A move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community is more than a change of address — it’s a transition from one lifestyle to another. While
we celebrate the benefits of this step, it helps to acknowledge the adjustments it requires. We have found that talking together about both the advantages and the challenges of senior community living eases the process.
That’s the spirit behind Transition Talk, an initiative created by residents of a large CCRC in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Transition Talk provides an open, friendly setting where people can share what it’s really like to move to a CCRC: we feel inspired by new opportunities, but we feel ambivalent about leaving all that is familiar and challenged by the necessity of adapting to new routines.
Transition Talk replaces small talk with real conversations. We discuss things that matter: our feelings, our frustrations, our questions, and our concerns. We also share personal discoveries and insights that we have acquired during our journeys. The more we talk, the more we learn about each other, and the process itself facilitates new friendships. We believe that Transition Talk strengthens the fabric of our community, helping everyone feel more welcome and supported. It’s a simple idea with an important impact - one that we would like to share with other CCRCs.