Innovation Drives Events at Phoebe’s Chestnut Ridge at Rodale
Even though ground hasn’t yet been broken for Phoebe’s Chestnut Ridge at Rodale retirement community in Emmaus, future residents are already getting to know each other and making connections through Phoebe-hosted programs and events designed with COVID-19 safety in mind.
The future retirement community will transform the former Rodale corporate campus into a wellness-focused residential destination for people ages 60 and older. Existing facilities will be adapted into apartments with spacious floor plans, and all construction will prioritize limiting disturbance of existing green space. The project will even utilize some of the campus’s current, unique features, including the walking and biking trails once used by Rodale employees.
Normally, Phoebe hosts large events to allow future residents to mingle. But 2020 and the beginning of 2021 have been anything but normal. Phoebe staff rose to the challenge and reimagined get-togethers with an emphasis on meeting health and safety guidelines. That meant switching to more outdoor and virtual events over the last year, says Lifestyle Specialist Karen Sinkovits—and it’s been a switch that future Chestnut Ridge residents have embraced.
A webinar on decluttering using the KonMari Method, popularized by the Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, was a big hit for folks preparing to move to Chestnut Ridge. “Downsizing can feel really overwhelming if you don’t have a roadmap,” says webinar host Amanda Jefferson, who owns Indigo Organizing and is a KonMari professional speaker. “The KonMari Method works wonders for people who are ready to de-clutter but who have no idea where to start.”
The monthly bingo game, held in the former Rodale cafeteria because of its large size (and held virtually over the fall and winter), has also remained popular. Prizes have included wine, gift cards, flowers, gourmet food items, candy, and more.
Now, as warmer weather has arrived in the Lehigh Valley, everyone is looking forward to a new normal with renewed excitement – and the Phoebe team continues to find opportunities to bring future residents together.
Early on the morning of May 4, a group of future residents gathered for a hike at South Mountain Preserve. The hike was led by an expert from the Wildlands Conservancy. The group learned about native plants popping up along the trail. They identified a few birds, and learned how to recognize their unique calls. The group also enjoyed hearing some handy wilderness survival tips along the way.
Shannon Jones of Girlfriends Art Clique led a Spring Painting Party for future residents on May 11th. Paint and supplies were provided, and everyone enjoyed the opportunity for creativity and fellowship as they painted a pretty flower design on a wooden serving tray.
On May 21, 40 future residents enjoyed an outdoor concert featuring SweetLife, the duo of Matt and Carol Frigm. SweetLife treated the audience to a set of ‘60s and ‘70s songs. Delicious appetizers from Sayre Mansion were a major highlight of the evening.
In addition to all of the other special activities that have been going on, a new Senior Wellness Series created opportunities for future residents to safely mingle while participating in fun, educational activities. The series, held on Thursdays at 10:30am, kicked off on May 6 with a seated yoga class led by Sara Massey. The following week was a Zumba Gold class with Maria Tavares. Other events in the series included classes on fall prevention, the importance of healthy eating, spirituality and health, and mindfulness-based meditation. These educational sessions were presented by experts from Phoebe Ministries’ staff.
Future residents are also helping with events by bringing their own creativity to the table. “There are a lot of talented people who are going to live here, who have a variety of interests and backgrounds,”
Sinkovits says. “One woman teaches Broadway tap. It can be adapted to being seated, or you can stand…so we put this out to future residents and asked if anyone wants to join a tap group; I mean, what a great way to get exercise!”
Another future resident is an author, which fit in perfectly with Chestnut Ridge’s monthly book club. “We recently read her novel, and then had a meet and greet with her, which was an added treat,” Sinkovits says. The book club is “held in a very large multipurpose room we have. Some members will call in if they’re not comfortable joining in person. Each month, a different future resident gets to choose a book, which introduces us to a variety of genres.”
The Phoebe team continues to find safe, innovative ways to bring future residents together and highlight the unique options and amenities offered at Chestnut Ridge at Rodale. For more information, visit chestnutridgeatrodale.org or call 610-632-8408.