From Being Board Members to Residents, Now Never Bored
Why Have Board Members Become Retirement Community Residents?
Mike Stelman arrives back at his apartment home at Casa de las Campanas after a morning round of golf on a nearby course. His wife has just headed out with new friends and neighbors for a fun afternoon to try their luck (and win big!) at a casino.
Don and Pat Schmidt, also new Casa neighbors, just returned from a trip back east to visit family. And Don Haught just returned from visiting his wife in the health center on Casa’s campus where she’s recovering from a leg injury and looking forward to returning to their independent living apartment home.
Mike, Don and Pat, and Don have a couple of things in common: They’re all enjoying their new experience as residents at the senior living community, and all three are former members of the Casa de las Campanas Board of Directors. Casa’s Board consists of respected leaders from the business, medical and civic communities in the San Diego area.
“I never imagined I’d eventually live at Casa when I joined the board,” says Mike, who served for nine years, starting in 2011. “I enjoyed my term and the opportunity to help people who worked hard in life to have a lifestyle as perfect as it can be in retirement. It’s a passion that makes you feel good.”
Mike and his wife thought it’d be wise to plan ahead should they ever encounter a health setback. With the peace of mind of knowing Casa provides health care services on-site if residents need them, the decision became even easier.
“During my tenure, I visited retirement communities all over the country, and this is hands-down the best quality I’ve seen,” Mike adds.
For the Schmidts, who both served on the board for nine years consecutively, their experience with leadership at the community solidified their move to become residents.
“I was on the board in the early 2000s when we brought on Life Care Services® to become the management company, and it’s helped elevate the community to new heights,” says Don Schmidt.
“We know the history of the leadership at Casa and know the current board very well,” adds Pat. “They have tremendous fiduciary responsibility, and they care about a quality experience for not only current but future residents as well.”
Don Haught served on the board in 2008 when they brought on Kim Dominy to become Casa’s Executive Director.
“Kim and the directors on the Casa leadership team have a knack for selecting genuinely kind, helpful and friendly staff,” says Don Haught. “It’s well managed, a beautiful campus, and you have a feeling of safety and security that gives you peace of mind.”
Now the former-board-members-turned-residents look forward to traveling without worrying about taking care of their home, meeting new people at Casa, enjoying new experiences, taking part in various activities, and finding it hard to imagine ever being bored.
If you’d like to meet these couples or learn more about joining the Casa family, please let us know.
