Weathering the Winter at Friendship Village of Schaumburg

When Mary Pace first tried Friendship Village's Weather the Winter Program, she viewed it as a vacation, and in fact "a very nice vacation." Weather the Winter is a program which allows seniors to try out a three month, no-obligation stay in a furnished apartment at Friendship Village. Pace loved the idea of living in a beautiful apartment with a variety of dining venues and great activities and events. "It was also, a very wise use of my time," she said, explaining that it afforded her the opportunity to check out Friendship Village. "It was an excellent way to try out the lifestyle and experience life here. Offering this type of program for three months is very open and above board and this was a very positive experience." So positive in fact, that she came back in 2013 for another three month stay. When her Evanston condo sold more quickly than she had anticipated, she decided to make Friendship Village her permanent home.

Pace first started investigating retirement communities after having cared for her own mother. "I felt that as I age, I want a safety net in place," she said. "I like the idea that at Friendship Village I can live independently and have access to more levels of care should I need them."

Pace said that she was drawn to Friendship Village by the friendly atmosphere, the great dining options, and the complete continuum of care support services available should she need them.

Having been a long time resident of Evanston, Pace was initially apprehensive about moving to a new area. "In Evanston, everything was very conveniently located. It's an ideal village. But what I have found is that Friendship Village is an in-house village. We have a post office, salons, a fitness center and pool and restaurants. The campus is very beautiful and in a quiet area," she said.

Pace has met and connected with a lot of people and is looking forward to getting involved with the many programs and events that are offered. "There's a writing group, an art group and a book group that are possibilities. I'm also going to look into the fitness center," she said.

Pace admitted that she is a discerning customer. "I like to observe a variety of situations, listen to the reactions of others and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. What I've decided is that this is a very good place. Not only are the grounds beautiful here, but the whole place has a supportive and positive atmosphere, Friendship Village's Weather the Winter program helped me to decide in their favor as my place of residence," she said.

Friendship Village is a leading Chicago continuing care retirement community offering a complete continuum of care including independent living garden homes and apartment homes, as well as assisted living, memory support, skilled care, and short- and long-term rehabilitation services. For more than 35 years, Friendship Village has been providing Chicago area seniors with exceptional retirement living options. For additional information visit www.FriendshipVillage.org.