Ohio Living Breckenridge Village is more than just a place for seniors to call home
By Olivia Bloom
The community residents at Ohio Living Breckenridge Village are thriving through a sense of connectedness and compassion.
Spread across a campus of 32 rolling acres, a wide range of living options abound, from active retirement living in two- and three-bedroom ranch homes, brownstones and apartments, to assisted living and memory care, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care facilities.
This self-contained community has in place high-tech security and safety measures and offers a host of activities including virtual programming, such as art and exercise classes through Zoom and on its own television station, BVTV.
The staff goes out of its way to offer convenience. For instance, residents don’t have to leave the community for things like groceries, as the fully stocked pantries are on campus. A nurse practitioner provides home care visits to residents when needed.
For additional safety, residents wear a life pendant or wristwatch so they can call for help to the security team, which is on campus 24/7.
Enriching Programs
The wide-ranging lineup of campus activities features a little something for everyone. Here’s a sample of what you can expect to find:
• Great Decisions current events discussion group
• Community pen pals
• Film discussion group
• BV Wine Club
• Virtual reality programming
• Virtual art exhibits
Through wellness and mindfulness classes, directed by an occupational therapist, people can get meditation tips for dealing with stress or loneliness and find a sense of calmness. Residents are also offered spiritual programming by a chaplain.
The staff reports that the many new residents who moved in this year have enjoyed joining the group activities and made a smooth transition to OLBV living.
To fit every budget, living options range from government-subsidized apartments to brownstone homes with open floorplans to three-bedroom ranch homes with customizable floorplans that include fireplaces, skylights, sunrooms, appliances and one- to two-car garages.
The caring and compassionate staff understands that there’s an emotional component to downsizing and moving to a new home and makes sure residents are fully aware of all resources to keep living a vibrant and beautiful life.
Christian-affiliated Ohio Living Breckenridge Village is located at 36500 Euclid Avenue in Willoughby. Call 440-954-8359 or visit OhioLiving.org for more information. Accommodations within the village are pet friendly.
Knowledge is Power
For seniors who are tired of maintaining their home—shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, cooking meals and general upkeep—the sooner they tour potential communities in the area, the sooner they can start living their best life.
With Ohio Living Breckenridge Village’s independent living options, people can enjoy the lifestyle they deserve, with chef-prepared meals, fitness classes, wellness activities, art classes and clubs, cultural and educational day trips and more, all just steps from their front door.
“Knowledge is power,” says Lynn Coletta, Director of Business Development at OLBV. “Taking a tour of all the places available to you is a practical idea. Isn’t this a decision you want to make with all the knowledge in hand? Isn’t this action something you’d like to do on your own terms?”
One of the many key considerations is to find a community that offers a myriad of housing options—from independent to assisted living, rehab and memory care—so people can conveniently age in place.
“Taking charge of your life is like a gift you give your children,” she adds. “It creates peace of mind that you are content, and they know you’re living the life you chose. Neighbors who already reside here say that it is the best decision they’ve ever made and don’t know why it took them so long to make it.”
For a virtual tour of Ohio Living Breckenridge Village residences, go to OhioLiving.org and click on the Community Video. To get the best idea of what they offer, meet the staff and residents, it’s wise to take an in-person tour.
“If there’s anything we can do to answer questions you might have while researching options, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us,” says Lynn.
Call the marketing team at 440-954-8359 and schedule a tour today. Mention this story and receive an introductory special.
Like a Fine Restaurant
If you ask members of the OLBV community what they love most about the amenities here, many will answer with, “The food!”—and for good reason.
The talented culinary staff strives to balance a menu that’s super fresh and healthy, favoring both old-time comfort-food favorites as well as zesty, trendy dishes.
Restaurant-quality meals include all-American classics such as prime rib and filet mignon, along with seasonal specials like the fresh catch of the day.
“We are sensitive to serving fare our members ask for and also accommodating them with heart-healthy, gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan dishes,” says award-winning chef Ryan Wagner, who supervises four kitchens with more than 100 culinary staff members.
Meet the Kennewegs
Bill and Silvia Kenneweg have quite the family legacy at Ohio Living Breckenridge Village. Bill’s father was a Presbyterian minister, so he felt spiritually connected to the facility. When his father passed and mother remarried, it was to Ken Shafer, one of the founding fathers of the community. And Silvia’s mother lived in the Shafer Schweitzer and Fairmont buildings on campus for many years.
So, eight years ago, when it came time to look for the best fit for active and independent senior living, they looked no further than OLBV, moving into a beautifully appointed two-bedroom apartment in Grace Woods.
“The words that I associate with the people here are service and protection,” says Silvia. “With the pandemic last year, everyone was so solicitous to us, bringing meals to our apartment and offering every service to keep us active and safe. We are grateful for the lengths they’ve gone to when it comes to protecting our well-being.”
Bill echoes her sentiment, adding the words compassionate service, loving community and committed staff to the list.
“It’s amazing how the friendly staff here gets to know everyone and what their needs, wants and likes are,” says Bill.
Though they are both retirees (Bill from his law practice and Silvia from the foreign language department at Hathaway Brown), this dynamic duo is far from the retiring sort.
They enjoy playing bridge, taking part in book clubs, Bible study and the movie committee as well as volunteering in hospice. A native of Cuba, Silvia likes to read to people at the health center, as well as volunteer doing translations at an organization called HOLA Ohio in Painesville.
Bill works out five days a week on weight machines and walks the track at the Veale Wellness and Aquatics Center. Silvia, who is in a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis, keeps her upper body strong with workouts and Tai Chi.
The Kennewegs, who are 81 and 75 years old respectively, have been married for 53 years and have two children and three grandchildren.