Parkinson's Champion Relishes Life at Monarch Landing
When Lynn McHale moved to Monarch Landing in Naperville last April, she told her family she was going to her "new condo with every amenity imaginable. This is not a nursing home or elder facility; this is a retirement community with vibrant, vital, independent, interesting people," said the 64-year-old. It's also where McHale, president of the Midwest chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), who has the disease herself, can swim, travel, walk her dog on beautiful grounds and in a dedicated dog park, dine on delicious, healthy food, make new friends, and engage in the exercise classes that are critical to delaying the onset and progression of Parkinson's.
"I was really impressed with the fitness instructors here and the advanced level of classes. I thought the program might not be as challenging as others, but it's been quite the opposite." When taking care of her former home in Aurora had become physically and financially draining, McHale (also a breast cancer survivor) made the decision to concentrate on herself and her health without the burden of maintaining a home and risking a life-threatening injury during the icy winter months. "I'll always remember my mother telling me that she waited too long to move from her own home; she told me never to do that," said McHale. "I can't imagine if I'd waited even a year or two longer. It would have been much more difficult physically."
In her position as president of the Midwest APDA, serving all of Illinois and northern Indiana, McHale is familiar with the many options available to those in search of a retirement community. "I chose Monarch Landing because it was important to me to live in a continuing care environment that would accommodate my wants and needs now and into the future," she said.
Years before she moved in, she admired the community when she passed it on her way to work, and when a volunteer resident showed her around for the first time, she found it not only beautiful inside and out, but also very friendly and accommodating. "Once I moved in, I got several invitations to dinners, brunch on Sundays, and I can invite my friends and family to dine with me here as well." McHale was also very impressed that she could customize her apartment to her own personal style and design. "This is not a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all kind of place," she said.
Still very active outside the Monarch Landing community, McHale is helping to organize the APDA's 25th Silver Anniversary Walk on September 12 at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion in downtown Naperville. "My focus as president is to increase public awareness about the disease, deliver more services, grow membership, and increase volunteerism and fundraising." When she is not advocating for a cure for Parkinson's, the retired 41-year Sears Holdings employee takes art classes, writes a blog, and enjoys the freedom to partake in all that is available to her. "Living at Monarch Landing allows me to concentrate on me, which is what I need to do."
Monarch Landing is a continuing care retirement community located on a scenic campus in Naperville, Illinois-named "one of America's best places to live and retire" by Modern Maturity, and "the best city for early retirement" by Kiplinger. Monarch Landing offers independent living, promoting a vibrant life style for active seniors. The Springs at Monarch Landing offers assisted living memory support, rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, thus providing complete continuing care for seniors. Monarch Landing is owned by Senior Care Development and managed by Life Care Services. For additional information visit www.WelcomeToMonarchLanding.com or www.TheSpringsatMonarchLanding.com.