Neighbors Helping Neighbors | A Way of Life at Pisgah Valley Senior Living Community in Asheville
Whether it’s mending a pair of jeans, feeding a pet when a neighbor is out of town, helping to figure out a cell phone or computer, or providing some companionship, everyone can use a helping hand now and then. This belief was what motivated the residents of Pisgah Valley senior living community near Asheville, North Carolina, to join together to form volunteer teams. These teams provide assistance to fellow independent living residents for a wide range of needs that may arise.
Jan Nickerson, who lives at Pisgah Valley with her husband, John Graham, says over the past five years, the independent living residents have formed 18 volunteer teams that focus on various areas in which residents may need help, including transportation, pet care, shopping, technology support, maintenance, recycling and composting –to mention a few.
Pisgah Valley’s Services and Amenities Stand Out
While Pisgah Valley provides residents with a range of amenities and services, including bi-weekly housekeeping, interior and exterior home maintenance, ground maintenance, clubs and activities, fitness and wellness classes, and much more, there are times when a resident—just like anyone living anywhere—may need help with a minor task. That’s where the volunteer committees come into play, each with between two and 15 members.
“Recently, we had a man who’s 93 ask for help mending his Levi’s,” says Nickerson. “And we had someone who was able to do that.”
The request for sewing help and other such requests are made on Google Groups, which is how the residents and volunteers communicate. Someone looking for assistance can share their needs and connect with a volunteer to answer them. Someone offering specific services can let those be known. For example, a member of the Recycling Team might put out the word that she plans to bring some items to the local recycling center and ask if other residents have anything that they’d like her to drop off for them.
The Shopping Team, which has volunteers who go grocery shopping when a resident is homebound, was one of the first teams formed.
“That was very helpful during Covid when many people couldn’t get out,” Nickerson says.
Pisgah Buddies Share Time
Sometimes, what residents need is to connect with a friendly face who shares a common interest, whether it’s gardening, scrapbooking or fishing. That’s how one of the teams—Pisgah Buddies—was formed.
Nickerson says it was born when it was noticed that some residents, perhaps because of low eyesight, trouble hearing or other challenges, weren’t getting out of their homes very much.
“Pisgah Buddies matches them with neighbors who enjoy doing the same things, and they can do them together –they can go for a walk or a drive, read, garden, do puzzles, scrapbook or talk about fly fishing –whatever a resident wants to do,” Nickerson says.
Building Bonds
Another of the teams is the Welcoming Team, which reaches out to all new residents the day they arrive to answer questions and show them the ropes. They follow up a month later to see if they have any other questions or need additional help.
The Friendship Team is comprised of volunteers from independent living who visit residents who’ve moved from independent living to assisted living or skilled nursing.
“The Friendship Team helps keep those connections going,” Nickerson says.
Another way that residents look out for one another and keep their connections strong is via a monthly Zoom meeting that got started as a way to stay in touch during the pandemic.
“That’s just social because for months we had been self-quarantining,” says Nickerson.
Providing help as needed and building strong connections is particularly important for residents who may not live near family and friends. Nickerson is pleased to have found a community where residents display a volunteer spirit and work to create a culture that emphasizes kindness.
Choosing Pisgah Valley
Nickerson notes that she and her husband chose Pisgah Valley for a variety of reasons. They like its small size, expansive, green campus, spacious patio homes, and commitment to providing a continuum of care, including independent, assisted living, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing.
No one knows the future, and Nickerson says she wants to be prepared for whatever life brings. She believes Pisgah Valley is helping her achieve that goal.
“A Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) like Pisgah Valley is the ideal option,” she says. “You have everything you need—independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing, all on one campus.”
She also appreciates living in a community where people show that they care for one another, not just by words but through their actions.
“It’s so satisfying to live in a place where neighbors want to help each other out –and we very much have that here,” she says.
Pisgah Valley
Pisgah Valley Retirement Community is a Life Plan Community located in the scenic Hominy Valley just outside Asheville, North Carolina—named by Money.com as among the best places to retire in the U.S. Pisgah Valley offers independent living in spacious patio and villa homes on a greenery-filled campus. Pisgah Villa and Pisgah Manor, both located onsite, offer assisted living, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing for both residents of Pisgah Valley and the surrounding area, thus providing a complete continuum of care for seniors. Pisgah Valley Retirement Community is owned and operated by Liberty Senior Living, LLC, a division of Liberty Health that specializes in senior living and retirement communities. To learn more about Pisgah Valley Retirement, visit www.PisgahValleyRetirement.com. To learn more about Liberty Senior Living and the communities they offer, please visit www.LibertySeniorLiving.com .