The ‘rose garden lady' beautifies a community

At Seabrook, an Erickson Senior Living-managed community in Tinton Falls, N.J., many residents know Sandra Stander as “the rose garden lady.” When she moved to Seabrook four years ago, she was asked by a staff member about her interests. When she mentioned that she liked to garden, Sandra was informed that she could use a 10 x 10 allotment in the residents’ gardens area. Rather than utilize the plot for her personal use, Sandra decided to donate a rose garden to the community.

The Seabrook staff was more than happy to accommodate Sandra’s project, and a site in front of the community's continuing care neighborhood was selected. The garden was a beautiful addition to campus and turned out to be a great way for Sandra to get to know her new neighbors.

“One of the great joys of my life and those who view it was made possible by Seabrook’s foresight and desire to partner with residents in making their lives fulfilling,” says Sandra.

Over the years, Sandra has heard from many of her fellow residents about how much walking by the rose garden can brighten their day. Recently, she received a call from Margaret Post, a resident she had never met before, who told Sandra she was inspired to get a photo she had snapped of the garden on her phone enlarged and transferred to canvas. The two women met, and Margaret presented the gorgeous photo of the rose garden as a gift to Sandra.

“I was so touched by her kind thoughtfulness,” says Sandra. “My great pleasure is to see residents sitting in the rose garden, enjoying flowers, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Each time I see this very special gift, I’ll be reminded not only of Margaret, but of why I garden and my good neighbors.”

A life in bloom

The rose garden is just one of Sandra’s many sources of joy at Seabrook. She and her husband, Harold, were inspired to move to the community after seeing the positive impact it had on her cousin, Martha. When Sandra saw Martha at a Thanksgiving celebration, Martha mentioned her concerns about giving up her old life and fearful about the transition to senior living. Months later, though, when they visited Martha at her new home at Seabrook, they were delighted to see that the community had reinvigorated her.

Making the move

When Sandra and Harold made the move a few months later, they were just as happy as Martha with their decision. “We were only in our late 60s when we made the move, and we’re so glad that we have the strength and energy to partake in the many activities on offer on campus,” says Sandra. “Harold paints in the creative arts room and plays Scrabble. In addition to extensive gardening, I use the fitness center and took philosophy and basic physics courses taught by an immensely knowledgeable resident who is a scientist.”

A picturesque new home

Sandra and Harold chose a large one-bedroom apartment home. “Our wish list in a new home included enough wall space to hang Harold’s creative and beautiful abstract paintings as well as a view of nature with no cars or parking lots in sight,” says Sandra.

While they thought they’d have to wait a long time for an apartment home that met these needs to be available, they were pleasantly surprised that immediately upon deciding to move to Seabrook, their ideal living space was ready for them to move in.

“Our absolute favorite spot in our apartment is the living room with its huge, floor-to-ceiling, three-sided bay window,” says Sandra. “The room is filled with light, and we never get tired of looking out upon the wooded scene before us.”

If you’d like to know more about Seabrook, visit SeabrookCommunity.com or call 1-800-615-9625.

About Seabrook: Seabrook, one of 21 continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Senior Living, is situated on a scenic 98-acre campus in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,400 residents and 750 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Seabrook can be found at SeabrookCommunity.com.

Written by Kate Streit