Golden Years
On a beautiful 300-acre campus near Zionsville, Hoosier Village offers independent living, in-home care, assisted living, memory care, health care and rehabilitation. It’s part of BHI Senior Living, an organization that began in Boone County in 1904.
Beyond the homes themselves, Hoosier Village offers a place to build community with other seniors. There are a variety of events and activities at Hoosier Village, ensuring any resident will find something that suits their tastes.
“When people move to a community like ours, they’re moving to us because they’re not selecting a brick-and-mortar building — they’re looking for a lifestyle, and that’s what Hoosier Village can provide them with,” says Megan Ulrich, vice president of marketing and public relations at BHI. “We have a full life enrichment team who put on programming for all educational, wellness, social and recreational needs.”
“Last year we rolled out a ‘Living on Purpose’ program, where we encourage our life enrichment team to make sure they’re having programming available to fit every individual, living within our communities, including travel opportunities,” she adds.
One of these travel opportunities in 2026 will include a trip to New Orleans for residents to visit the WWII Museum. BHI Senior Living recently partnered with the Museum and WWII Veterans from Hoosier Village and other BHI Senior Living communities. These residents were interviewed to share their stories and to be featured in the Museum.
“We encourage residents to get involved in the community. Zionsville is a great place for them to do that, as there are a lot of volunteer opportunities and events with families. We have transportation on and off campus for those who don’t drive. HV residents like to keep busy,”says Anna Wellman, coordinator of marketing and sales at Hoosier Village.
She added that HV residents regularly participate in a variety of off-campus experiences, including attending the Classicals and Pops series presented by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
The team at Hoosier Village knows that staying in shape is important for longevity and well-being, so they offer a wealth of options for residents to choose from to stay active.
“We added four pickleball courts a couple of years ago, and this year we’re in the midst of expanding our outdoor activities. This will include a putting green and an outdoor pavilion, shuffleboard, cornhole and an area to do a lot of outdoor events,” says Executive Director Mindy Kantz.
“They have several trainers; I have one that really works well with me. I love her. I work with her twice a week,” says resident Connie Latas in an interview with Indy Now. “They’ve got all the equipment you’d need, and she teaches me how to use it.
“It’s a well-run place, right from the top down — the maintenance, the groundskeeping, the housekeeping, everything — and then there are so many activities to do, it’s unbelievable,” she adds. “They’re not just for older people; they are for everybody. There’s skydiving, symphonies, opera — you can go on and on.”
Latas enjoys the different dining areas as well. They have a cafe called the Dash Bistro and more elegant dining options at Heartwood. Hoosier Village even has its own Starbucks lounge.
“It’s like a college campus for seniors,” Wellman says. “We have a lot of outdoor spaces, walking trails, we do concerts in the park and have parties out there. We have a great dining staff who also does catering.”
Other amenities include an indoor pool, three community gardens, three dog parks and a game room with billiards and ping pong. Hoosier Village hosts trivia nights, book clubs, creative workshops and spiritual services.
“There’s so much that they do on campus. Options are endless,” Wellman says. “They do outings, they go on trips together, play pickleball and start clubs.”
Last year, a group of residents went skydiving. Among them was Joanne Dolan, who also spoke with Indy Now.
“There were a whole bunch of us who went, and we had a grand time. It was fun,” Dolan says.
Her husband, Dennis, participates in a group who call themselves the “grumpy old men,” a social club that meets every Saturday and Tuesday morning to “shoot the bull.”
“The ladies come on Saturday morning in another room; we don’t dare call them the grumpy old ladies — they are the lovely ladies. We even have picnics together. I’ve probably had more friends than I’ve had anywhere we lived,” he says.
He believes that “you don’t grow old when you quit having fun. If you quit having fun, you grow old.”
“It’s as important when you get old to have a social life as it is to take care of your physical health,” Joanne says.
There are multiple options for independent living, with five different neighborhoods and home designs to choose from. The newest neighborhood is Magnolia Trace, with three-story townhomes that feature an elevator, two bedrooms, a den, a two-car garage, outdoor patios and an open floor plan.
There are also single-family homes, duplex homes and apartments. No matter which style of home they choose, residents can rest easy knowing that outdoor maintenance is handled by the dedicated staff at Hoosier Village.
“It’s a nice perk of living on campus, not having to worry about shoveling the driveway or walkways being frozen,” Wellman says. “There are a lot of benefits to maintenance-free living.”
After the big snowstorm in January, she remembers driving to work and noticing the difference between the highways and the roads within Hoosier Village.
“Our dedicated maintenance team worked around the clock to ensure the safety of our residents throughout the snowstorm,” she says.
Kantz says there has been a lot of demand for homes like these, but the team at Hoosier Village is mindful of keeping plenty of green space on campus when considering additional living residences. She added that many people get on the waiting list for Hoosier Village well before they are ready to move. Hoosier Village is a “62 or better” community.
“People often think we’re a typical retirement community, but we’re so much more than that,” Kantz says. “Living here, residents have the freedom to do what they love and be as active and involved as they choose.”
“So many people move in and say they should’ve done this years ago,” Ulrich adds. “You see longevity in communities like ours because we provide continuing education opportunities — social and recreational — and that’s so important for living longer and staying healthy. Today, more individuals are recognizing that communities like HV are a lifestyle choice that enhances everyday living.”
Hoosier Village not only provides peace of mind for seniors, but also for their loved ones.
“Having parents who have planned for their future and made the choice to be here is comforting,” Wellman says. “The kids know mom and dad are in a safe place, everyone knows what’s expected, and it takes a lot of pressure off families.”
Hoosier Village is located at 9891 Purple Plum Lane, in Indianapolis For more information or to schedule a tour, visit hoosiervillage.com or call 317-873-3349.
