Residents of The Moorings live life the way they want to live it

Active-adult residents at The Moorings of Arlington Heights have a whole lot of living to do, and they do it well in this vibrant retirement community.

At The Moorings, residents feel a sense of community in an environment that brings people together to experience new friendships, various activities and opportunities for personal growth.

Former residents of Park Ridge, Gayle and George Richter moved to The Moorings almost two years ago. They wanted an easier lifestyle free from the upkeep their large home required. They also wanted to live close to Park Ridge where they had established many friendships during the past 47 years.

The Moorings of Arlington Heights Villas were the perfect fit for the couple - the right location, right size and right amenities. They are spacious and offer residents the freedom to personalize their new home to fit their lifestyle. And, since the villas are maintenance-free, residents can spend their time getting out to enjoy activities with neighbors or family and friends.

"We're very happy here," George Richter said. "It's been great for us meeting other people who want to live fully and get involved in the community."

Although the couple lives in a villa with a beautiful new kitchen, they also like eating in the community dining room. "It's a wonderful way to meet people and learn about them; then when we see them on campus, we know their names and what their families are like," Richter said. "It's a wonderful fellowship opportunity."

With all the offerings at the community, people have a lot of choices. They can immerse themselves in something every day or find a spot to sit outside and read a book.

For George and Gayle, it's all about staying active and involved. "We really need to put things on our calendar," Gayle Richter said.

Each month, residents receive a newsletter that lists all the programs and off-campus trips for the month with contact information and everything you need to know to participate.

George is involved with the garden committee and the woodworking group. He also joined the billiards group that has competitions with Luther Village, and once a year they have a tournament with a trophy or two involved. And he still bowls once a week in Park Ridge.

Gayle belongs to a ladies' golf group and is involved with the church the couple attends in Park Ridge. "It's very busy," Gayle Richter said. "I didn't realize how busy we would be when I kept my commitments with our church."

The couple likes that the community plans bus trips to various events such as the opera and Chicago Botanic Garden. "We went to Garfield Park and to the theater at the Marriott Lincolnshire. It's really nice to just climb on the bus and relax then get off when we're there and not have to worry about parking," she said.

At The Moorings, amenities extend beyond the social aspect of community. A fitness center, swimming pool and a robust wellness program offer opportunities for residents to stay healthy and fit. And a new chapel and fellowship hall speak to residents' spiritual needs.

There are many structured activities where residents can take up a new hobby, enroll in a class to learn something new or take part in weekly Better Brains challenges to improve thinking and memory skills with word find and crossword puzzles.

Residents can also reserve a plot in the community garden to grow flowers and vegetables. This was a great tomato year, and people brought their extra produce to the community center to share with others.

Residents of The Moorings live their life the way they want to live it, and also have peace of mind knowing our renowned, on-campus continuum of care offers assisted living, short-and long-term skilled nursing care, and specialized memory support is available, if the need arises.