Golden Touch
Dunwoody Village celebrates a century’s worth of history, including 50 years of enriching residents’ lives as a premier continuing care retirement community.
by Phil Gianficaro

Some anniversaries are more special than others.

For the leaders and residents of Dunwoody Village in Newtown Square, 2024 has been an historic year. The award-winning continuing care retirement community (CCRC) – one of the area’s first – is honoring not only its 50th anniversary, but also the 100th anniversary of the CCRC’s predecessor, the Dunwoody Home.

Dunwoody Village has a lot to celebrate in addition to these special anniversaries. Situated on 83 picturesque acres, more than 400 residents enjoy unparalleled comfort, high-quality health care, and a vibrant lifestyle.

“Our focus for our residents has always been to help them live the life they’ve always lived,” says Maureen Casey, President and CEO of Dunwoody Village. “We want to know their roles and passions and see them realize their potential in every area.”

The community traces its beginnings to a Philadelphia area native, William Hood Dunwoody. When he died at age 72, Mr. Dunwoody left behind a rich legacy that has impacted the lives of countless people. He was known as a humble man with a deep respect for life and an appreciation for all humankind, and those ideals continue to live on at Dunwoody Village.

“This year is not just a key anniversary year,” Casey says. “We’ve also reflected on our foundation and history. We used an inclusive process to review our mission, vision, and values, which is our driving force. Although we made some changes, we continue to be true to the vision of William Hood Dunwoody. The world continues to change as does Dunwoody. We wouldn’t have made it to our 100th anniversary without adapting.”

While change is a constant at Dunwoody Village, the community has formally moved into a period of strategic planning. Casey says the community has put “significant focus and capital” into its infrastructure, community spaces, and residences, among other priorities.

“Now, our focus is on health care,” she adds. “We know prospective and current residents choose Dunwoody because of our outstanding health care. We are analyzing the current and future environment of health care, including acute care, rehabilitation, and community services. We are focusing not only on the needs and wants of our current residents, but also working to understand the needs and wants of future residents.”

Dunwoody Village already stands apart due to its superior service to residents, whether they live in independent living, personal care, or skilled nursing. Each resident has access to an array of services, including 24-hour emergency assistance, when needed. Residents also can access onsite providers, including primary care, various specialties, and dentistry. Should residents choose to remain with their own physician, however, the community provides local medical transportation at no- or low-cost.

Residents aren’t the only ones who appreciate Dunwoody Village’s devotion to uncompromising care. The community has repeatedly been named by U.S. News & World Report as Best Short-Term Rehabilitation and Best Long-Term Care among the top U.S. skilled nursing facilities.

Casey attributes Dunwoody Village’s ongoing success to its collaborative philosophy. A strong partnership among the board of trustees, staff, and residents—which is referred to as “One Dunwoody”—ensures that all voices are heard. For example, the Dunwoody Village Residents’ Association handles everything from scheduling entertainers, leading lectures, and organizing scholarships for employees. This year’s scholarship fund amassed $21,000.

“The work we do here requires teamwork between the trustees, residents, and the staff,” Casey adds. “The care, respect, and dedication our team has for our residents is evident. We have tenured employees who have been here for 30 and 40 years. We’re grateful for the people who have chosen to work here to help the residents.”

An Exceptional Place to Call Home
The convalescent home that grew out of Mr. Dunwoody’s legacy was only five years old when Norma Winther came into the world. Now, at the age of 95, Winther is a resident of Dunwoody Village, which “just felt right from day one.”

Shortly after moving to Dunwoody in 2009, Winther became especially interested in exploring the community’s history. She and a group of fellow residents and employees unearthed materials and documents about its founding and history of service to seniors. First in a studio apartment at Dunwoody Village and now in a dedicated historical archive located within the library, Winther and other residents have memorialized the community’s ongoing history and the life of the man who shares its name.

“Mr. Dunwoody was a humble man who was raised by Quakers,” Winther says. “He is responsible for making this such a special place. At age 28, Dunwoody moved to Minnesota and was hired by the company that became General Mills; he had been in the milling business in Philadelphia. He was then sent to England to sell winter wheat. He fit in there with his Quaker background.”

He was also, to put it lightly, very successful. He died in 1914 at the age of 72, and his will contained a bequest of $1 million for the construction and maintenance of a convalescent home on the Dunwoody farm at Newtown Square, in honor of his parents.

“He made a lot of money, as he and his wife were astute investors,” Winther says. “His will designated 13 people he trusted to be executors. He wanted it in the hands of people he respected, many Quakers. How he was raised here—the caring for people—is reflected in what Dunwoody Village is today.”

The Dunwoody Home remained in existence until 1992. In the meantime, in 1974, Dunwoody Village opened as one of the area’s first continuing care retirement communities.

Early on, Dunwoody Village was home to 50 residents. Its resident population has since grown to approximately 400, including many second-generation residents who appreciate its rich history and reputation as an exceptional place where residents have been living, learning, and growing for half a century and counting.

Dunwoody Village has been hosting a series of celebrations and observances to mark the anniversary, beginning with a champagne-toast unveiling of a restored portrait of Mr. Dunwoody that had adorned the living room of the original Dunwoody Home. Other events included a nostalgia dinner featuring cuisine that would have been popular during the early 1970s, when the community was founded; a “Comedy in the Catskills” show; a history presentation by Winther; and a gala consisting of residents, staff, board of trustee members, and proclamations by community leaders.

Casey, Dunwoody Village’s chief executive, feels fortunate to participate in the festivities. More so, she’s honored to lead an organization with so much history behind it and so much promise ahead.

“Being a part of Dunwoody Village as we celebrate this special anniversary is such a privilege,” she adds. “We’re preserving and retelling Dunwoody’s rich history. We’re celebrating today’s contributions by our residents, team members, and board. And we’re laying the foundation for a future filled with promise. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Dunwoody Village
3500 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 359-4400

www.dunwoody.org

 

Photo by Jeff Anderson

Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, September 2024.