Visitors should anticipate the comforting smells of fresh food from “The Greens Bistro & Pub” and warm waves from residents and members after their daily swim on a typical morning at Brethren Care Village’s Wellness & Community Center. Grey-ish shades of teal cover the walls – serene and welcoming.
Featuring modern exercise spaces, a warm water pool (always 82-86 degrees), community rental spaces, and more, The Wellness Center is focused on enhancing life across every dimension of wellness, inviting in a full, healthy existence.
They ensure a visitor can nurture any of the “seven pillars” of self-care while visiting – mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social.
In October, Sonja Crooks earned the title of “Wellness Center Coordinator,” but has been a loyal staff member of Brethren Care for five years, originally running the Bistro, the in-house restaurant with a menu featuring gluten-free options. Now, she oversees the Bistro, plus memberships, events, and more.
“Our Wellness Center is open to the community. We have members that loyally drive down from Lodi and Mansfield. They come because it’s clean, beautiful, and the environment is relaxed. Members appreciate the consistency in our hours for the pool,” Crooks said.
The Wellness Community Center offers memberships to older adults to their fitness center and pool. In addition to private pay memberships, the facility is also partnered with SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit and Renew Active (programs offered through Medicare designed to keep older adults healthy and moving post-retirement that will cover the cost of a membership).
“There are often groups of friends that come in and exercise together, and when they’re finished they’ll grab some lunch and go. But there’s never a worry about kids doing cannonballs beside you in the pool. It is a place for you to come and care for yourself, and it was built with that in mind,” Crooks said.
When one is done exercising, they can relax on the courtyard and soak up the sun in the warmer months, follow it up with a massage by registered on site massage therapist Jolee Boozer, and maybe even grab a bowl of fresh soup before they leave. The goal is to simply care for oneself.
Crooks sees opportunities for the Wellness Center to grow, as well – hoping to see additions in class varieties, like Tai Chi balance, provided under the Silver Sneakers classes.
“There’s so many classes geared towards mobility that we start to lose as we age,” Crooks said.
“So, for our forecast for next year, I’d like to see if we can get some classes added and get some more afternoon and evening classes here and there and see if that takes off. Just because you’re an older adult, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done working, and are free anytime,” Crooks said.
As for the rest of 2024, Light Up Brethren Care Village is returning for the holiday season on Sunday, December 1st! J&H Lawncare decks out the whole campus in countless glittering bulbs that will officially be lit up at this festive event. “The first evening we turn the lights on is always very exciting,” Crooks said.
In the Wellness Center, there will be plenty of perks for guests this evening such as visits with Santa and his elves, a hot cocoa bar, live music by ParkWell, and the Greens Bistro will be open for full dinner service! It truly is a magical evening.
The residents across the BCV campus get involved in this community event as well, oftentimes enjoying cookies and sipping cocoa in their lobbies. Staff members drive the residents in buses around campus for them to admire the beautiful tradition while staying warm and cozy.
Stop by 2130 Center St., Ashland from 5:30-7:30pm on December 1st to kick off the holiday season!
To learn more about Brethren Care Village’s Wellness & Community Center, please visit their website or their Facebook page for consistent updates.
