Happiness and Satisfaction
Pine Run Retirement Community understands the many needs of its Villagers.
When Harry and Margaret Wheaton left their home in North Carolina and moved into Pine Run Retirement Community to be closer to family, they were a little concerned that it might be difficult to make new friends. They soon found that they had nothing to worry about.
“We wondered how long it would take to get acclimated and meet people,” says Margaret Wheaton. “The people here are so nice, so friendly, we felt at home far more quickly than we thought we would.”
That warm, welcoming environment that defines this senior living community is just one of the many unique aspects of Pine Run that separates it from other retirement communities. It also is a significant factor that draws retirees from around the region and across the country to its bucolic 43-acre campus in central Bucks County.
For the Wheatons and their fellow Villagers, the relaxed, engaging, and peaceful environment of Pine Run makes it not only comfortable, but also a home where they feel safe and genuinely cared for, especially during challenging times.
“The administration and Associates are very good,” says Harry Wheaton. “They have absolutely stepped up in this crisis,” referring to the ongoing pandemic of novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. “There’s a lot of comfort in knowing that.”
“Ensuring that Pine Run Retirement Community exceeds the expectations of its residents and their families is our overriding mission, every day,” says Pine Run Executive Director Maria Santangelo. “Our team is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment for our community at all times.”
Dr. Chanchal Khanna couldn’t agree more. A retired pathologist, Dr. Khanna practiced at Doylestown Hospital for almost two decades. She searched for some time for a retirement community before settling on the exceptional offerings at Pine Run.
“My main idea was to stay in Bucks County, where my son lives,” she explains, “and I looked at several places.”
When Pine Run offered to merge two cottages into one to give Dr. Khanna the space she wanted, Pine Run Associates collaborated with her to create the home that was right for her.
“They were very helpful with the design and planning,” Dr. Khanna adds. “They did a great job.”
After more than four years at the community, Dr. Khanna is quite certain about her choice.
“I know I made the right decision, and my children, too, are happy that I’m here,” she says. “My heart is filled with gratitude.”
In some ways, now, more than ever, Dr. Khanna is grateful to be living in this continuing care retirement community. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Pine Run leaders “have been so great, updating us almost daily, assuring us that everything is running smoothly,” she says. “We don’t have to go out for anything.”
Adding to Villagers’ sense of security and certainty that they are always the first priority at Pine Run are the many extra efforts Associates make. Villagers receive education from Doylestown Health experts, along with regular updates and communications. Fitness programs have been video-recorded for Villagers to continue their exercise routines at home, and walks are conducted using social distancing. Associates continue to brighten Villagers’ days with unexpected treats—ice cream, grilled hot dogs, and spring flowers included.
“It all gives you such peace of mind,” Dr. Khanna shares.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all plan to meet the needs of our Villagers,” Santangelo adds. “As we navigate these uncharted waters, we are doing all we can to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our Villagers, including their safety, as well as their basic shopping needs, wellness, and life enrichment as best as we are able. Through open communication and a tremendous commitment from our Villagers and our courageous and dedicated Associates, we can hopefully come safely through this crisis together.”
Pine Run is a vibrant retirement community with a rich and expansive range of activities available to Villagers. From a state-of-the-art community center, which includes a sparkling new gym and swimming pool, to a light-filled fine dining restaurant and a more casual pub and grill, the community truly focuses on maximizing wellness in all its forms.
Whether you’d like to learn a new language, join a book club, or simply walk along the green trails that circle the pond and beyond, Pine Run is designed to enhance every aspect of life.
“There are so many activities here,” Dr. Khanna says. “There are trips to local museums, shops, and the theater. It’s wonderful.”
With the freedom that follows living at Pine Run, Harry Wheaton says he has found “peace of mind” knowing he no longer has to be concerned about home maintenance or the many other responsibilities that come with homeownership.
And, Margaret adds, she no longer has to think about meal planning.
“I don’t mind cooking, but I didn’t like the planning,” she says. “Now, I don’t have to think about that at all.”
The variety of meals, types of dining—formal, casual, indoor, or al fresco—mixed with a wide array of choices makes for very pleasant dining experiences every day, the couple agrees.
Like many other Villagers, the Wheatons and Dr. Khanna have spring on their minds. As trees blossom and flowers emerge, Pine Run is transforming into the beautiful landscape so widely known and beloved in Bucks County.
“I can see the roses starting to bloom in our small garden,” Margaret says. “Bucks County is very pretty. We love that we can go outside here and take it all in.”
Adding to the community’s natural beauty is the recent addition of a 320-square-foot greenhouse, where members of the Green Thumb Society can pursue their gardening passion throughout the year. Whether a hobbyist, landscape architect, or Master Gardener, all Villagers are welcome to enjoy the gardening life.
“I look at the greenhouse as the outdoor focal point of The Hub (as the community center is known),” says Jim Eidson, who, along with his wife, Ann, leads the gardening society. “It’s located right next to the waterfall and rain garden, and close to the bocce and shuffleboard courts. There’s a quiet place to sit outside. It’s very welcoming.”
It’s that feeling of inclusiveness, the sense of belonging, and Pine Run’s unwavering commitment to each Villager’s well-being that sets it apart and brings so much happiness and satisfaction to those who call it home.
Pine Run Retirement Community
777 Ferry Road
Doylestown, Pa.
(800) 992-8992 | pinerun.org
Photograph by Daniel I. Lipson
To view the story in our digital edition, click here.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, April 2020.
