Proof Positive
While good physical health cannot be discounted, a positive outlook and the ability to adapt help older adults make the most of each day.
by Bill Donahue

On an afternoon in mid-April, Suzette Moyer prepares for a talent show at her community, Arbour Square of Harleysville. The talent she will put on display: drumming, which she will perform with many of her fellow residents. 
 
“We’re divided into two groups, and we picked two different songs, one for each group,” she says. “I was assigned to ‘Mamma Mia’; the other song is ‘Roll Back the Rug.’” 
 
Drumming is a relatively new skill for Moyer, a native of Syracuse, New York, but she has never been one to shy away from uncharted territory.
 
Moyer met her husband, Jay, when he came to Syracuse to study political science at Syracuse University. After earning his degree, Jay wanted to return to his hometown in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he became a fixture in county and state politics. She accompanied him, devoting her career to education, including several years as a teacher at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Souderton. 
 
“When I met Jay, I had yet to visit the Harleysville area,” she says. “It had one stop light, and I thought: I can’t live here. He assured me I would love it, and I did; I found the people to be wonderful, and I made the adjustment.”
 
Adaptation is a vital skill when it comes to aging. With older age comes a breadth of new experiences—some welcome, others challenging. Physical health plays an outsized role in one’s ability to weather significant challenges, but one’s ability to adjust to all sorts of changes is just as consequential.  
 
Moyer faced perhaps the most significant adjustment of her life in 2018, when Jay—her husband of nearly 50 years—passed away at the age of 70. She stayed in their three-floor Lederach home for a time, but ultimately decided she was ready for a change of scenery. Upon visiting Arbour Square of Harleysville, she discovered “a sense of joy and peace” she had not expected. She visited a second time with her twin sister, Suzanne, and brother-in-law, Tom, both of whom still lived in Upstate New York.
 
“As we were getting ready to leave, I asked my brother-in-law, who hates nursing homes, ‘What do you think?’” she says. “He turned to my sister and said, ‘Suzanne, if they had an Arbour Square in Syracuse, we would be living there.’”
 
Moyer, 76, is into her second year at the community. She appreciates the closeness among residents, as well as their creativity, kindness, and engagement. Her days are full—a gardening committee, two book clubs, church, Bible study, walking on trails surrounding the community, the occasional happy hour with fellow residents. 
 
Moyer also possesses a strong philanthropic streak. 
 
“When I wake up in the morning, put someone in front of me I can help,” she says. “That makes me feel fulfilled. We all need to help each other go through this journey. … Sometimes it’s just sitting and listening to someone else, asking good questions. Kindness is so important.”
 
While she’s happy with her decision to move into a continuing-care retirement community, she admits that some aspects of the experience have taken some getting used to. She misses the quietude and natural surroundings of her former home.
 
“I had floor-to-ceiling windows at my last home, so I could go anywhere in the house and visually see the moon and the Three Sisters,” she says, referring to another name for Orion’s Belt. “I’m in an apartment now, so how do I solve that need to see the [night sky]? If I go to different parts of the building, you can see for miles, so I’ll go there and look at the moon at different times of the evening. 
 
“It is a big sacrifice in some ways, but I knew that going into it,” she continues. “When I left Syracuse, it was a huge change, leaving my home and my twin sister. If I could do that, I knew I could move to Harleysville. The people here are loving; the residents care deeply for you. … It’s a joyful place. Life is full and fun here, and that’s how I want to see myself.”
 
The Story Continues
When people get to the point in their lives when their longtime family homes become too much to handle or too much for their needs, it may be time to consider moving into a continuing-care retirement community. These communities provide safety, opportunities for enrichment, and the security that comes from knowing their health and wellness will be in good hands. The Philadelphia area has an abundance of reputable CCRCs, among other living options for older adults, many of which are outlined here. 
 
Acts Retirement Life Communities
Brittany Pointe Estates in Lansdale, Fort Washington Estates, Granite Farm Estates and Lima Estates in Media, Gwynedd Estates in Ambler, Normandy Farms Estates in Blue Bell, Southampton Estates, and Spring House Estates in Lower Gwynedd
actsretirement.org
 
Ann’s Choice - Erickson Senior Living
Warminster
ericksonseniorliving.com/anns-choice
 
Arbour Square of Harleysville
Harleysville
trueconnectioncommunities.com
 
Artis Senior Living
Huntingdon Valley, Yardley, and Princeton, New Jersey
artisseniorliving.com
 
Atria Senior Living
Atria Bethlehem, Atria Center City in Philadelphia, and Atria Lafayette Hill
atriaseniorliving.com
 
Bellingham at West Chester
West Chester
seniorlivingbellingham.com
 
Brandywine Senior Living
Haverford Estates and Upper Providence in Phoenixville
brandycare.com
 
Chandler Hall
Newtown
chandlerhallhealthservices.org
 
Cornwall Manor
Cornwall (Lebanon County)
cornwallmanor.org
 
Daylesford Crossing 
Paoli
junipercommunities.com
 
Dresher Estates
Dresher
dresherestates.com
 
Dunwoody Village
Newtown Square
dunwoody.org
 
Eagleview Landing
Exton
eagleviewlanding.com
 
Elm Terrace Gardens
Lansdale
elmterracegardens.org
Franklin Court Senior Living
Quakertown
franklincourtpa.com
 
Freedom Village at Brandywine
Coatesville
fvbrandywine.com
 
Friends Home & Village
Newtown
fhvpa.org
 
Garden Spot Village
New Holland
gardenspotvillage.org
 
HarborChase of Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
harborchase.com/harborchase-wilmington
 
The Hearth at Drexel
Bala Cynwyd
thehearthatdrexel.org
 
The Hickman
West Chester
thehickman.org
 
HumanGood
The Mansion at Rosemont, Rydal Park & Waters in Jenkintown, and Spring Mill Pointe in Lafayette Hill
humangood.org
 
IntegraCare
Glen Mills Senior Living, Exton Senior Living, Chestnut Ridge at Wallingford
integracare.com
 
Kendal-Crosslands Communities
Kennett Square
kendal-crosslands.org
 
The Manor at York Town
Jamison
themanoratyorktown.org
 
Maplewood at Princeton
Plainsboro, New Jersey
maplewoodseniorliving.com
 
Maris Grove - Erickson Senior Living
Glen Mills 
ericksonseniorliving.com/maris-grove
 
Masonic Villages
Lafayette Hill and Warminster
masonicvillages.org
 
Meadowood
Lansdale
meadowood.net
 
Merrill Gardens
Merrill Gardens at West Chester, Truewood by Merrill in Glen Riddle
merrillgardens.com
 
Oxford Enhanced Senior Living
Langhorne
oxfordenhancedseniorliving.com
 
Pennswood Village
Newtown
pennswood.org
 
Phoebe Ministries
Allentown and Wyncote
phoebe.org
 
Pickering Manor
Newtown
pickeringmanor.org
 
Pine Run Village
Doylestown
pinerun.org
 
Pleasant View Communities
Manheim
pleasantviewcommunities.org
 
Riddle Village Retirement Community
Media
riddlevillage.com
 
The Solana Doylestown
Warrington
thesolanadoylestown.com
 
Solera Senior Living
Plush Mills in Wallingford and Echo Lake in Malvern
soleraseniorliving.com
 
Springton Lake Village
Media
springtonlakevillage.com
 
Sunrise Senior Living
Abington, Haverford, Lafayette Hill, Media, Newtown Square, West Chester, and Yardley
sunriseseniorliving.com
 
Symphony Square
Bala Cynwyd
symphonysq.com
 
Waverly Heights
Gladwyne
waverlyheightsltd.org
 
White Horse Village
Newtown Square
whitehorsevillage.org
 

Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, June 2026.