Independent Living Resident Feature

We get many inquiries about Independent Living at Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio; people wondering what it is all about, and how it is different than their current living situation at home.  In the simplest terms, Independent Living removes some of the redundant and time-consuming tasks from daily living, allowing residents to repurpose that time towards intentional living.  We recently interviewed some Maple Crest Apartment residents to see what Independent Living means to them.

Darlene Arnold

Darlene Arnold is one of Maple Crest’s newest residents, just moving in with us in February.  Darlene originally hails from Iowa, where she and her husband owned and operated a farm for many years.  She explained that they were not planning on being farmers, but after college the family farm needed tending to, and they were up to the task.  It ended up being their life’s work, and they wouldn’t have had it any other way.  Fifteen years ago they moved to Cridersville to be closer to their son, a Pastor, but they always seemed to make it back to Iowa despite the 12-hour car ride at least once a year to see family and friends.  Darlene’s husband passed away about 6 years ago.  Darlene said that, “I wanted to move to Maple Crest before I had to, so I could enjoy what a community like this has to offer.” She also enjoyed the location, as it is close to family, including a grand-daughter who lives in Bluffton.  She enjoys the many activities that are available on the Maple Crest campus, including games and exercise classes, but what she looks forward to most is walking the outside paths around the Maple Crest campus once the weather warms up.  Darlene enjoys spending her extra time reading and doing needlework.  Here she is pictured with one of her pieces.

Apartment View

Gus and Herlinde Goertz are also relative newcomers to Maple Crest, moving in on “June 12, 2021”, according to Herlinde.  The Goertz’s were living in another senior living community in Findlay at the time, but were searching for a less expensive option that would allow them to better preserve their resources.  Maple Crest ended up being a perfect solution for them, and they even enjoy a larger apartment than before.  The Goertz’s are originally from Archbold, where Gus worked for Sauder’s Furniture and Herlinde went back to school and became a Registered Nurse.  Some of their best memories include bringing their grandchildren to Sauder Village, where the highlights were eating at “The Barn”, going to the Ice Cream parlor, and riding on the train.    Now, Gus and Herlinde enjoy spending time on their hobbies – for Gus, that means playing cornhole and other games on the Maple Crest activity schedule, while Herlinde is more of a homebody that enjoys reading and crocheting.  Herlinde stated, “I’ve been amazed at how welcoming and inclusive everyone has been to us from the beginning.”  They especially like the autonomy of Maple Crest – “While there is always plenty to do, sometimes we would rather just relax and enjoy our apartment!”  Gus and Herlinde were especially complimentary of all the staff.  “Joan, the Facilities Coordinator, is the most patient and calm person I have ever met.”

We appreciate having Gus, Herlinde, and Darlene as part of our community, as well as the chance to  be a part of their stories.  If you are interested in learning more about Independent Living at Maple Crest, visit https://mhcoliving.org/communities/maple-crest/ or call 419-358-1015, option 2.