Jackie Williams Finds the Perfect Place to Settle

(Mansfield, TX) – As we age, it is common to go through significant lifestyle changes. Jackie Williams, 68, has gone through more lately than most.

First, she and her husband moved from California to Texas to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and grandson. A few years later, the couple divorced after 24 years of marriage, and she needed a new place to live.

“I wanted to be in Mansfield where my daughter and her family live,” she said. So, Williams’ daughter took her on a tour of the city.

You could say fate led her to the place she now calls home. “I saw a sign for a 55 plus active adult community that was right across the street from the karate studio where my grandson trains, and decided to check it out,” she said.

Immediately after setting foot in Album Mansfield, Williams knew she had found her new home. “Haylee (the person who took her on her tour) was so full of life and had such a great big smile at a time when I was going through a big transition,” said Williams.

“She kept stressing how it’s a community you can make your own. I was so excited about that, I decided to move in,” said Williams, whose apartment is on the fourth floor in a corner. “There is lots of light filtering in and I have a beautiful view.”

It wasn’t long after settling in that Williams’ next chapter began to manifest. “Probably a year after moving in, I retired from my job at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, “ she said.

While at UTSW, Williams had served as Clinical Director of the Department of Ophthalmology. About 100 people reported to her. “It was a huge job, and a lot to replace,” said Williams.

Album Mansfield came to the rescue again. “I went downstairs and talked to our community manager, Damon, and told him I wanted to do more,” she said.

Williams soon joined the community’s Ambassador Program, and started really getting to know her neighbors. She also regularly started attending the community’s fitness classes and all other community functions.

“I got very involved in event planning, and they wanted me to help steer a lot of the events that we were doing. It has just been a godsend for me,” said Williams.

According to the National Institutes of Health, participation in community affairs and activities is extremely beneficial to the mental health of older adults. In a recent study, older adults who had a strong sense of community reported higher life satisfaction and positive effect, and lower depressive symptoms.

“Having no more husband, sort of that extension of your life is gone; and then when you retire, you lose your everyday function of doing this and doing that. What I lost has all been replaced for me by meeting people here, doing activities, and getting involved,” said Williams.

Today, her days are spent working out at the onsite gym, and visiting with friends. When she recently tore her Achilles heel and had to undergo a painful surgery and recovery, the community rallied around her.

“Everybody would say, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re doing so great! First you had a scooter, then you had a walker and now you don’t have anything. You’re doing great!’ When I first moved here, I didn’t know people’s names. Now I walk around and say hi to everyone. It has really been a game changer—a life saver—it has just really been awesome,” added Williams.

About Album Mansfield

Album Mansfield is the premier 55+ active adult community in Mansfield, Texas. Residents experience an active senior living community of genuine people coming together to create their preferred environment to play, be creative, socialize, and enjoy.

Whether it’s tending to the community garden, joining the morning yoga class, organizing a potluck with neighbors, leading the Album Book Club, or enjoying a family barbeque in the courtyard, life at Album Mansfield provides residents more free time to stay fit, hang out, join in, and live well.

There are 1 bedroom/1 bath and 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment homes available for rent, ranging in size from 700 square feet to 1,247 square feet. Included with rent is access to more than a dozen amenities, including a welcome center, lounge, health club, fitness studio, creative arts room, theater, community garden, outdoor lounge, firepits, pool, barbeque area and pet park.

For more information about the community, or to arrange a tour, please check out the website, Albummansfield.com