Chances Are You’ll Find It—And A Whole Lot More—At Christwood.
Whether you’ve moved many times or only a few, the move you’re contemplating now may very well be one of the most important of your life. It doesn’t matter if you’re in your early sixties or well into your nineties (or beyond), your living environment—including the people who are part of it—will play a significant role in the quality of your life. And, the quality of your life could be a factor in how long you live. While that’s certainly not revelatory information, it is worth keeping in mind as you explore your options. What are you looking for in an independent living community?
The ‘Usual’ Benefits Of Living In A Retirement Community
These days, most senior living communities offer the appeal of a maintenance-free lifestyle. What that means is the community takes care of all home maintenance, inside and out, including repairs, and usually provides a regular cleaning service as well. That frees up time that residents can devote to other interests, from hobbies to travel and volunteer activities.
Most also offer on-site dining options, social activities, wellness classes, educational opportunities and scheduled transportation to nearby shopping venues, banks, restaurants and medical providers. Many have some level of on-site healthcare.
In other words, retirement communities that feature independent living in addition to assisted living and skilled nursing are a good choice for those who seek convenience, security and an abundance of ways to stay active and connect with other people.
What Makes Christwood Such A Unique Independent Living Community
Christwood offers all of the services and amenities we just mentioned, along with so much more. Our gated community is situated on 117 acres of lush, well-tended land, with walking trails, nearby lakes for fishing and other outdoor areas—such as the Harvey Trace and boardwalk to the Scutter Murphy Pavilion—for residents to enjoy. As a pet-friendly community, we even have a dog park where residents can let their beloved furry companions socialize and exercise. One of the most recent additions to our landscape is the Pea Patch, a flower and vegetable garden created by residents who wanted to put their green thumbs to good use.
Within our community, you’ll find 17 different residential options for independent living, from distinctive apartment homes in varying sizes and floor plans to comfortable cottages that offer a more traditional neighborhood setting.
The 23,000-square-foot Christwood Community Center is another distinguishing landmark within our campus. The center features a heated pool, the full-service Lotus Spa, healthy dining venues, a professionally staffed fitness facility with a frequently refreshed schedule of wellness classes, educational programs, and spaces for celebrations and other small group gatherings. Residents of Christwood have complimentary access to the center’s amenities, and adults aged 55 or older within the greater Covington area can become members for an annual fee. If you’d like to read more about the Christwood Community Center, check out our January blog post. For more information about becoming a member or to set up a time to come by, call (985) 317-1505.
What really and truly sets us apart from any other independent living community are the shining jewels of Christwood: the residents. They all have fascinating stories to tell about their richly lived experiences. Our community is home to such singular individuals as Richard, a globetrotting corporate executive and adventurer who became a beekeeper; Emery, an acclaimed artist whose work is on display throughout the region; Steve, who earned his doctorate at the age of 64; and Bob and Jan, a long-married pair of broadcast personalities who’ve journeyed from their original home in West Virginia to New York City to New Orleans before settling here in Covington. And just because these remarkable people have retired and now live here at Christwood doesn’t mean they’ve slowed down. Far from it, in fact; they continue to write new chapters to their inspiring stories.
Why Community Matters
Aside from making life more enjoyable, being around friendly, interesting, and upbeat people can add years to your life. A meta-analysis of medical literature indicates that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone can increase the risk for premature mortality by an average of 26% to 32%.1 That’s on par with the risk associated with smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having alcohol use disorder, according to the lead author of the meta-analysis. Other research places the risk of social isolation on premature death considerably higher.2
The residents here at Christwood are more than neighbors. Beyond the same street address, they share common interests and a desire to make both the internal community and the one that surrounds Christwood the best they can be through volunteerism and other efforts. This is such a big part of our community that we developed the “Heart for Service” campaign, which features a different resident each month who has contributed in a significant way.
Ours is a connected community—even now, with the requisite social distancing guidelines in place. Taking residents’ suggestions and feedback into consideration, the staff and management team at Christwood have come up with creative solutions that keep residents active and engaged while keeping everyone in the community as protected as possible. We know and appreciate just how valuable those connections are!
At Christwood, You’re Free To Live Your Own Story
As you ponder your next move, know that Christwood offers you the chance to explore all kinds of possibilities. You can investigate new interests, form new friendships and pursue new pastimes—all while experiencing the perks of independent living.
To get a feel for what life could be like for you here at Christwood, we invite you to follow us on Facebook, where we regularly shine the spotlight on residents and staff members. You can also have some fun and watch the weekly Home at Christwood with Bob & Jan television shows.
Another option is to talk with us or set up a time to come by and see our scenic community for yourself. To arrange a personal tour, please take a minute to fill out our contact form, and we’ll be in touch!
1 Julianne Holt-Lunstad et al., “Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review,” Perspectives on Psychological Science 10, no. 2 (March 2015): 227-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352.
2 Amy Novotney, “The risks of social isolation,” American Psychological Association, May 2019, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation.
