Independent senior finds a community to call home

Shirley Warner has a new lease on life.

Ever since she purchased a new condominium home at The Greens of Elgin, Windsor LifeCare LLC's community of 90 condominiums designed for independent seniors, she is a new person.

Widowed at 57, Warner learned to make new friends over the years. But many of those friends eventually passed away and she ended up living alone in a ranch-style townhouse in Elgin, which isolated her from the activities and friends she cared about.

Loneliness and a crippling osteoporosis condition left her depressed. She was losing weight, and her family grew concerned that she might be slipping away.

So her children convinced Warner, 83, that she needed a change of scenery that offered more opportunities for socialization and interaction, as well as a range of services in case she ever needs them.

They found all this and more at The Greens of Elgin, located only two miles away from her townhouse.

"At first, I was extremely opposed to the thought of moving," said Warner. "When you get older, you become resistant to and fearful of change. But once I gave it a chance, I discovered how wonderful The Greens of Elgin is and I realized that this was the best decision I could have made."

Shirley and her family were instantly impressed by the community -- from its bright, clean hallways and shared areas, to its quality built condominium residences. The variety of perks available were also impressive, including optional healthcare services offered through Sherman Home Care, housekeeping services, a 24-hour emergency call system, and a range of planned social, recreational and educational activities.

Warner selected a single-occupancy unit with one-bedroom, one bath and 750 square feet of living space, which she moved into in early 2006, and she hasn't looked back.

"In no time at all, I was making friends and fitting right in," she said. "I met my two new best friends, Marian and her husband, Joe, in the dining room, and now we eat together almost every day."

Other than the on-site beauty salon offering hair and manicure services, Warner's favorite amenities are the regular activities and special events, including ballroom dancing, classical piano performances, visits from high school choirs, and screenings of new and classic films offered four nights a week.

"My mother has quickly made an impact at The Greens of Elgin -- so much so that her nickname is 'the ambassador,'" said Warner's son, Mark. "She's already recruited several people to buy homes there."

Daughter-in-law Ann said she is thrilled that the smooth transition to Warner's new community has exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Left to her own devices, Shirley would have stayed put in that townhouse and remained sad, alone and failing in health," Ann said. "We collectively made a decision that was in Shirley's best interests, and it's worked out wonderfully. She's gained 12 pounds since moving to The Greens of Elgin, and her doctor recently said that she could easily live to see 100. She's like a whole new person."

Warner is visited regularly by her three children, Paul, Carol and Mark, and their spouses, as well as her seven grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

"There is nothing else like The Greens of Elgin anywhere else in this area," said Mark. "Our mom wasn't ready for a nursing home and, while there are plenty of age-restricted communities and active adult developments, none of the ones we researched offer health care services on site -- a benefit that is easy to overlook or take for granted when you're shopping for this type of community."

"It's such a relief to know, for instance," he said, "that Shirley has a life call alert device she wears around her neck that, with a push of a button, can bring aid in a matter of seconds."

A monthly association fee covers several amenities, including 20 meals a month, routine maintenance, housekeeping services every two weeks, weekly linen change, gas, water, basic cable TV and electric utilities, scheduled transportation, and an extensive list of social, fitness and wellness programs. The Greens of Elgin also offers fitness and wellness programs, on-site banking and mail services, a sundries store and round-the-clock staffing.

Condominiums at The Greens of Elgin feature one or two bedrooms and range in size from 750 to 1,000 square feet. They range in base price from $139,900 to $201,900.

All major appliances, such as dishwasher, range, microwave, refrigerator, washer and dryer, are included.

To reach The Greens of Elgin, take I-90 to Route 31 south to Big Timber Road. Turn west to McLean Boulevard and go south to the community. Models are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Tuesday. For more information about The Greens of Elgin or The Greens of East Dundee, call (847) 289-0400 or visit www.winddev.com.