Silver Spring, MD -- Linda Murray and her husband, David, reserved an apartment home in March and moved to Riderwood, an Erickson Living developed and managed senior living community in Silver Spring, MD in June. They had been living in North Carolina but wanted to be closer to family and friends.
Riderwood Personal Moving Consultant Diane Thometz connected the Murrays with moving professionals in both North Carolina and Maryland to help with everything from floor planning to packing and unpacking.
“Everyone was masked and gloved and kept their distance,” Linda says.
Isolation can be a real challenge for older adults, particularly during the pandemic. But at Riderwood, the sense of community and social support were alive and well even when in-person gatherings had to be put on hold.
Staff and resident volunteers quickly pivoted to turn the in-house TV station into a hub for information and entertainment. At the height of the crisis, Executive Director, Gary Hibbs appeared on air on a daily basis to provide critical information and updates. The TV studio staff launched a new show crisis called Riderwood TV Live!, a live television program three times a week that focused on connecting and entertaining residents in fun ways such as trivia where residents could participate from home using their computer, tablet or smartphone.
Residents also started using technology like Zoom to hold club meetings virtually when it wasn’t safe to gather in person. Already, Linda has been able to participate in resident-run book club and the Riderwood Jewish community from the safety of her home. And, warmer summer weather meant residents were able to interact outdoors.
“It’s good because I have a garden plot so I see some people in the garden,” Linda says. “Everyone has mask on, and we’re staying away from each other, but everyone says hello.”
‘Great time to sell your home’
A big question mark for many people hoping to move to Riderwood is how the real estate market has been impacted by coronavirus. Thometz is happy to report that the market is robust. Not only are interest rates very low, but Thometz says many buyers are motivated because they’re now working at home and need more space.
“Homes are flying off the shelves with multiple offers and our incoming residents are getting asking price or more,” she says. “This is a great time to sell your home.”
If you’ve been considering a move to Riderwood, Thometz says not to delay and to set up an appointment to learn about available apartment homes.
“Riderwood has great inventory that our incoming residents don’t want to miss out on,” Thometz says. “It’s been a smooth and seamless transition for residents who have moved during COVID-19.”