Riderwood Residents Entertain and Socialize With Friends and Family Without Ever Leaving Home

Entertaining has never been easier or more greatly enjoyed than at Riderwood

Silver Spring, MD -- Riderwood, an Erickson Living developed and managed community in Silver Spring, MD, is a festive place to spend the holidays. Throughout the month of December, the community is alive with the colors, sounds and flavors of the season.

In addition to attending the many holiday-themed events put on by Riderwood, residents also do plenty of hosting throughout the holiday season (and all year long). People might think that downsizing for retirement means the end of entertaining family and friends in your home. But sales counselor Debbie Brumbach says that is not the case at Riderwood.

"Many of our residents have been the main hosts/hostesses for holidays and family/friend get togethers for many years," Brumbach says. "They want to know that they are still going to have that option while living here at Riderwood."

Indeed, residents have the option to host a dinner party in their spacious, modern apartment homes, but living at Riderwood means they have access to the entire campus and all its amenities, such as private dining rooms and a full-service catering staff. That means residents can choose to outsource the cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking and cleanup, leaving them free to enjoy their parties along with their guests.

"Our residents are extremely pleased with the array of options that are available here, from theater spaces, to private dining rooms, to large rooms that can be set up for any type of gathering," Brumbach says. "We really have the capacity to fulfill any entertainment request."

Mary and Jacob Thompson are among the many residents who enjoy entertaining at Riderwood. They hosted a birthday party for their great grandchild in one of the meeting rooms. They cooked the food for their 25 guests in their apartment and brought it down to the party.

"It was a lot of fun," Mary says. "The children really enjoyed themselves, and the room could hold more people than we could in the apartment."

The birthday party was such a success that Mary and Jacob decided to host all of their children and their spouses for a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner in one of Riderwood's meeting rooms.

"After the meal, we can go sit in clubhouse," Mary says. "They decorate so well here. It's a lovely place."

Riderwood, a not-for-profit organization, developed and operated by Erickson Living®. The community is governed by its own board of directors affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. This year the community will host a Polar Express-themed Winterfest. Residents, along with their families and friends as well as staff members will gather to enjoy games, crafts, carolers, a magician, photos with Santa, and much more.

Music is such an important part of the holidays for many people—and there is plenty of it happening at Riderwood throughout the season. Several resident-run clubs are hosting holiday concerts, including Grace Notes, the all-women's chorus, the Japanese American group, the Early Music Ensemble and the Gentlemen Songsters. In addition, the African American History Club is hosting a holiday jazz concert, the Catholic Community and Circle Fellowship Church are having a global Christmas concert and the Resurrection Catholic Church is hosting a Christmas concert.

"This is going to be a busy, wonderful winter season full of holiday cheer and spirit," says community resources coordinator Amy Hahn.

Photo caption:  The Thompson Family celebrated Thanksgiving in one of the classrooms at Riderwood. 

About Riderwood: Riderwood, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living^®, is situated on a scenic 120-acre campus in Silver Spring, Maryland.   The not-for-profit community of more than 2500 residents is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Riderwood is located in Montgomery County.  Additional information about Riderwood can be found at Riderwood.com