We determined that while we were in good health, we wanted to have a plan in place for the future.

We decided to research Life Care communities in Southern New Hampshire as we really enjoy this area. We contacted and visited those communities that met our criteria and found that The Huntington at Nashua was exactly what we wanted.

The Huntington at Nashua has met all of our expectations. We truly enjoy the dining, swimming, exercise and other amenities, and we certainly appreciate the competent and unfailingly courteous staff. From Day One, we have been thrilled and continue to be thrilled by the warm way in which our fellow residents have welcomed us into their (and now OUR) community.

Our children were also pleased that WE made the decision NOW in regard to what items of personal possessions/family heirlooms would go to each. They will not have to make those decisions for us, as they saw us have to do for our parents. Nor will they have to be concerned if medical problems occur in the future. They find it comforting to know that we are residents of a Life Care Community that is equipped to provide assisted living or nursing home care if it is ever needed and at no additional cost to our estate. They, like we, are grateful for the fact that we are in an active, enjoyable, safe, pleasant and comfortable environment in this chapter of our lives.

The unexpected benefit from setting up our residence here is that of the wonderful new friends, the daily contact with them (as much or as little as we wish) and the knowledge that our needs will be served “in house” for the rest of our lives.

As we basked in the wonderful times of retirement we could not help but think of our parents and their need for help during the last few years of their retirement. They each had to be helped, including living with us as their years progressed (and they were younger than we are now.) A plan to address this problem for ourselves had been in the back of our minds for a few years and we pursued this idea with slow determination.

After reviewing a few options and discussing our thoughts with our children and some close friends, we saw an opportunity called "The Huntington at Nashua." A brand new, not-for-profit Life Care Retirement Community, The Huntington offers a 90% refundable entrance fee and an optional one time fee for long term care. The more we investigated, the more this possibility became our solution. With a couple of years of prayers behind us, we moved into Huntington in December of 2004.

It has been five years (wow), which is a lifetime, with an outcome which has met all of our expectations and then some. We have improved our outlook and our wellness by more activity and interest and less worry. Aerobics, Tai Chi, walking programs, weight strength training and balancing exercises has us well and feeling good. Good balanced food has made us smile. Participating in musicals, volunteering to help others, weekly socials, Holiday celebrations, travel trips to surrounding highlights (both in State and out) and committee meetings on in- house food evaluation, finance reviews, Theatre Groups, Italian classes, Square Dancing and more have kept us as active as we wish to be.

These five years for us have been used to enjoy, make friends and help people and we cannot help our enthusiasm from being projected to others. As someone said,
"It is like getting on a cruise ship and never getting off!” Come aboard!!!

To briefly tell you how I ended up here I must first explain that I had been widowed for several years, living in a lovely home in Avon, CT…I had a great network of friends and a cousin whom I regarded as a sister…so I was content. My daughter in Hollis, NH had seen the ads for The Huntington and on one of my many sojourns to New Hampshire we visited the Information Center (just for fun) and met with Judy and Joy. Bottom line: I ended up putting down a small deposit on an apartment never for one minute thinking I would really come here to live.

However, I liked the fact that I had a safety net and that I was enthusiastic about the people I had met at the various functions given by The Huntington to keep the depositors in touch and I liked the fact that my Hollis family was only eight miles away. So, by the time The Huntington was built in November of 2004, I was more than ready to move especially after having gone through a terrible winter where I was literally marooned and snowed in for several days. I felt reasonably comfortable about what for me would be a huge life change.

So on November 4, 2004 I moved in…and the rest is history. Simply put, I love it here. Even my daughter wants to change lifestyles with me. I love my apartment which to me is a refuge; however, when and IF I feel like it I can become part of the unbelievable roster of activities The Huntington offers. I can tend to my garden. I can participate in a “crazy” dance for the Theater Group. I can chair a committee (which I do). I can go to dinner with friends who are becoming my extended family.

I can have a glass of wine with my next door neighbor out on my patio. I can exercise with Elisa, our superb fitness instructor. I can play bridge. There is no end to what I can do. I have CHOICES! I haven’t even mentioned what I can do in the Nashua community, using The Huntington as a base of operation. I can mentor at the local schools, be on a Visitation Committee for my church, visit family, and speak Italian at the Nashua Public Library’s Italian Group meetings…and so on and so on.

There is also this very important factor at The Huntington: I am guaranteed lifetime care, on-site and at a predictable monthly fee with the Life Care program: I am taken care of health-wise as I move through the various stages of my life…I will never be deserted or have to go through a health care crisis unattended! That alone is such a comfort.

The Huntington at Nashua has been one of the nicest things that has happened to me. I feel so fortunate that I am able to live here and enjoy all the wonderful offerings The Huntington at Nashua gives. I am one lucky lady.

To me, it’s like a closely-knit neighborhood all living under one roof. Those who choose to start the day with the complimentary Continental Breakfast (8am to 10am) in the Bistro enjoy lots of conversation and a great many laughs. Dinner, it’s more of the same; lots of lively conversation, smiles and laughter…fun for all. Of course for those who prefer a quieter dinner atmosphere there is always the option of eating in the restaurant style dining room or use the take-out service and return to your apartment with the meal.

There are interesting trips on The Huntington bus to look forward to as well as a variety of entertainment, educational and cultural events brought right in from the outside. Residents are free to do as much or as little with their time as they choose. There are committees to join meetings to attend, fitness classes throughout the day, two movie nights weekly (showing brand new and older movies), games, classes, and get-togethers. A person can spend their days in the community or just doing their own thing outside the community.

Living expenses here are very predictable. One monthly charge covers a large number of separate bills I would receive living in my house. I also appreciate not having to make lists for repair work and calling my handyman. Here if something goes wrong a simple request to the front desk brings a quick response from maintenance and the problem is resolved.

By living here, should I develop any health issues that might require Assisted Living or Nursing Home Care, it is all available on site and is included in my monthly fee; the only thing extra I have to pay is for 2 additional meals a day. I continue the same monthly fee that I pay in my apartment.

Many people think it’s noble to remain in their homes forever. The problem is that, with advancing age, health issues arise and living alone, with all the obligations it involves becomes next to impossible.

The time to make the change to easier living is when you are still able to make your own decisions and at the same time to ensure that, should serious medical conditions appear, long-term health care is chosen in advance. Waiting limits your choices. With so many life-enhancing features, The Huntington at Nashua is the most ideal place to be living and I consider myself most fortunate to have become a resident here.

and more serene environment here in frosty New Hampshire, it never failed to surprise me that I would get nowhere in my sales pitch. Mom was going to stay put.

Well, mom is coming up on her 5th year anniversary as one of the first residents of The Huntington at Nashua. She – on her own – reached the conclusion that remaining in her own home was becoming more of an onerous chore in many, many ways. She was becoming increasingly aware that her age could eventually pose even more personal challenges and became open to the idea of looking for a retirement community. In less than a week of her expressing this shocking news to me, we as a family had toured The Huntington, and that I had – unbeknownst to mom – put down a deposit on her current little corner apartment known as H-301.

Fast forward to 2009. My mother has acclimated extremely well to her new surroundings – an astounding feat, as I see it, for a woman who thrives on independence and who accomplished more in her own way, and in her own familiar world than she may have ever thought possible.

The friends she has made at The Huntington have more than filled the void left when she abandoned her NY roots; the administration and staff have been warm, welcoming and responsive to her needs; the activities available to her have kept her interest (I swear that she has visited more spots in New Hampshire in 5 years than I have in 30!), and the surroundings and peace of mind she enjoys daily make living here a joy for her. Never has she considered the move she made to be anything less than ideal.

Our own little private joke – “Mom, what are you doing here?” – is a little something that reminds us both that she is where neither of us ever thought she would be – but it is, in fact, here, at The Huntington, that she is delighted to be ......

Condos looked like a good alternative. Also in consideration were the relatively new Continuing Care Facilities which inundated us with brochures for free dinners, tours, etc. Of course Retirement Homes were out of bounds because we didn’t want to live with a bunch of OLD people in a big apartment house. Then out of the blue we received an ad from The Huntington at Nashua announcing a cottage build program. Wow! Better than a condo because it came with continuing care so we would not have to move again someday with few options to choose from.

So we decided that it was worth a look and we went for a visit and a tour. A beautiful place in a great location (the state I grew up in). The cottage designs were made for living in style with privacy, but close to the main building so we could associate with the residents already living there. In addition to the cottage pricing being very reasonable compared with some of the other facilities that we visited and with a meal plan that only required 15 meals a month, it allowed us to enjoy some of our own cooking (when we felt like cooking).

Our visit to The Huntington at Nashua was great. Our tour guide was a Joy (literally). She showed us around the community including the apartments, meeting rooms (including one for Bridge) exercise center, swimming pool, and the Assisted Living and Nursing Home Health Center. Then she introduced us to the informal dining room called the Essex Bistro for a lunch with great food. The visit was very informative and made a good impression on us.

Without further ado we signed up…
On July 28, 2009 we moved into our new place and are feeling right at home here.