1000 Cranes exhibit created by a Glacier Hills resident
The best senior living communities not only reflect the character and interests of their residents but inspire them to be active and engaged members of society. They are not just places where seniors move to simplify their lives; they provide residents with the freedom and opportunity to pursue their interests. Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor is an ideal example of vibrant senior living in an elegant and engaging atmosphere.
Recently I had the opportunity to tour Glacier Hills with director of sales, Liz Mathews. Liz demonstrated a genuine care and compassion for both current and future residents. She shared my enthusiasm for helping seniors plan well in advance for a move to community living. Liz very graciously spent part of a Friday afternoon educating me on the amenities, services, and activities available to the residents of the Glacier Hills community.
View from one of the walking paths
Glacier Hills is located on a 34-acre campus on the east side of Ann Arbor. The grounds feature walking trails among the ponds and treed landscape. In season, there is a beautiful flower garden where residents are permitted to cut flowers to enjoy in their homes. In another area, raised garden beds are adopted and tended by individual residents, one of whom was out tending his garden during my visit. Of course, there is plenty of inviting patio space to enjoy, as well.
Manor art gallery featuring works of Glacier Hills residents
The cultural opportunities available at Glacier Hills are impressive. There are multiple art galleries in the community, including one gallery that features the work of the accomplished artists who live in the community. The library collection is actively managed by a coordinator and features a section for books written by resident authors. In October, there was a series of opera workshops and a lecture about Picasso. In November, a trip to the DIA is planned to tour the Van Gogh exhibit.
Resident Authors section of the library
Education is a lifelong process, so Glacier Hills provides many opportunities to exercise and stimulate the mind. In the fall, there were both a lecture about and a bus tour of the Underground Railroad sites in the Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti areas. A lecture on Rosie the Riveter presented by the docent at a local museum is scheduled. Other fall courses included drivers ed for seniors, cooking, safety, technology, and pain management.
Wellness Connection
Exercise is an important part of a quality lifestyle and Glacier Hills has that covered, too. The recently upgraded wellness/fitness center is impressive with a wide selection of workout machines and is filled with an abundance of natural light. Exercise bikes are placed conveniently around the community, as well. There are a variety of exercise and yoga classes offered almost every day of the week.
Of all the beautiful spaces, my favorite was the Victors Lounge. Decorated in Maize & Blue, it is the perfect spot to watch a game or just relax and enjoy the memorabilia.
Victors Lounge
As would be expected of an upscale senior community, Glacier Hills offers multiple dining options from formal to casual prepared by a professional culinary staff. The day I visited, the 5-course dinner menu featured Delmonico steak, rainbow trout, salmon, and other options.
Glacier Hills is a Life-Care community, which assures residents that they will not need to move out of the community for assisted living, memory care, or long-term care. In independent living, they offer a wide variety of apartment-style floor plans as well as detached villa homes. Unlike most life-care communities or CCRCs, they also offer independent apartment lease options that are not part of the life-care plan. There really is something to appeal to every lifestyle preference at Glacier Hills and they are continuing to expand with a new upscale independent living option coming in 2023.
Tina Doyle is the Founder of MI Seniors Move, a company focused on assisting seniors with every aspect of moving - including education, planning, downsizing, real estate sales, and relocation management. As a certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) and a candidate for Certified Senior Housing Professional (CSHP) certification, Tina is dedicated to ensuring that her senior clients and their families are treated with the utmost of care and compassion. Please contact Tina at tina@miseniorsmove.com for a no-obligation consultation to discuss senior housing options, the downsizing process, and strategies for a successful move. It is Tina’s goal to be your resource for all things related to senior housing.
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