LISA WRIGHT / WRIGHT EYE PHOTOGRAPHY
Jubilation provides retirement perfection
Dr. Nancy Ayers took care of others for more than 40 years while practicing family medicine. Now it is time for her to sit back, relax and enjoy retirement. She is doing just that at Jubilation by Silver Companies. “People kept asking me if I want to do this, do that [in her career field] and I finally said, ‘No, I want to retire,’ ” Nancy said recently from her apartment home in Fredericksburg at Jubilation.
Jubilation is the first and only senior living community she considered. Her son, who lives just a few miles away in Fredericksburg with Nancy’s grandson, led the process of vetting a nice community for his mother and even set up an appointment for them to visit Jubilation. And as they say, the rest is history. She moved in just before Christmas and has acclimated nicely to life at Jubilation.
Nancy said it was time to downsize and Jubilation was a good fit. Her house was just under 4,000 square feet and she now lives in about 800 square feet and it’s just perfect. She has a great apartment on the fourth floor with a lovely view of the outdoor pool and garden once it is underway.
“I am following the cruise ship model. This is my cabin. I can come and go as I please,” said Nancy. “I like smaller, high-end ones so this works. There are tons of activities. It’s a lot of fun!”
Between her son and her sister, who knows a lot about senior living, Nancy said the decision was simple and the team at Jubilation has gone above and beyond to help her make a smooth transition. One example was finding a Notary at the last minute.
“I fell in love with what I saw,” Nancy said. “My sister knew what to tell him [my son] to look for because she understood senior living.”
When asked what her favorite part of the community is, that was an easy question for Nancy: “Everybody kind of comes together and has a can-do attitude.”
She goes on to say there is a lot of “hidden talent” at Jubilation and you find out what some are better at during games like trivia where one resident is really good because he used to be a history professor.
Ayers’ fourth-floor apartment is around 800 square feet and has a view of the outdoor pool and a garden area.
I’m happy and I want the right people to come here and be happy with me.
—DR. NANCY AYERS
“I feel really comfortable. I can be by myself. I can be with people. They have lectures. They have game nights. I am trying things I didn’t know I’d like,” Nancy said. “People are having fun with me because I don’t really know how to play Uno.”
There is no lack of socialization and activities at Jubilation. There are a lot of different clubs and once spring is here, there will be a Garden Club. Nancy said the men are going to have a group for fine cigars and spirits and they will be provided lockers to store those items in.
Nancy is also taking advantage of the 20,000-square-foot clubhouse and recently was there to watch football since her TV was not up and running. “I just sat there and watched football—game after game.”
Jubilation has a very talented chef in Duane Keller. Nancy gives him rave reviews and despite loving to cook and having a full kitchen, she has only cooked a handful of times since moving to the community.
“They have a cocktail hour if interested and we have tapas-style dinner and let me tell you, I have never seen such a spread. Lots to choose from,” Nancy said. “Some people look at the desserts first! I like everything. Casual night. Pizzas, pasta … pasta is my favorite food this side of chocolate.”
Nancy has only been at Jubilation for a short time but knows she loves it and is looking forward to getting into sports, fitness and her other hobbies like gardening.
At Jubilation, residents enjoy concierge services in a five-star resort environment. Jubilation consists of 207 maintenance-free one or two-bedroom luxury apartments. Residents have access to the clubhouse, an ideal place for socializing with friends and neighbors. Jubilation has a variety of recreational activities, from daily breakfast and weeknight cocktail hours with tapas, to yoga and spinning classes, all organized by an on-site entertainment director.
There are indoor and outdoor heated saltwater pools and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Other spa facilities, which include a sauna, steam and massage rooms, are available.
Jubilation is partnering with Mary Washington Healthcare to provide an on-site medical concierge to assist in arranging VIP medical services and ongoing educational seminars.
“Part of me coming here was to interact with other people. I was not sure I would like it this much. Really enjoying it! Whatever you like, it’s available here,” Nancy said.