Although Gerald “Jerry” and Linda Pollack loved their house in BallenIsles, a gated community in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., they weren’t a fan of the increasing upkeep.
“I was growing tired of all the work associated with maintaining a house. It always seemed to be one thing on top of another!” says Jerry. “And when something went wrong, it was up to me to find someone to do the work, wait for them to arrive, and then hope they did a good job. We wanted to make our lives easier.”
As New York natives with family in their home state, the couple considered moving up north.
“But after weighing our options, we knew that Devonshire was the place we wanted to live,” says Jerry.
Devonshire, the Erickson Senior Living community at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., boasts maintenance-free apartment homes with access to industry-leading amenities–all bundled into a pricing structure that provides peace of mind.
Predictable costs
At the heart of Devonshire’s pricing structure is the predictable monthly service package, which covers the cost of utilities, including basic cable television; appliance repair and replacement; housekeeping; a meal plan at on-site restaurants, and more.
“Financially, life is easier at Devonshire,” explains Jerry. “I know exactly what I’m spending each month, and it’s considerably less than what we were spending in our house! Thanks to the monthly service package, we can predict our bills for the entire year, making our expenses much easier to control.”
Best of all, Jerry doesn’t have to stress over handling maintenance himself. “There are fewer surprises. I no longer have to worry about replacing windows, cleaning the house, or maintaining a pool.”
More for your money
“Our son had found a brand-new retirement community in New York that looked promising,” recalls Jerry. “When we compared an available two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath unit with our desired two-bedroom, two-bath apartment home at Devonshire, the price appeared to be roughly the same–until we looked closer.”
Enlisting the help of Laurie Lovely, Devonshire’s planning and moving consultant, the couple used a copy of the New York floor plan to lay out their furniture. They discovered that there was significantly less square footage and limited storage.
“I could see that our two recliners didn’t fit in the space,” says Jerry. “In fact, the pieces of furniture that we have here with us at Devonshire wouldn’t fit. And while that was enough to convince me, I researched further, looking at New York taxes. That was a shocker. The difference, over six or seven years, was almost $1 million! Plus, many of the tax exemptions we enjoy in Florida are not allowable in New York.”
Activities galore
Devonshire’s long list of amenities and activities was the icing on the cake for Jerry and Linda.
“When we scheduled a visit, we saw firsthand that Devonshire offered so much more than other communities nearby,” says Jerry. “We were excited by the different amenities, restaurants, and the wide variety of activities.”
Since moving to Devonshire in November 2021, the couple has made the most of these opportunities–just steps from their apartment home.
Jerry joins friends for breakfast each morning, plays poker, and loves dining with the ROMEOs (Really Old Men Eating Out). Linda plays bridge, canasta, and mah-jongg. Together, the couple likes meeting new neighbors in the community’s restaurants.
“I knew a lot of people at BallenIsles, but I didn’t have as many good friends as I do at Devonshire,” says Jerry. “Our neighbors are so kind and have lots of interesting stories. It didn’t take us long to start meeting a lot of people. When we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary here, we invited 80 neighbors–that’s how many people we were friends with after just one year!”
“Devonshire delivers a vibrant lifestyle with world-class services, including healthy meal options in our five restaurants, an expansive wellness program, and engaging entertainment–all of which can be enjoyed with new friends,” says Executive Director Brad Andrus. “The activities at Devonshire provide tremendous value, contributing to our exceptional reputation in Palm Beach County.”
‘Easy living’
Jerry and Linda enjoy frequent visits from their two children and their families.
“When they visit, they have access to the amenities, as well. We love spending time near the pool and playing golf at PGA National,” says Jerry. “Everyone is very happy with our choice! It’s easy living here, and that’s all we wanted.”
Invest in your future self at Devonshire. From top-notch amenities to affordable, maintenance-free apartment homes, you are sure to live your retirement to the fullest. Request more information today!
