Harriet Bogdonoff
Eileen Balladur
Staying active and engaged with family and friends is so important to healthy aging. But during a long Maine winter, it can be difficult to get out of our homes and into the community. It is harder to try new things and make new friends when sidewalks need shoveling or roads are icy. And if you are living alone, it can be harder still. Many of our single members believe living at The Atrium has truly changed their lives for the better.
Eileen Balladur is one of them. “Before my husband passed away, we usually socialized at home with family. The Atrium gave me the courage to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. I love everything about being here,” she says.
Nervous about making friends if you move to The Atrium alone? Don’t be. The Atrium has an Ambassador program for new members. Eileen remembers how much her own Ambassador, Janet Silver, helped her feel at home. “Janet lives right across the hall. She greeted me every day, took me to activities and introduced me to other members. It made me feel so welcome and included.”
Harriet Bogdonoff agrees. “Everyone here is so friendly. I love the nightly social hour, when everyone brings a favorite wine to the study before dinner.”
Eileen also loves sharing meals with others again. “I like coming down to the beautiful dining room every evening and enjoying a wonderful dinner with my friends,” she adds. “There’s only one dining room, and no assigned seating. Everything is done for us. We just enjoy each other’s company. It is the highlight of my day.”
Harriet also appreciates the additional free time life at The Atrium provides, and all the different ways there are to fill it. “I chair the Lifestyle Committee,” she says. “We bring musical performances and educational speakers right to The Atrium. I’m taking classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and learning Tai Chi. It is so easy to get into Portland for cultural events or to try a new restaurant.” And Eileen spends so much time on yoga and water aerobics, she might have to drop Tai Chi!
And both women love spending time at The Atrium with their families, just as they used to at home. Our members can invite their family to our Seder, play with the grandkids in our pool or reserve the private dining room for a catered birthday dinner – the possibilities are endless. “My daughter and her husband live nearby,” says Harriet. “We go to every First Friday Art Walk in Portland and travel every year. This fall, we’re going to Prague!” Eileen’s daughter loves her cozy apartment at The Atrium, too.
The Atrium is small enough that you feel part of the community right away. “The size is perfect,” says Eileen. “You can be alone, or spend time with others.”