“You Never Have to Be Alone”: Thriving at The Vista as a Single Older Adult
As a single older adult, you may be considering a change in your lifestyle, such as downsizing your home, finding more opportunities to socialize and stay active, and gaining the peace of mind that you will be cared for in the future.
At The Vista, our premier continuing care retirement community, residents have access to resort-style amenities, endless meaningful friendships, and the security of care services should they one day need them – all on one beautiful campus.
While making the decision to move to a CCRC is not simple, it can certainly be rewarding. “You have a lot of emotions when you make a change,” said Frank Nusspickel, a Vista resident. “You have to evaluate how you want to live and what you need to do to get there. Moving to The Vista was one of the best moves that I’ve made.”
Friends Everywhere You Go
Isolation and loneliness can be common when you’re a single older adult, but at The Vista, opportunities for friendly conversation and companionship are around every corner.
When Irene Turisi sold the bridal shop that she owned for 34 years in 2020, she was unsure what to do with her newfound free time.
“I lived alone for many years, but when I retired, I didn’t know how to pass the day,” she said. “When you work a lot, you don’t have much of a social life anymore. I couldn’t wait to come!”
Irene was one of the first to move into The Vista when the community opened in 2021, and she’s made and kept many meaningful friendships since.
“It’s been amazing since day one,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier. We all care about one another. If you’re in the café and you see someone, you say, ‘Come join the table!’ No one ever has to be alone.”
The Vista’s diverse calendar of activities and events also provides many opportunities for residents to socialize and make new friends.
“Over the year I’ve been here, I’ve met a lot of people,” said Frank. “The Vista is a very friendly environment. People are anxious to meet you, introduce themselves, and get you involved.”
Irene was even surprised with a birthday party at The Vista that over 70 people attended. “The whole place kept it a secret,” she said. “It was amazing how many people came and cared.”
Peace of Mind and Community Support
At The Vista, residents are supported by 24-hour security and various helpful services, which offers them the peace of mind to enjoy life leisurely.
After Frank’s wife passed away, he wanted a simpler lifestyle. As the owner of two homes – one in Wyckoff and one down the shore – he was looking forward to more time to relax.
“There’s a lot of responsibility when you’re a homeowner,” he said. “I felt like I was turning into a caretaker.”
Irene recalled her water heater bursting when moving out of her condo to come to The Vista. “That really solidified it,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to get out of there and come to The Vista.”
Aside from not having to worry about home repairs and landscaping, residents have access to regular cleaning services and delicious on-site meals – making the arduous tasks of cooking, cleaning, and weekly food shopping a thing of the past.
“It’s a very easy life,” said Frank “I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do.”
Vista residents are also supported by their close-knit community of neighbors, who are always there to pitch in and help one another when needed.
“When a resident here was sick, other residents were shopping for her and taking her to her doctor,” said Irene.
The team at The Vista also works hard to ensure residents are safe and satisfied with every aspect of life in the community. They provide friendly service on a first-name basis, making residents feel like family.
“If you have a problem, someone listens to you and handles it,” said Irene. “There hasn’t been anything I needed that I didn’t get. I feel very secure and happy. Three years here, and I’m still telling people to come.”
Learn More About Life at The Vista
If you think an engaging lifestyle in a supportive community like The Vista is right for you, we would love to tell you more. To learn more about life in northern New Jersey’s premier continuing care retirement community, please call (201) 848-4200 or visit TheVista.org/Contact.