Rocking Retirement

“We’re not sitting around here in our rocking chairs,” said BK Roberts of the lifestyle at Riddle Village, a lifecare community in Media, Pennsylvania. “We never have to wonder what we are going to do all day. We have a schedule—a very busy schedule.”

BK and his wife, Judie Roberts, have been residents of Riddle Village for three years. They have quickly become integral members of the thriving and vibrant community.

Riddle Village is a continuing care retirement community, also known as a lifecare community, which provides living accommodations; residential services and amenities; and unlimited long-term Personal Care and Nursing Care, if needed. One of the many benefits of the lifecare program is the predictable cost for short or long-term Personal Care or Nursing Care should it become necessary. Residents enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they will always be cared for and will never have to burden their family with difficult care taking responsibilities or decisions. As an added bonus, Riddle Village is conveniently located right beside Riddle Hospital, part of the Main Line Health System.

For Pennsylvania natives, BK and Judie, Riddle Village’s ideal location was an important factor in their decision to move. The couple met at Penn State University and have been married for 61 years. They have two children and three grandchildren, who have all settled in the Philadelphia suburbs.

After graduating from college, BK was drafted into the Army. BK and Judie were married shortly thereafter and moved together to Massachusetts before once again settling near Philadelphia.

Judie was an elementary school teacher for 25 years. BK was the Vice President and Director of Purchasing for a Fortune 500 company. His work took the couple from Philadelphia to Dayton, Ohio, where they lived for ten years.

When BK took a similar position with a new company, the Roberts returned to the east coast and lived in Baltimore for a decade before retiring to Tom’s River, New Jersey. While living in New Jersey, BK and Judie were able to focus on a lifelong passion—sailing.

BK learned to sail from his father at the tender age of 10. Judie learned from BK and has been sailing since they married. The couple owned a 35-foot sailboat, and sailed up and down the East Coast. “While we were living in New Jersey, we did a lot of sailing, and we took a great trip up to Nantucket,” BK recalled. “Our entire family sails. I learned from my dad, and our children were both championship sailors.”

As they started to age, the Roberts traded their sails for golf clubs and relocated to an active adult community in West Chester, PA. They lived there for 17 years and enjoyed golfing and playing tennis regularly.

“We were both in our 80s by this point, and we decided it was time for some insurance,” said BK of their decision to search for a lifecare community. Judie added, “We wanted to move together, and we never wanted our children to have to worry about us.”

BK and Judie concentrated their search for a new retirement community on lifecare communities because they wanted lifelong care and financial stability. “We have a friend who is spending her life savings in a nursing home, so we wanted to buy this as insurance for ourselves, to ensure that our savings lasts,” BK explained.

While BK and Judie always knew they would move to a lifecare community—like both of their mothers before them—choosing the right community took time and research.

“We looked at about eight different communities, all within 40 miles of Philadelphia, before we chose Riddle Village,” said BK. “We are so pleased with this community. It is so well constructed and well  managed. The people are great too, and the lifestyle is just wonderful.”

BK also noted that Riddle Village offered some of the largest apartment options they saw, as well as underground parking and enclosed walkways. The walkways allow residents to navigate the entire community without going outside—a feature that is particularly desirable in the winter.

Beyond care for life, Riddle Village offers an array of options to keep residents active and engaged. Residents have unlimited access to a fitness center and an indoor heated pool. The community features four unique restaurants, all which receive rave reviews from residents. Finally, there are activities and amenities for everyone—from Bocce ball and shuffle board to a well-equipped woodworking shop and clubs for board and card games.

“There are so many activities here. There is something to do all the time,” Judie said. “I play bridge and Mahjong, but you could never get bored here.”

BK concurred, “You can be as active as you want to be here. You can do everything or nothing at all. We just happen to be the type of people who like to be involved.”

BK serves as a Resident Council representative and spends a lot of time in the community’s woodworking shop. He is also involved in organizing the active Bocce ball league on campus, including four teams and games every Saturday in season. The Bocce ball court is located in the community’s beautiful courtyard, which also features a shuffle board court, putting green, fire pit, koi pond and
lounge area.

Together, the Roberts chaired the committee that organizes Riddle Village’s annual putting tournament and fundraiser for the endowment fund, which provides subsidies to current residents in the event that they are no longer able to pay because of financial hardship. The tournament raised more than $30,000 to support residents this year alone.

At Riddle Village, the Roberts are always busy—and they couldn’t be happier. “I have friends tell me that they don’t want to move to a retirement community because they love their homes so much,” Judie said. “We loved our home too, but I think there comes a time when you have to be responsible and think about the future and who is going to care for you when you get older. This was the best decision for us, and we are so happy here.”

“Our day-to-day life here at Riddle Village is very busy, very full,” BK concluded. “We are always go, go, go, but that is how you stay healthy: you stay busy.”

BK and Judie may have no time for rocking chairs, but they are rocking retirement.

By Christy Brudin

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