why she makes a point of attending the game afternoons that the community puts on with local youth. “Working with children is from my heart,” says Louisa. “I love them, and they love me.”
“To come out, exercise and mingle with the children, the staff, the tenants… It’s good to come out and do that,” says Louisa. “I don’t have time for feeling down and all of that. I like to stay active.”
“I’ve established quite a few relationships here, and it’s been great. I look forward to being with my neighbors because they're very positive people, which is a nice change.”
Elizabeth was living out of her car before she moved to Castle Towers, where she has found herself in the midst of a community that was even more welcoming and positive than she ever could have hoped.
“I don’t feel alone here,” says Elizabeth. “I was afraid when I had my own apartment that I’d feel very lonely, but I don’t.”
Since living at Castle Towers, Elizabeth has been to events to make friends, such as a Memorial Day cookout the community hosted. But beyond facilitated events, one of the things that has struck Elizabeth most about her new home is that everyone is welcoming all the time.
“I’ve established quite a few relationships here, and it’s been great. I look forward to being with my neighbors because they’re very positive people, which is a nice change.”
“My life would be a lot slower if I hadn’t come here... I never thought it’d be this easy to make friends at this age, but here it’s really great. I feel very positive about it.”
Ginny is a resident at Castle Towers and has enjoyed it immensely, especially since her building and apartment were remodeled in 2023.
Ginny quickly felt at home as she realized her neighbors were people who wanted to form genuine friendships and do activities together instead of staying in all the time. She started playing bingo, playing bags and working in the Castle Towers community gift shop. Since the remodeling, she’s also picked up pool, which she now plays regularly with other women in the building.
“Castle Towers is great because people want to live here,” says Ginny. “My life would be a lot slower if I hadn’t come here… I never thought it’d be this easy to make friends at this age, but here it’s really great. I feel very positive about it.”
“It’s better that we’re all here together, for safety, for entertainment, for everything,” says Urmila.
When Urmila first became a resident at Immanuel Residences, she was going to the local YMCA to exercise as the community didn’t have much of an offering in terms of wellness equipment and spaces. But after the renovations the community underwent in 2023, it now has a designated exercise room with additional equipment, including table tennis, a hobby that Urmila has embraced playing with her neighbors.
She also regularly participates in exercise programming facilitated by the community’s Social Service Coordinator, whom Urmila says has put in a lot of effort to make sure residents are connected with activities that promote their health while still being accessible for seniors.
“It’s better that we’re all here together, for safety, for entertainment, for everything,” says Urmila. “If something happens, we help each other. If somebody is sick, we take care of them. Everybody is very friendly, and it very much feels like a family here.”
Ewa suffers from major back and spine issues, but since the renovations at Castle Towers, her doctors have noticed an “80% difference in her health,” which she attributes to her new daily use of the wellness center.
Ewa has been a resident at Castle Towers since 2021, and she is very happy there thanks to the kind Embrace Living team that makes sure she gets the support and resources she needs. She’s especially happy that they have a new wellness center/exercise room.
Ewa suffers from major back and spine issues, but since the renovations at Castle Towers, her doctors have noticed an “80% difference in her health,” which she attributes to her new daily use of the wellness center.
“I was walking with a walker before we got this fitness room, but after using it for the first time—I’m using it two or sometimes three times a day—if I’m walking short distances, I’m not using [the walker] anymore,” says Ewa.
“Moving to Orchard Place of Sarasota (Florida) is the biggest difference in the whole wide world”
“Moving to Orchard Place of Sarasota (Florida) is the biggest difference in the whole wide world”, Kim exclaims when discussing her prior housing situation. There, she often felt isolated and alone, and the environment was drug infested and crowded with security guards. It wasn’t until she visited her parents in nearby Venice Beach that she found the Orchard Place of Sarasota community and uncovered the peace she was looking for… and deserved.
Now, Kim enjoys creating friendships with her neighbors over game nights and coffee chats in the morning. She takes advantage of the nice outdoor areas around the community, and when she is alone, she spends time with her beloved cat. What a difference…the biggest in the whole wide world.
"It's a second home. I was looking for something that would remind me of a certain individual, or a certain place that I called home."
Ken is a sports fanatic. He loves the Chicago Bears, Chicago White Sox, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ken isn’t afraid to show his soft spot for Cavaliers all star, Lebron James, either. Most times, he is watching his favorite team play on television, and if there is a rivalry game taking place, it’s safe to say the “smack talk” will begin. Just ask Lisa, the community’s assistant manager that favors a Cavalier’s foe. Together, they’re always campaigning for their team’s victory against the other.
When the game is over, Ken and Lisa become good friends again, but Ken wouldn’t trade their back and forth banter for anything because to him it means he can be himself and people respect his individuality. Not only is his home at Orchard Place of Morgan Park & Beverly, but his family is too.
"It's something that I love to do. It's something that I feel inside me that makes me feel good. It's working for the church. It's working for God."
Each Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Linda can be found volunteering at Faith United Methodist Church’ thrift store, God’s Treasure Home, in Hudson, Florida. This experience has given her a community outside of her home at Greencastle of Bayonet Point; and because she is limited financially, she is able to support poor and homeless individuals with her time and compassionate spirit.
At Greencastle of Bayonet Point, Linda gets strength and inspiration from other residents. She compares her home life to the same loving environment found at her church. Residents are always willing to help each other in anyway they can, and there is a “be the best neighbor you can be” attitude. For that, Linda is eternally grateful.
"Here, everybody's friendly and the seven years everyone has been nice. And, when they need me, I always can give them a hand."
As an immigrant from Panama, Elida came to the US in the 1980s to be with her son and daughter. While she enjoyed the comfort of her family, Elida was also looking for independence, so she got a job at Walmart and began her search for her own place to live. It was during one of her regular walks that she saw a sign near Apostles Village Lutheran Church that advertised a new and affordable community development. She called and applied to live there that same day.
It has been over 21 years since Elida moved into Apostles Village, and her presence has positively impacted the community and other residents greatly. She has taught Spanish and computer proficiency classes for other residents, and she has helped staff translate for other spanish-speaking residents during orientations. Elida is a crucial part of the Apostles Village family.
In recent years, she has lost most of her sight, but she has used her bilingual gift and new familiarity with braille to translate English braille books to Spanish for other visually impaired Spanish speaking immigrants. Her talents are special to the Apostles Village community and beyond.
"I've loved talking to people. I love meeting people. I've never met a person in here that I haven't enjoyed talking to."
Walter has lived at Immanuel Residences for almost five years. His move was a significant change in his life because he lived in his old home for almost 20 years. But, Immanuel Residence offered him an opportunity to live closer to friends and in a familiar community. So, the move was welcomed.
Walter is quite the socialite, and he enjoys his daily conversations with community employees and other residents. He loves that everyone in the community makes him feel comfortable and welcome each day – feelings he was missing at his old home for almost two decades.
"This is my home and it’s a blessing to be here."
“This is my home and it’s a blessing to be here.” That is what Nelda has said to anyone that asks for over 20 years during her time at Bethel Greencastle South. Being a part of a community is very important to her, and living among others has helped her stay physically and mentally active. She spends a large amount of time in fellowship with other residents during weekly bible studies and daily coffee hour chats. Nelda also finds time to care for and display her pet bird, Mickey.
Nelda plans to live at Bethel Greencastle South for the rest of her life. Her three children praise the life that Embrace Living Communities has been able to provide their mother in her later years, and when they visit, they feel at home as well.
"Like I said, it’s not a house, but it’s a home. I think home is where you’re most comfortable, and that’s what we are; we’re comfortable."
35 years ago, Lloyd and Marion met at a neighborhood dance in Chicago. Both from Belize, a small country in Central America, they shared common cultural interest and it didn’t take long before they got married. They spent most of their life in Chicago, but in their later years decided to move to Mississippi for retirement. However, their retirement destination became very uncomfortable, and Lloyd and Marion became very ill. So, their children moved them back to Chicago, and they found a home at GreenCastle of Morgan Park & Beverly.
The couple is very comfortable now. They have made friends, and Marion often teaches other residents how to cook authentic Belizean recipes in the community kitchen. They have the quality of life that they wanted in retirement, and they’re very happy.
"It's a good place, and a very good for elderly people who are able to take care of themselves. Elderly people need a community life.”
Xaun, also known to many as Theresa, is a retired nurse from China. She came to America with her two children in 1990 so they could receive a proper education. She lived with her children for almost five years, and then found an independent home at Peace Memorial Manor. She was attracted to the community because it was close to her children yet had a thriving community of its own. She immediately found peace and comfort in her daily living.
A few years ago, Theresa wrote a book about her life as a Christian in China. She was inspired by other books about communist China she read. Those books discussed the suffering of many people in different ways, but did not address the persecution of Christians, specifically Catholics, in China. She wanted to reveal stories, so people could understand the issues. Her independency and encouragement from other residents in her community enabled her to persevere through the authoring process – a process that was linked to incredibly painful memories.
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