Carole Scanlon moved to Pine Run Village in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to begin a second act in her life. Armed with an explorer’s mindset, she opened herself up to new friendship, possibilities and a new purpose in retirement.
That soon led to Carole stepping in as chair of the Choral Program, overseeing the Village Voices and producing several concerts each year.
In the process, Carole found that many residents at Pine Run Village and other Presbyterian Senior Living communities were nurturing talents they had developed throughout their lives. At the same time, many picked up new skills and interests. One of her chorus members had spent his entire life not knowing he could sing.
“If you want to reinforce something you’ve done your entire life or try something new, it’s here,” she says.
Love and art
Retirement can be the beginning of a new chapter filled with exploration and discovery. At PSL, residents prove daily that this stage of life is anything but stagnant. From forming new relationships to embracing creative pursuits and leading community initiatives, residents discover an environment where they can thrive in a meaningful retirement.
For Irv and Lois Thompson, Pine Run Village has been a place of finding new love while expanding a lifetime of creativity. The couple met and married while living at Pine Run Village.
“Lois was sitting down at the opposite end of the table. Next thing I know, she’s sitting across from me. The woman next to me gave me an elbow and said, ‘Pay attention,’” Irv says.
Beyond finding a life companion, both immersed themselves in the arts at their PSL community. Lois, an artist and advocate for the arts, organized a display team to highlight the works of Pine Run residents and persuaded management to let them use the hallways as a gallery. Irv, who spent many years working in the carpentry field, began operating the community woodshop.
“It’s given my skills a place to be used,” he says. “I can utilize them for the good of the whole community.”
Finding purpose in giving back
At Quincy Village in Waynesboro, Ann Hersche’s passion for volunteering led her to work at the community’s thrift shop. She never imagined she’d soon be managing it.
“We moved in June 2017, and by October, I decided I wanted to get involved. I attended a training for volunteers. The thrift shop caught my eye, so I just showed up,” she says.
One day a week turned into two, and before long, she was asked to take on a managerial role. She has a team of over a dozen residents who help organize donations and staff the shop.
“We work well together and have a lot of fun,” Ann says.
A place for hobbyists and creators
For Todd Johnson, Green Ridge Village in Newville provided the perfect opportunity to finally devote time to his love of model railroads.
“I’ve been a follower of model railroading for many years but never had the opportunity to have one myself,” he says.
Now he’s converting the club’s old train controls to new technology. Todd has discovered other avenues for engagement as well, including the community’s well-stocked woodshop.
“If you’re bored, it’s because you want to be,” he says. “When you need to move into a retirement community, don’t be afraid to get involved. Don’t come planning to be reclusive. Come and plan to be as active as you can be.”
A lifelong passion for learning
Harry Gratwick, a retired history teacher and former dean, found his renewed purpose during retirement as a lead organizer and teacher at the Village College at Cathedral Village in Philadelphia. In 1998, retired teachers started the initiative, which offers structured learning without the pressures of grades or exams. Over the years, it has grown into a staple of the community. Of the 300 residents at Cathedral Village, nearly half will come to a class each semester.
“I spend hours preparing classes on topics that I didn’t know about, and I was a history teacher,” he says. “It really keeps me going.”
Through art, music, volunteerism, hobbies, and education, PSL provides opportunities for personal growth, connection, and a new start to a meaningful retirement. In the words of Lois Thompson, “Old age doesn’t have to be depressing. There’s still a lot of life left in you.”
