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Retirement

Lynda and Douglas Sanecki moved to Kernersville from Fair Haven, New Jersey, after Lynda’s retirement to be closer to their son and daughter, who both live in Greensboro.

Lynda and Douglas Sanecki chose Kernersville after touring what felt like “every house in every development” before finding a home with a master bedroom on the first floor that bordered a large, wooded ravine and stream. Their 100-year-old New Jersey home had a large parcel of land that backed up to a river.

Like the Saneckis, grandchildren and children bring many retirees to Kernersville. Other retirees have lived in the community for their entire lives. Retirement allows them the freedom and flexibility to volunteer or explore new interests.

The Senior Enrichment Center of Kernersville, housed in the basement of the Kernersville branch of the Forsyth County Public Library, is sponsored by the Shepherd’s Center. Programs include arts and crafts-based activities such as quilting, rubber stamping and a needlework guild. Exercise classes emphasize fitness while other groups meet weekly for bingo, bridge, canasta and other games. Bowling is an enjoyable pastime as are activities like the book club, movie matinees, a writers’ group and Wednesday programs. The Senior Enrichment Center sponsors the Kernersville Senior Men’s Club, a Diner’s Club, and even organizes both day trips and extended visits to interesting places.

The Senior Enrichment Center organizes events like its inaugural 2008 Kernersville Senior Idol, the Triad’s rendition of a silver-haired American Idol talent show. Featuring more than just musical numbers, Senior Idol is sponsored by Arbor Ridge at Kernersville.

Plans for Senior Idol had been in the works for months, according to Deb Mitchell, director of development for Kernersville’s Shepherd’s Center. The idea began in March when Marilyn Demaree, Gladys Cattanach and Ronnie Berstler, participants in a writing group at the Senior Enrichment Center, wanted to put together a variety show. Mitchell had been mulling over an idea for a talent show. Together the two ideas meshed to become the first Senior Idol.

Auditions were held for performers 55 and older interested in being in the show. Twelve of the 30 were chosen to compete. Acts included vocalists, an accordion player, a clogger, guitar numbers, a duet and an organist. Executive Director Ruth Woosley said that the experience was like Broadway in Kernersville with several hundred people attending the first show.

Kernersville newcomer Kin Wah Tang’s comedic “How the Chinese Take the Stage” entertained audience members as did Leon Erickson’s dramatic presentation of “The Courtin’” by James Russell Lowell.

“We want to expose the vitality of our programming while having a lot of fun, too. We hope this is an ongoing event,” says Mitchell.

The Shepherd’s Center is not all fun and games, though. It is a ministry that serves older and disabled adults and their families. Heather Camp, now a retiree herself, was the first executive director. She joined the Shepherd’s Center in November 1986 and worked in a single room off the Kernersville Moravian Church Fellowship Hall.

In the beginning, though, the Shepherd’s Center scraped by. Now services range from telephone reassurance to assisting people with transportation to the store and to the doctor. In 1986 the Shepherd’s Center had an operating budget of $10,000. Now it is nearly $300,000 and funded mainly through donations. They are housed in a building on Bodenhamer Street that they share with Crisis Control Ministries.

The Shepherd’s Center’s philosophy regarding older adults rings true about the respect retirees garner in Kernersville. The Web site states that the center “views older adults as a potential resource for the enrichment of the life of the community. Later life is seen as potentially rich, exciting and meaningful. Older adults are seen as possessing skills, experience, wisdom and matured judgment which can be called upon. This community ministry empowers individuals and enriches the lives of these older or disabled adults in this area, providing dignity, respect, purpose and other essentials of life.”

In fact, many of the Shepherd Center volunteers are retirees and older adults as well. Without the strong volunteer base, the center could not operate its many programs.

Other opportunities for senior living can be found at Kernersville’s houses of worship. Church programs aimed at senior congregation members provide ongoing activities for retirees in Kernersville. Frequent outings include trips to the Barn Dinner Theatre in Greensboro as well as joint meetings and trips with neighboring churches, such as the annual gathering of the Kernersville Moravian Stars and the Main Street United Methodist Heritage Club.

Seniors in Kernersville have discovered that the YMCA offers a strong fitness program for seniors, a spot that provides a place for social fellowship as well as a location for ongoing groups such as the weekly bridge group. Water aerobics remains a popular class with senior ladies. First Christian Church offers fitness programming for seniors as well.

After Cynthia Robertson retired from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, she and husband Dewey participated in the fitness programs at First Christian Church.

“It got us back on track, and it meant a lot to go where there is a Christian atmosphere. Plus, they make it affordable for retirees and seniors,” says Robertson.

As Kernersville has grown, so have the options for senior living. The newest and largest community is Arbor Ridge at Kernersville. An independent-living facility, the 60,000-square-foot retirement community is nestled into a wooded hillside on Masten Drive off South Main Street, offering self-reliant living options for senior citizens within a social, active environment.

“This is a wonderful development in Kernersville and shows the way private investment has provided more choice for residential housing,” said Mayor Dawn Morgan at the Arbor Ridge opening.

The homey ambiance of the spacious front porches and their white rocking chairs set the stage for what owners Jeff Dickerson and Sam Hooker hope will appeal to retirees.

“This is wonderful for the people in Kernersville whose parents have moved here from other places,” said Morgan.

Richard “Dick” Chapin has lived in Kernersville for 30 years. He placed the first deposit on Arbor Ridge at its groundbreaking and moved in the night of the grand opening. After his wife died, his three daughters wanted their father somewhere where he could be stimulated physically and mentally. Not ready for assisted living, Arbor Ridge provided a compromise between care and independence for Chapin, says his daughter Dawn Houseknect.

With monthly leases available, residents have more flexibility than some communities that require a buy-in. Moe Kinzer, Jenny Linville, Betty Goode, Nancy Whicker and Celia Hennings all came to see where one of their friends from Sunday school would be living. The ladies toured the facility and joked about being able to walk to their games at the bowling alley on Masten Drive.

“With the aging population we have, Arbor Ridge is definitely going to lead the way for these types of facilities and for medical facilities to care for this age group,” says Bruce Boyer, president/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.

“The stigma of what retirement homes used to be is far, far from what we are seeing now,” Boyer notes, referring to the high-end design elements at Arbor Ridge, such as the salon, library, exercise room and other amenities including miniature stovetops that cut off in 20 minutes. The independent-living concept allows senior citizens to live securely but on their own in an environment that can be as social or as private as residents choose.

“From the demand we saw at Kerner Ridge (a Ridge Care assisted living facility on Hopkins Road), we knew several people needed an independent living community instead of assisted living. We felt the desire was there,” explains Jeff Dickerson.

Dickerson notes that statistics indicate that the average stay in independent living is three years. Assisted-living stays average half of independent residence.

Another option for senior living, Shuler Health Care provides assisted-living customized to their residents. Located within walking distance of shopping, their villas provide a peaceful address as well as benefits such as meals, transportation, housekeeping and other services.

“Our senior population is exploding every day. In The NonProfit Times in 2007, they said every seven minutes someone will be turning 60 in the next 14 years. Homes like Arbor Ridge will be needed greatly in the coming years. We have several seniors in Kernersville who need assistance but not assisted living,” says Ruth Woosley, executive director of the Shepherd’s Center.

No matter the level of need or desire of activity, Kernersville provides seniors many opportunities to enjoy their golden years.