Some in Their Golden Years Find Arlington's Sunrise Shines
By Kate Moore
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 11, 1996; Page E01Harold and Francis Vadney were ready to retire and faced the question that many aging people do: Where would they live?
They had thoroughly researched the Northern Virginia area and, "we finally decided on Sunrise at Bluemont Park, because it offered convenience and the location allowed us to keep the same doctors, bank and church," said Fran Vadney, a retired shoe saleswoman.
She and her husband, a retired Naval officer and federal worker, have lived in the Shenandoah Building at Sunrise for four years. "We had decided to sell our Arlington home, and were trying to find a new place at the time when we decided to attend the open house at Sunrise."
Moving from a house to an apartment can be an adjustment for many people. "If you think you're going to find a place to replace your home, you won't," Fran said.
"You learn to live with the multiplicity of other people, such as their social background, temperament and education," Harold said.
Although many of the residents have lived in the area before moving to Sunrise, there are some who moved from out of state. "Most are city dwellers; we're country people," Fran said.
One of the things the Vadneys are looking forward to is sitting on the porch in the nice weather. "It's so homey and country-like, with a great location," she said.
Their retirement home is at 5900 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, one of 34 Sunrise retirement facilities throughout the country. More than 200 people live there in studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in three Victorian-style buildings.
Each building has a different care level, based on the residents' needs. This allows the residents to stay in the community as their individual needs change. The buildings are connected with an all-weather walkway so that people can visit one another throughout the complex, without having to worry about losing touch with former neighbors because they've moved to another building.
The Shenandoah building houses people who still are independent and don't require special assistance. At the Potomac building, the residents are independent but may require some support services, such as help with getting out of the bathtub or medication reminders. The James building offers assisted-living care for those with more advanced medical problems, including residents with Alzheimer's disease.
"Many people want the comfort of knowing that if they need help, it's only moments away," said David Goldberg, a spokesman for Sunrise.
"Although there is no age requirement, the cross culture of residents range in age from 70 years old to the upper nineties. Our goal is to provide a continuation of how they lived life before Sunrise and to make things as convenient and comfortable as possible," Goldberg said.
Individuals may choose month-to-month leases or a yearly lease. The monthly rates in the independent living buildings, the Shenandoah and the Potomac, are $1,511 for a studio apartment, $2,556 for a one-bedroom apartment and $3,014 for a two-bedroom unit. Assisted-living care at the James ranges from $63 to $119 a day depending on the size of the unit.
The fees cover all utilities except phones, a specified number of meals, housekeeping, linen and/or personal laundry services, daily scheduled transportation, social activities, daily status checks by the 24-hour staff and weekly wellness visits by a registered nurse.
There is a help call system in case of emergencies. Many of the residents enjoy cooking and eating their breakfasts at home, but will join their friends later for lunch or dinner in the community dining room located in each building.
"There is also a private dining room in each building that the residents may reserve to entertain guests for larger celebrations," said Bill Teschke, executive administrator at Sunrise at Bluemont Park.
Bluemont Park has a beauty salon and a concierge service in each building to make arrangements to take residents to their appointments if they don't drive or have a ride. "There is also an on-site physical therapy service, which enables residents to receive the service without having to leave the community," Goldberg said. A social is held every afternoon in each building. Other activities include trips to the Kennedy Center and to religious services, and a shuttle is available for grocery and drugstore trips.
"Most of the residents are from the Arlington area, and it's important to us that they still feel connected to the community with an added element of privacy," Teschke said.
Frank Carey, 79, has lived at Sunrise since 1992, in the Potomac building. "One of my daughters, who is a nurse, recommended Sunrise and other places and after checking them out, I liked this one the best," Carey said.
Carey lived in Arlington before Sunrise, and said, "The place is friendly, with an elegant atmosphere, and an excellent staff. I shoot pool all the time, use the treadmill, go to the movies and, of course, the tennis courts across the street are an added bonus. It just fits me and I highly recommend it."
Ray Lawrence, 85, a retired chemical researcher, has been a resident in the Potomac building since March 1993 when he and his wife, who since has died, moved here from Lake City, Fla. "We moved here to be near one of our sons who lives in Arlington; the other son lives in Texas," Lawrence said.
"It's a good place to live when you have to retire," he said. One of the things that Lawrence said he enjoys most is attending the daily socials. "The residents and attendants are all very nice. I can't think of anything that this place is missing," he said.
Louise Murray, 87, a retired secretary at the National Park Service, has lived in the James building since January 1993.
"After breaking both hips in two separate incidents and spending two hospital stays and two nursing home stays, I decided to move into Sunrise because it's close to my church and my brother," Murray said.
One of the things that Murray takes advantage of is the free shuttle service that takes her to her doctor and dentist. She also likes the staff, saying, "They're very dedicated and devoted and do everything they can to make you feel at home.
"Even still, I find it hard to adapt to institutional living," she said. "They try to make it as homey as possible, but it's still an institution and not a home. I'm just not an institutional person, but that's nobody's fault but my own."