Ann Stretch

Review of Asbury Methodist Village

I offer this review of my association with Asbury ...

I offer this review of my association with Asbury Methodist Village, from the viewpoint of marketing, education, wellness, and other aspects of life after my move here. Maybe it will answer some of your questions about life at this retirement community. My association with Asbury Methodist Village started in May 2020 with a search for my forever home at a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Katie Davis of the Asbury Village Marketing Department was most helpful in presenting Zoom tours of available apartments. Even a Zoom tour in these pandemic times, highlighted that Asbury Village checked all the important boxes for me! My tour led me to select an apartment, and pay a deposit to hold it. About two weeks later, I visited my new apartment in-person and got to design it from floors to ceiling fans. Fortunately, Asbury was redoing the complete apartment, so I had a blank slate and was able to offer my input to the final outcome.

Katie Davis also spoke initially with my realtor in Arlington, Virginia, for after all I wished to sell my home before moving to Asbury. They outlined a plan to put up my home of 29 years for sale, and guess what-- it sold in about six hours on the first day of appointments open to the public. Remember these were Covid-19 times and I'm grateful that it all worked out for me.

My move-in days to Asbury Methodist Village were July 30 and July 31, 2020, just two months plus a week, after my first contact with Asbury Village on May 22, 2020! Talk about an accelerated pace! Of course I was in quarantine for two weeks after my move-in, but after that I spread my wings to experience the opening up of a Circuit Weight class in the Asbury Wellness Center, and Zoom yoga classes; and lectures, music concerts, race discussions, and other forms of learning through the resident-run Keese School of Continuing Education.

I'm a VA gal primarily raised, educated and careered in Virginia, and between August and September 30, I accomplished getting my Maryland driver's license, and MD auto registration and car insurance. Also, because I left all my physicians behind in Arlington, I'm working to establish a local primary care doctor; will retain some of my specialty medical professionals, like my dentist and other specialty-care physicians.

Having a dining plan was one reason that Asbury Methodist Village appealed to me. A dining-plan service option comes with my apartment, and I'm working with the chef and dining manager to accommodate my dietary needs, which are more challenging for me than for most others.

Now I'm at Asbury Village exploring new things and taking my time to assess where I want to volunteer my time. Oh yes, I registered to vote in Maryland, and will cast my vote for the first time in my new county of Montgomery. My last word to you folks is to VOTE.