How Do You Want to Live?

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Retirees Have Input at Edgewood    

For Edgewood CEO Marlene Rotering and Marketing Director Kathleen D’Amico, a person who comes into Edgewood looking for a place to fade away has “come to the wrong place.” For over two decades, Edgewood, a LifeCare Community, has been a place where retirees experience life to the fullest, and in ways that might surprise anyone who has yet to visit their 100-acre North Andover campus.

“Our goal is to meet each person that arrives and ask: ‘What are your goals, what are your wishes, what are your needs, and how do you want to live?’” says Rotering. “Then, we can outline a huge portfolio of services that we offer.”

Rotering says that the stigma regarding retirement communities comes from a lack of understanding. Edgewood prides itself on being the only LifeCare Community in the Merrimack Valley. They offer a complete array of independent living and health care options to meet its members’ needs. Edgewood residents are engaged. They are happy and active, mentally and physically, and come to feel that they have more control than they would have thought possible. Along with this freedom, residents enjoy the sense of security and stability that comes from participation in an independent living community.

 “Some of the residents have been raising children, sometimes even grandchildren and great-grandchildren, or have been working their whole lives and now have all this free time,” Rotering says. “So we aim to give each unique person a unique experience.”

From retired biology teachers taking up watercolor painting to economists learning tai chi, Edgewood members are engaged in activities that challenge them, defying the stereotype that older people can’t continue to grow, develop and create. 

To facilitate this growth, Edgewood offers Rock Steady Boxing, water aerobics and opportunities to go kayaking and hiking along the trails that surround beautiful Lake Cochichewick. That’s not all. Whether your interests include music, history, world religions, science or art, there’s something for everyone. Some of the classes and lectures that are offered include The Politics of Food, Racial Justice, Writing Your Biography, language and everything in-between. 

“You can take all of the [continuing care retirement communities] in Massachusetts and line us all up, and you’ll see that we basically offer the same services,” Rotering says. “But the biggest difference between us and other CCRCs is that here, management partners with our residents in a very special way. We realize and understand that this is their home; our job is to keep them safe, secure and able to live their best life possible.”

D’Amico says that the active engagement of its members allows Edgewood to create a thriving culture and forge partnerships that positively affect both staff and residents. “We have three members who serve on our board and there’s a number of committees they head up, including health care, culinary and finance,” D’Amico says. 

“At Edgewood,” Rotering says, “You can really see the younger generation of residents and our older generation of residents not only getting along, but growing in very special, caring friendships. That was something I didn’t expect [when I began work here] but am ecstatic that we have this special relational dynamic.” 

The next steps for Edgewood will be renovating the main area, The Clubhouse, and opening a new location in Londonderry, N.H. This new facility, The Baldwin, will offer more choices and various contracts all while keeping the excellent Edgewood culture and exemplary services.   

Edgewood Retirement Community
North Andover, Mass.
(978) 494-6876
EdgewoodRC.com