Writer / Tonja Talley
‘X’ marks the spot for the coveted treasure.
Ever since we were kids, we all knew that spot was where the hidden treasure awaited. The treasure could be anything our minds imagined. For those of us heading into our golden years, or semi-retirement age, the treasure hunt may lead to a quaint little community within the college town of Franklin. Nestled between the town and its rural cornfields lies a secret hidden gem called the Franklin United Methodist Community (FUMC), one of Indiana’s finest retirement destinations. Here, the finds are endless.
For 57 years, the FUMC has advocated for and served older adults with high-quality housing. Its campus today stands as a testament to the ever-changing lifestyles of seniors and what they desire. With nearly 200 lovely independent homes, 150 studio, one- and two-bedroom assisted living apartments, accommodations for 24/7 nursing care and even specialized areas for memory care, this not-for-profit continues to carry out their mission of providing a retirement experience filled with well-being and wholeness.
At the heart of the 120-acre campus of this faith-based community, the main lobby brings back the charm of the grand old hotels of yesteryear, with its spacious entry and seating areas. Here you can leisurely spend time catching up with friends or drift away in a good book’s adventures. The expansive dining room entertains the taste buds of 600 residents, three times daily, with menu choices for every dietary craving. It’s a great place to celebrate your birthday or take unexpected guests who arrive at your cottage home or apartment.
The treasure chest overflows with activities for residents of the FUMC. The indoor heated pool at the clubhouse boasts of free swims, water games and water aerobics. The wellness center furnishes state-of-the-art fitness equipment, along with exercise classes such as Gentle Pilates, Tai Chi and Balance, to name a few. For art enthusiasts, the campus provides book discussions and such classes as gardening, sculpting and painting, along with movie time and vocal music expression through Chapel Choir Practice and Hymn Sings. And, of course, it would not be Indiana without Euchre, Bridge and Bingo.
FUMC also provides services on campus including a bank, beauty salon, general store and post office. Residents can stay involved in their hobbies with a well-equipped wood shop, an art studio, a ceramics room and a greenhouse.
Many residents also participate in travel programs that include day trips throughout Indiana, or longer excursions such as Branson, Alaska, or even a trip down the Rhine in Europe. They leave the worries of their home or apartment to the FUMC maintenance staff and enjoy the hosting of their trips by an FUMC Activity Director. And who could turn down a mystery trip? FUMC residents (without being told the destination) have boarded their bus and been known to show up at the Indianapolis Symphony, Nashville in Brown County or the Indiana State Fair.
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No matter where these active older adults travel or the length of the excursion, at the end of a day, it is always nice to return home. For FUMC independent seniors living in a ranch or patio home, there’s no grass to cut, drips to fix or snow to shovel. For those who reside in an apartment, there’s housekeeping provided, meals offered in one of 15 dining rooms and the health clinic available to stay up on their medications or treatments. There is 24/7 emergency care available for every resident of the community, whether living in an independent home, apartment or care area. Now, that is what some folks would call a treasure find: fun diversions, no worries and a sense of security!
But wait: what if one of the residents needs to be hospitalized or have a knee replacement?
There’s the convenience of Johnson Memorial Health across the street, and other well-known health systems nearby including Community, Franciscan St. Francis and IU Health. If your hospitalization requires a follow-up or rehab, then FUMC can help. They have an amazing rehab area that helps strengthen and return folks to their previous lifestyle. That’s their goal—patch them up and get them back home. And they have the results to prove it!
It’s no wonder that their Executive Director, Keith B. Van Deman, meets with every new staff member for orientation and provides the following direction: “Our job is to give our residents and rehab guests the very best day of their lives…today! Each of us gets just one day at a time, and our customer service and care is all about making it a great day, right now. For some, it might not even be the whole day, but it could be their best morning, or afternoon, or lunch hour, or the 15 minutes we give them joy through something they like to do. That is truly our calling. And when our shift is over, then we come back tomorrow and do it all over again.”
As the seasons of life change, the ‘X’ on the spot of the treasure will always remain on FUMC, making transitions easier. A continuing care retirement community, FUMC has heard the needs of seniors, offering a wide array of lifestyle options to consider:
- Assisted Living Apartment
- Skilled Nursing and Short-Term Rehabilitation
- Long-term Care
- Memory Care: Early, Mid- and Advanced Stage in three separate locations, to accommodate Alzheimer’s and other dementias
As an active senior, if the treasure you wish for includes a retirement experience filled with well-being and wholeness among caring and loving friends, you need to look no further than Franklin United Methodist Community.
1070 W. Jefferson St.
Franklin, IN 46131
317-736-7185
FranklinUnitedMethodist.org
