Special
Features / January 2007
Living Well is the Best Retirement
 Pam Parr
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By Pat Lawrence
Pam Parr thinks senior citizens are a national treasure. After thirty seven years in the workplace herself, she says she’s still learning from the residents of Glenwood Retirement community. “They bring abilities and exposures that are just incredible. They can say ‘been there, done that, and this is how it can be fixed’ to just about everything.”
Although she is a nurse with years of administrative experience in hospice and home care, Pam says her responsibilities as executive director of the retirement community are very different. “The focus is on health and wellness and quality of life. And there are all the buildings and all the acreage. I learned about maintenance and groundskeeping and dining services. It’s always a challenge, something being built or something new.”
She is an enthusiastic supporter of the region as well as the retirement community. “I was born and raised in Vienna, WV but moved away for twenty years. When I came back, I was sorry I’d ever moved away!”
The seventy rolling acres that surround Glenwood are just part of the commumnity’s attraction, she says. “An active retirement community is such a good option! Residents have the security and safety they want and still have all their independence and the comforts of living at home. Even if the family lives nearby, it’s a good option. We have people who drive to Parkersburg every day, for Women’s Club meetings, church activities or just to have lunch with friends. They can do anything they want to do, travel, take classes or stay home. You name the activity and it’s available. But, they have downsized and chosen maintenance-free living. If someone still wants a separate home, we have the villas. Residents come and go as they please. Many people keep their cars, but it isn’t necessary because Glenwood provides regularly scheduled transportation.”
Glenwood is part of the Marietta Memorial Health System, a not-for-profit corporation that exists for the sole purpose of providing health care and housing for retirement age individuals. One of its advantages is the access to a continuum of health, from assisted living at The Pines to priority placement at Harmar Place for skilled nursing care.
But Pam, who spends “an inordinate amount of time taking care of the house and the garden”, says the greatest advantage of Glenwood is being able to enjoy life to the fullest, without all the hassles and worries of owning a home.
Even after thirty seven years in the workplace, Pam hasn’t lost her enthusiasm. “I love working with the residents we have. It’s been a great learning experience for me. You learn so much from older people.” She readily relates to their active clientèle. Although she schedules traditional office hours, Pam works about fifty hours a week. “Residents are here 24 hours every day so not all activities fit into those regular office hours. And, I like for residents to feel they can come see me anytime.” She attends many of the residents programs and events as well. “I don’t want to intrude on their activities, but it’s a great time to interact and enjoy their company. I get to know them and they get to know me.”
Glenwood Retirement Community has 65 staff members and 115 residents. Pam says, “The residents are the best, with their wonderful history and knowledge, but the staff here is equally incredible. They are very dedicated, very customer-service oriented. They do all they can to make sure residents have an excellent quality of life.”
Married with adult children and grandchildren, Pam lives in one of the areas older homes, “with a Chinese Crested, a schnoodle named Homer and an African gray parrot that thinks I’m his flock!” Working with interesting, active people in a beautiful setting, learning every day and doing what she finds fulfilling, Pam says she doesn’t see herself ever retiring. “I like what I do and wouldn’t give it up for anything. But, maybe I won’t always work full time.” Although she completed a three year nursing program, took innumerable classes in business and finance, has been a practicing nurse for over thirty years, served as an administrator, a consultant and the executive director of a major non-profit enterprise, Pam says, “At some point, I may want to finish my education!”
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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