Carleton Willard Helping Seniors Stay Home

By Patrick Ball
Oct 15, 2009

Fifteen years ago, Joan Turner moved back to Massachusetts from Washington state and downsized to a "wonderful little house on White Pond" where she hopes to stay as long as possible.

So the 80-year-old Turner jumped at the chance to sign up for Carleton-Willard At Home, a new service offered by Carleton-Willard Homes that brings retirement community services to local seniors.

"I had been following the At Home concept for some time, and have some friends in Cambridge who utilize the Cambridge At Home," Turner said. "I had just been so jealous and wished so much we could have something like that in Concord. And then, along came Carleton-Willard. I couldn't believe my good luck and I didn't hesitate."

Of late, Turner found the outdoor upkeep at her home requires a little more work than she's comfortable doing. But winter should be a bit easier now that Carleton-Willard At Home has given her the number of a plowing service that will shovel the 35 steps down the steep bank from her driveway to her door.

For an annual fee, Carleton-Willard At Home, a service launched last month by Carleton-Willard Homes, parent organization to Carleton-Willard Village provides fulltime concierge service and offers members access to a stable of fully vetted home-maintenance and healthcare providers, with whom they negotiate discounted rates.

This service is invaluable for folks like Turner, who has never needed a plumber or plowing service because she's always been handy enough around the house and did her own landscaping.

Carleton-Willard At Home also provides a calendar of cultural and social events, and arranges for in-home services such as nutrition counseling and elder care management. Carleton-Willard At Home is available to residents of Concord, Bedford, Carlisle and Lincoln.

"We are targeting people who are either not ready for a retirement community or who will never be ready for a retirement community," said Stephanie Smith, director of public relations for Carleton-Willard Village. "Members can call up and whether their needs are large or small, in the areas of healthcare or concierge services, we will be able to provide a reliable provider and, if we don't have anyone on our list, we can go out and screen someone."

In the month since its launch, Smith said Carleton-Willard At Home has addressed requests for transportation, roofing and handyman jobs and a personal trainer. The service also holds regular exercise classes and hosts walks in the area. Some upcoming activities include talks on various health topics, a tasting dinner at a local restaurant and a cooking event.

"For some people it's like insurance, in that you never know when something's going to happen," Smith said.

CW At Home has a membership fee of $600 per year for an individual or $850 for a household. For more information about Carleton-Willard At Home, call 781-276-1910, visit the Web site, www.cwathome.org or email athome@cwathome.org