Adding ‘Years to Life and Life to Years,’ 3 Sisters Now Come Together in Highlands Ranch And Find Room to Grow

After living long, fulfilling lives apart, the three sisters - Edie A., Ruth W. and Wilma S. - are happily together again, having recently moved to the same community in Highlands Ranch.  Their new address is Vi at Highlands Ranch, the continuing care retirement community outside Denver.

"I came here after my precious husband died three years ago," Ruth said.  "I had been living in California for 38 years.  I have no children of my own.  So, what better choice could I make than to come back to Colorado?  It has been a wonderful move."

CCRCs offer independent living with a combination of a private residence, services, amenities and care (for example, assisted living, memory support care and skilled nursing care).

Of the sisters' choice to move into Vi's private residences, Ruth's sister Wilma said: "We all lost our husbands and we were all getting older.  So we thought we'd better go for a place where care was available if needed, but where we could still have our independence."

And sister Edie added: "I had lived in Genesee Mountain for 33 years and I'd really enjoyed it.  But I just thought it was time to be with more people - in the winter, especially - and it was the best move I ever made.  My sisters and I are individuals and we each do our own thing but we also get together a lot."

Individuals like the three sisters - people who maximize the biological, social and psychological components of older life - are known as "successful agers," according to Dr. Edward Schneider M.D., who is a professor of gerontology, medicine and biological sciences at the University of Southern California.

"They've taken charge of their aging," Schneider said.  "They're healthy, vigorous, upbeat and engaged in life."

The sisters would agree.  "It seems like everything they have here is fun," Edie said about living at Vi.  "They have all kinds of things going on and there's no reason to be bored.  I don't even know what that means.  I love to do the stretch-and-flex, I sometimes get to the yoga classes, and I like to go into the pool and do the exercises.  I belong to two bowling leagues.  I'm belly dancing on Friday nights.  Before that it was hula.  It's nonstop.  Take your choice."

Wilma said, "It's kind of like living in a small town where everybody knows everybody and everybody speaks to everybody.  And that's a good feeling."

There's a lot of life left after one becomes a senior, according to Ruth.  "Vi is a place where you can add years to your life and life to your years," she said.  "This kind of facility offers you all kinds of opportunities to grow.  And if you don't come soon enough, you miss a lot of that.  So I would say, 'Don't wait.'"