Fifty-three years ago, a small group from my church gave a reading at Friends House Retirement Community of Bernard Shaw’s “Don Juan In Hell.” The audience was very appreciative and came up to talk with us afterward. I couldn’t get over how engaged they were and decided right then that this was where I wanted to live when I reached my 80’s.

Later when I needed a place for my mother to live, Friends House was affordable and I helped her to relocate to a Studio Apartment in the “E” Wing. She hated giving up her home but soon became acclimated to her new surroundings and was very happy and involved with the other people living in her wing. As a result, I was a frequent visitor and saw all of the fun things that went on at Friends House. I was able to put my name on a waiting list so that I could move here when my time came.

What does “Living Well at Friends House” mean? It means that you will never be bored. Becoming involved with the various things that are offered here, also means that your mind will be challenged and you will probably live longer as a result. Friends also offers continuing care from assisted living to nursing and rehab if needed. We are also associated with “Care Plus” which provides help should you choose to remain in your apartment at an affordable cost.

We have art, gardens, flowers, tours, exercise room, bus service, movies, crafts, beauty parlor, cleaning, yoga, and a thrift store with the best prices in town. We are 2 miles from everything you need, hospital, groceries, restaurants, post office, live theater, etc. We are between Baltimore and Washington, D. C. As a realtor might say – location is everything. On top of all that we have acres of surrounded with walkways and trees plus wildlife and birds and a pond with a memorial garden and a place for outside entertaining – who could ask for anything more?

At this point, the best things about living at Friends House for me are the residents, the people who work here and continue to help us any way they can, the food offered in the Bistro and the fact that I feel safe. You can be as active as you want to be or you can just enjoy the solitude. Yes, we encourage involvement in the community at Friends because it is actually good for you. I love it here and while there is no such thing as perfection in retirement communities, Friends House is still my choice.