Hannah and Bernard Spalding, enjoying their retirement in Santee, S.C., had no plans to move to a senior living community. But when faced with an unexpected need for qualified, accessible doctors, the couple began to seriously consider their living situation.
“While living in Santee, Bernard needed an operation on his back. I had to drive him an hour-and-a-half to Florence, N.C., in order to get a qualified doctor to perform the surgery,” says Hannah.
“That was our ‘wake up call.’ We began to think more seriously about our future. So, we made the decision to move back to the Washington, D.C., area, where our children lived and where we lived before our retirement.”
With a medical center and continuing care neighborhood right on campus, Riderwood, an Erickson Senior Living community in Silver Spring, Md., was the place for them.
“Making the move would mean better care for us and peace of mind for our children,” explains Hannah. “If we got sick down in South Carolina, they would have to drive eight hours each way to take care of us. We didn’t want that for them.”
“We are proud to offer access to top-rated doctors and a comprehensive, integrated health program,” says Dee Dee Gray-Weaver, Riderwood’s executive director. “Our residents benefit from exceptional care that addresses both immediate and long-term needs–all in a convenient, familiar setting that supports their overall well-being.”
The doctor is in
With seven board-certified physicians and a host of other professionals specializing in senior health care, it’s easy for residents to receive the support they need. In addition to in-person wellness appointments, the medical center offers telehealth check-ins and home visits.
And residents who choose to continue seeing their existing primary care provider can still use the medical center for flu shots, and tests and screenings as needed.
Hannah, eager to take advantage of Riderwood’s convenient care, wasted no time meeting the full-time medical staff. “We signed up at the medical center as soon as we moved in!” says Hannah.
A health care background
Prior to the couple’s move, Hannah served on the board of directors for a federally funded health center in South Carolina.
“And, raising four children and attending doctor’s appointments with Bernard, who’s seen numerous physicians and specialists, I’ve talked with a lot of doctors,” says Hannah. “I feel confident and knowledgeable in saying that the staff at the medical center are highly qualified.”
She adds, “At Riderwood, our doctors are geriatricians who care for us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, seeing patients from age 62 to 106. Residents are the only patients they see. They know what is happening with their patients and what they need in terms of care.”
Continuum of care
For residents who benefit from higher levels of care, Arbor Ridge–Riderwood’s on-campus continuing care neighborhood–offers rehabilitation programs as well as skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care services. Because all medical teams at the community are integrated, care transitions seamlessly between professionals.
Since the Spaldings’ move in 2008, Bernard has received care at Arbor Ridge three times. On each of those visits, Hannah notes, “He’s examined by a Riderwood doctor–who knows him–the very first day. Not only is the care he receives thoughtful and thorough, it is extremely convenient for me, as he’s walking distance from our home.”
Having served on both the Resident Health Services Committee and the Family Health Council at Arbor Ridge, Hannah has witnessed firsthand how this high-quality care is extended to all Riderwood residents.
“We have residents who travel, and if they get sick or hurt, the Riderwood medical team supports them,” she says. “One of my friends fell while on a cruise and ended up in an Alaskan hospital. Our Riderwood nurse practitioner was in contact with her and the hospital every day, ensuring she was cared for and that everything was in order for her return. I find that so remarkable.”
‘Keep us well’
Knowing that they are in the best hands at Riderwood, the Spaldings are looking forward to a happy and healthy 2025.
“I really appreciate all of the efforts made to keep us well,” Hannah says. “I’ve always thought of Riderwood as our little town. And of all the towns I’ve ever lived in, this one is much better supplied and filled with qualified people–people who really care about you.”
To learn more about the benefits of moving to a maintenance-free community, request more information today.
