By Katrina Wilson
Sponsored by Westminster at Lake Ridge
A 62-acre campus full of greenery, beautiful residences and daily programming full of diverse engagement make up Westminster at Lake Ridge, a retirement community, fit for any adult over 62 in search of a community with continuing care options.
History of Westminster at Lake Ridge
Westminster at Lake Ridge’s beautiful pond is enjoyed by residents all year long
This community is located near the village of Occoquan. Westminster at Lake Ridge, a continuing care retirement community, is part of the Ingleside family of communities, which also includes Ingleside at King Farm in Maryland and Ingleside at Rock Creek in Washington, D.C.
Westminster at Lake Ridge opened its doors in 1993. Their mission is to ensure residents have continuous healthcare and wellness services for themselves and their neighbors.
Westminster at Lake Ridge Executive Director Paul Gregg explained the continuing care retirement community concept.
“Continuing care communities, also known as life plan communities, provide residents a full continuum of care with an all-inclusive model offering independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care support,” Gregg said.
“Westminster at Lake Ridge is a close-knit and wonderful community where all our residents have many opportunities to experience ‘engaged living’ through a wide range of wellness programs, lifelong learning, and abundant amenities,” Gregg added. “We have a community garden, indoor saltwater pool, multiple dining venues, fishing ponds, library, walking paths and more- there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Residents Weigh In
While many of the residents mentioned how the coronavirus has limited a few of the activities, it has not dampened their engagement.
The Rev. Dr. Susan Fellows
The Rev. Dr. Susan Fellows has been a community resident since January 2018. She had been a resident of western Fairfax County since the early 1970s.
She became interested in Westminster at Lake Ridge as an employee. “I was called to be an interim chaplain in February 2013,” she said. Fellows said within a month, she had realized how interesting everyone was. She enjoyed her colleagues and how they cared for and served the residents.
“I served the residents in a time of crisis, grief or even with social conversations,” she said. “I told marketing, as my time came to an end to work there, I would move in when I was old enough to move in.”
She said she did the paperwork, and she projected her move in to be 2017 or 2018.
“By the end of 2016, I was interim chaplain again,” Fellows detailed. “Someone from marketing showed me my paperwork and said, ‘It’s almost 2017.’”
She resides in an apartment in the community. She said the living space is a great size for her lifestyle. When she opens her front door, her neighbors are near.
She said even still there is a real respect for privacy while being neighborly.
Bill Sears
Westminster at Lake Ridge resident Bill Sears and his wife have been living in the community for the past three and a half years.
He said they were drawn to the community because of downsizing concerns, but word of mouth played a part too. They were in a large five-bedroom home and wondering how the next few years would be for maintenance.
“We were both getting older and probably facing future medical problems,” Sears said. “A doctor friend recommended it. We mentioned it to our son, and he had a coworker with parents who lived at Westminster at Lake Ridge.”
Sears said the campus is close enough to his and his wife’s doctors and church. He said it offers a very nice park community setting they liked.
Currently, he is the president of the resident council, but was once integral on the dining and finance committees. Sears said the council is where residents bring up questions or concerns they want to address to management.
He said because of COVID, they do these meetings on Zoom. A few days later, the meeting is repeated on the circuit channel within the community.
Sears said he always recommends Westminster at Lake Ridge to friends.
Joyce Ziegler
Resident Joyce Ziegler and her husband left New York in July 2016 to reside at the community. Her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the time. Ziegler realized she had to stop working in order to care for him.
She also chose this area because her daughter lives in Northern Virginia.
“I was not going to be able to manage work and care for him,” she said. “I started researching online for independent living communities with continuing care.”
She said she found Westminster at Lake Ridge in the search. After visiting other communities, and more research, she was drawn to cottage living at the community.
She is engaged on the resident council, the dining committee and more. Ziegler said the dining committee is where she and others work with the dining director with meal preferences or menu changes.
She resides in a cottage at the community. It is an ample size for her and her husband, with well-maintained grounds, their own porch and friendly neighbors.
Ziegler said she would recommend this community to friends and others.
“I had a stroke in July that affected my peripheral vision,” she said. “I thought I was moving to this community because of my husband, but I realized I’m in the right place for me.”
She said neighbors will step in if needed, but above all, she said the community’s employees are there when needed.
“I have our cottage, housekeeping will come if needed, a clinic and lab facilities are on site if needed, transportation is available and dining services deliver to me. Anything the heart desires, it is available.”
She said she likes the idea that if things get worse health wise, accommodations are on site if needed.
“I’m in independent living now, but if I’m not able to take care of all my needs, assisted living services are in the community,” Ziegler said.
These residents have found more than just a retirement community, they found a home. For more information, visit their website here.
Westminster at Lake Ridge’s community is pet-friendly
Katrina Wilson is a Carolina Girl still discovering Northern Virginia. You can follow her on Twitter at KatrinaMWilson_.
