Author: Ken Oliver

Residents Don and Gail Frost

As part of the Epworth Villa community for more than eight years, Don and Gail Frost know just about everything there is to know about this community. We talked to them about how they chose Epworth, and what their experience here has been like over the years.

Tell us about how you first came to Epworth Villa
Well we lived in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas at the time, and really had no connections to Oklahoma City. We loved our home and loved living there, but it got to a point where maintaining the home was a hassle. So we decided to start looking around. We looked around Arkansas, in Ohio, we probably checked out 50 places or more. When we ran across Epworth Villa’s website, we really liked what we saw so we came to visit. Honestly, that’s what did it. We knew about all the financial benefits of a Life Plan community, but the feeling we got here made it an easy decision. And we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it ever since.

What makes Epworth a great place to be on a day-to-day basis?
There’s so much to do, on and off campus! We really enjoy our independence here. There are plenty of grocery stores, shopping, and entertainment options nearby. We have a church that’s really close. This area is growing quickly! But even on campus, there are so many clubs to join, volunteer options, etc. We have a wonderful activities director, and our residents start up clubs or events for things they want to do that don’t exist yet. It’s great!

Tell us about the residents here, especially when you first joined.
From the start we were welcomed like family. All across OKC, people are just congenial and friendly. People here are eager to make new friends and experience new things, and we really have enjoyed that. Honestly it would be hard to come here and NOT find people and things that fit your interests. And that hasn’t changed a bit since we first moved.

How’s the staff here at Epworth?
I believe to really understand Epworth, you need to come here and see this place and meet these people The leadership is great—they keep residents informed as to what’s going on. Our maintenance staff is amazing—need a lightbulb fixed? It’s done almost immediately. Squeaky door? No problem. Plus we love that there are staff members here who have been here 10, 20, 25 years or more. It shows that they care and are dedicated to making our community the best it can be. You know, by law we can’t tip our staff. But we residents appreciate the staff so much that we find ways to say thank you, especially at the holidays. We want them to know we appreciate all that they do for us.

What would you say to someone considering Epworth Villa?
Don’t wait—that’s the biggest thing. Don’t wait until you can no longer take advantage of your freedom to go and do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Moving here is both about gaining peace of mind and freedom. Your future healthcare needs are taken care of, that’s great. But for today, you’re free to go and spend your days how you want to! No more home maintenance, no more mowing and cleaning and all of those things. Come and enjoy a great life among friends. Come explore and learn and meet new people. It’s a lot of fun, honestly.

Just one of many Epworth experiences.

Stay tuned for other stories of what life at Epworth Villa is all about or fill out the form below to have them delivered to your inbox. To learn more about what it’s really like to experience life at Epworth Villa, get in touch with us here. We look forward to chatting.

Staff Member Angela Shaw

The sense of community here at Epworth Villa isn’t limited just to our residents. Staff members across our campus are an important part of the Epworth experience. We sat down with Epworth Villa’s Certified Dietary Manager to talk about her day-to-day experiences at Epworth and why she sees this community as such a special place to work and live.

Tell us a little about what you do here at Epworth Villa.
For most people, food plays a huge role in our lives, both in those really memorable events like vacations and celebrations, and our day-to-day routines. My job here is to make sure that the food we offer at Epworth Villa nourishes our residents both physically and emotionally. Together with our chef, dining director and kitchen team, our goal is to design menus that help our residents eat smart and stay fit, but we also delight them with new dishes and creative flavors. And our residents are a big part of this—they even get to decide a “resident’s choice” menu for some of our events like picnics.

So how is the atmosphere here at Epworth different in your opinion?
I do a lot of tours here, so I hear from a lot of prospects that are visiting other places as well. People always comment on how beautiful and neighborhood-like our campus is. It’s comfortable here. And beyond the physical campus, the people here are like family—whether you live here, work here, or are a routine visitor. People here are friendly, they greet you by name. And our residents are remarkable people from all walks of life—they’ve traveled the world, taught generations, achieved amazing things at work and in life. These aren’t bored, tired people. And you can feel it in the halls and across the campus.

What’s it like to be part of the staff at Epworth Villa?
Oh I tell people all the time not to wait! People really have no idea how much fun they’ll have coming here, both because there’s so much to do and because you get to leave behind the typical responsibilities of maintaining a home. It’s great! Really the hardest part was downsizing from a larger The most fulfilling part of my job is working directly with our residents. I’ve been here five and a half years or so, and it’s so great to know that the work I do is actually improving people’s lives directly. I love just the little interactions with residents and family members in hallways, those day-to-day greetings that seem small but brighten an afternoon.

What would you say about Epworth Villa to someone considering living here?
I believe to really understand Epworth, you need to come here and see this place and meet these people in person. To be here is to understand why people love it here. You can live a great life here. With any current or future healthcare needs covered, you can focus on really enjoying life, meeting new people, having new experiences. The tight-knit community feeling really permeates every part of our campus. Our staff and residents really take care of each other, like family does. There’s a lot of love here, and I want people to come experience it for themselves.

Just one of many Epworth experiences.

Stay tuned for other stories of what life at Epworth Villa is all about or fill out the form below to have them delivered to your inbox. To learn more about what it’s really like to experience life at Epworth Villa, get in touch with us here. We look forward to chatting.

Resident Elaine Transeau

While Elaine moved to Epworth in October 2020, her connection to our community goes back further, all the way to 2011. We talked to her about her life here at Epworth Villa.

What was your first impression of Epworth Villa?
In 2011, I began looking for senior living options in the region because two of my sons live close by. I came to check out Epworth Villa, and just fell in love with it. At the time, my husband and I lived in Arizona, and he wasn’t as eager to move so we decided to stay there at that point. But yes my impression of Epworth Villa was immediately very positive. There’s something about the people of Oklahoma. We’re welcoming and open, friendly and nurturing. I hardly ever see a stranger. I knew that was something I wanted.

So when you moved to Epworth years later, did it meet your expectations?
Oh absolutely. As I said, coming home to live closer to my boys was really important to me. And even though I moved in the middle of the COVID pandemic, people here were immediately so welcoming to me—I immediately felt like part of the community. Every day I feel like “boy did I come to the right place.” I’m truly home again, very much at ease, and I can be myself without any pretense.

From your perspective, what’s it like living here?
Oh I tell people all the time not to wait! People really have no idea how much fun they’ll have coming here, both because there’s so much to do and because you get to leave behind the typical responsibilities of maintaining a home. It’s great! Really the hardest part was downsizing from a larger home, but honestly it made me feel more at ease to have less stuff to worry about. I’m very comfortable here.

You talked about things to do. Tell us more about that.
I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, exactly how I want! How great is that? There is so much here to do—it’s not just bingo. This is a place filled with people just like me, with an incredible amount of life experience to share. The people here are active and intelligent and have explored (and are exploring) the world. We really have a lot of fun here in independent living. There’s a club or group or activity for just about anything you can think of. And if it’s not there, you can start it! This is really a great place to be and to live a full life. I’m so thankful I’m here and want to welcome as many new people as I can.

Just one of many Epworth experiences.

Stay tuned for other stories of what life at Epworth Villa is all about or fill out the form below to have them delivered to your inbox. To learn more about what it’s really like to experience life at Epworth Villa, get in touch with us here. We look forward to chatting.

Family Member Chris Griffith

Chris Griffith is the adult son of Sandy Ross, one of Epworth Villa’s newer residents who is a key part of our community already. We spoke with Chris recently about Epworth Villa, his experience with our community, and much more. Here is a recap of that conversation.

How has your experience with Epworth Villa been so far?
Really great! Mom is always telling me how happy she is to be there, how happy she is that they made the decision to move. Her husband had a few more reservations but has really come around and is enjoying it as well. And for me and my family, it’s been a huge relief honestly. It’s so helpful to know mom’s happy, she has friends literally next door, and if she ever needs help there are great people around in an instant.

How was the move itself?
The people at Epworth were fantastic. They really just helped the entire process go smoothly. From Kevin Clark in sales, to the team that came and helped go over my mom’s things and plan out the apartment, really everyone involved was just great.

What do you feel has been the biggest benefit for your mom?
Like many of us she didn’t always admit when she needed some help, so this has made that process easier since she doesn’t have to deal with maintenance and things like that. With her failing eyesight and some other things, she really didn’t get out like she used to and she’s someone who needs social interaction.

So being at Epworth makes it so easy to see her friends and meet new friends. She can meet for coffee or lunch or just to chat without worrying about driving or anything like that. It’s changed her life for sure because it’s allowed her to be her usual, outgoing self and not be limited by her health.

Just one of many Epworth experiences.

Stay tuned for other stories of what life at Epworth Villa is all about or fill out the form below to have them delivered to your inbox. To learn more about what it’s really like to experience life at Epworth Villa, get in touch with us here. We look forward to chatting.