I mentioned Arbor Lodge in my last posting of my birthday celebrations. Many, if not most, know of my move to this facility in Salmon Arm. But I bet many of you have no idea what I'm talking about as to where it is or what it looks like. You are in for a bit of a tutorial.
Arbor Lodge advertises itself as a facility for independent living. I think the definition is stretched a bit for advertising purposes but it suits my needs to a "T". About this time a year ago I was starting to re-evaluate my rental needs. I was getting tired of doing my own cooking and housekeeping. I was not getting along with my landlady and nine years in one spot was getting me down.
So after seeing an ad or two for retirement lodges (and I had been retired for a year) I decided to go out and check them out. My nephew Joel Allen came along with me and we looked at a few in town. Some were very nice but they were all very expensive! Then I saw an ad for Arbor Lodge in a recreational magazine and thought I should check it out. The ad promised three meals a day and housekeeping once a week. There were laundry facilities for the residents and big lounges with big screen TV's. There was free cablevision and WiFi internet access in all the rooms. And the price was within my pension budget. So I signed a lease for a year and moved in July 1st, 2014.
The move was horrendous. A big thank you to Heidi and Joel for their tremendous assistance. Let's look at some pictures and I'll carry on with more text about life in the Lodge...
Where is Arbor Lodge?
 |
Arbor Lodge is south east of downtown Salmon Arm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The Lodge has had many additions giving it kind of a cottage look tumbling down a hillside.
|
 |
The entrance to the top floor of the Lodge. (On the right you will see a red "X" on a window. This indicates my room.)
|
 |
On the walkway down to the entrance to the top floor.
|
 |
A welcoming door (But you do need a code to get in.)
|
===============================================================================
What does it look like inside?
 |
Entering into the dining and lounge area of the upper floor.
|
 |
Another view of the upper floor lounge area
|
 |
The lounge is very comfortable. The big screen TV is just out of the picture to the right
|
|
 |
The kitchen is an auxiliary kitchen to the main one downstairs. Our meals are delivered to this kitchen.
|
 |
A natural gas fireplace makes the lounge comfy on a chilly winter morning.
|
 |
The hallway to the right off the lounge goes down to the main living area. The doors on the left lead to residents' rooms and the three doors on the right are a washroom, a shower room and a doorway into the laundry room and housekeeping area.
|
 |
A display room for potential residents. (Our real rooms look much more lived in.)
|
 |
My bathroom or wash closet. The shower or bath are just down the hall.
|
 |
Each floor has an outdoor deck. This is the view looking to the north-west over the town towards Tappen.
=================================================================================
The Lodge staff
|
 |
Our esteemed Manager of the Lodge, Christina Lutz.
|
 |
Two members of the kitchen team, Donna on the left and Margaret on the right
|
 |
More of the kitchen crew, Angela, Tracy and Margaret. The food we get is really quite excellent!
|
 |
One of our housekeeping crew, Bonnita, fastidiously vacuuming and dusting the rooms. They wash our bedding as well but we have to do our own private washing.
|
 |
Margaret cooks the breakfasts in the Lodge and is having a quiet word with Pic Codd.
|
 |
Another of one of our cooks, Donna
=======================================================================
Lodge Miscellaneous
|
 |
A view to the south of Mt. Ida in the Fall. Taken from the upper deck.
|
 |
The Lodge cat, Squeegee. Well loved by the residents.
|
 |
A typical lunch of Caesar salad, pizza and pumpkin pie for desert.
|
 |
The Lodge transportation, available to all residents for rides to appointments and shopping or events. A bus stop is about a half block away and the Handi Dart bus comes twice a month to take residents to Piccadilly Mall.
|
 |
A photo of the lower deck from the upper deck. You can also see a portion of the gardens.
|
==============================================================================
Some of the residents who live in Arbor Lodge
 |
Some of the lower floor residents having refreshments out on the deck.
|
 |
Some of the residents and a few guests enjoying entertainment at an afternoon tea.
|
 |
Resident Dave Harper and his brother Ron providing some musical entertainment.
|
 |
I'm afraid I don't have the names of this couple who came to lead some singing one afternoon.
|
 |
And our good friend Rolly Derosiers does a good job on his accordion playing European style music.
|
 |
There are outings as well for the residents.The four of us (one taking the picture) had a pleasant evening at the Haney Park and Village dinner theatre.
|
 |
Members of the Royal Canadian Legion and a representative of the local attachment of the RCMP came to the lodge for a Remembrance Day service. The resident on the left (Adam) is a World War II veteran.
|
 |
There was tea served after the service.
|
 |
We had a birthday party for three of our residents who had birthdays in March
|
 |
The three of them, Maureen Stickney, Lena Johnson, and Shelley Tulley cutting their cake
|
 |
Lena Johnson celebrated her 106th birthday that day.
|
 |
Lena is still as sharp as a tack and loves to work on jigsaw puzzles. Her memories of growing up in Notch Hill are invaluable.
|
Well, there you have it. I've tried to give a sense of life in Arbor Lodge. It's a nice, private facility where the residents are well cared for. It's definitely a slower lifestyle but very comfortable.
Dave Harper
