Garlands member Roberta Rood, a retired public librarian of 25 years, moved to The Garlands with her husband (and “live-in IT guy”), Ron, from Maryland to be closer to their family in Chicago. Roberta reports that “The Garlands large residences gave us room to spread out and offered a nice office space for my bookshelves…
A retired information systems executive whose musical roots lead back to his days singing in the church choir, Bruce surfed the internet one day and found fantastic videos of musical performances from all sorts of genres on YouTube. Intrigued, he curated a list of his favorites, compiled an hour-long program of video cuts, and invited…
In her “retirement” at The Garlands, Dorothy Winsor pursues a second career as a young adult fiction author. To date, she has published seven books, including her most recent novel, Dragoncraft, a tale of duty, love, and the precarious dance between power and loyalty. Turns out Dorothy’s readership extends from “young adult” to “mature adult” as…
Garlands member and long-time professional book reviewer and discussion leader, Lanny Ori, grew up in White Plains, New York, in, as she fondly recalls, “a house full of books where dinnertime discussions were a regular family activity.” After graduating from college with a degree in Art History, Lanny worked at the Boston Museum of Fine…
In his youth, Dick Schwemm wanted to become either a professional baseball player, sea captain, or a professor. A graduate of Amherst College who earned a master’s degree in physics and math from the University of Illinois, Dick did do some teaching as a TA in grad school, however, once his 33-year career at IBM…
By day, Garlands concierge Martha Nielsen is a friendly source of knowledge and assistance for Garlands members and families, however, by night, weekends, and holidays, she is an international adventurer with over 120 European trips under her belt. A former, seasoned Scandinavian Airlines Global Sales Manager, Martha retired after nearly 37 years and began a…
Pam Wilson’s love for genealogy started not long after she, the daughter of a Belgium immigrant, married a man with ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. Pam wondered, “Who were these people who led us to this union?” Thus, her journey back in time via genealogy began. A self-described “dogged researcher” and graphic designer, Pam…
‘Tis the season for heading back to school, and at The Garlands of Barrington, a premier life plan community for older adults, “schooling” knows no age limits! According to a recent AARP study on lifelong learning, 55% of Americans ages 45 and older seek personal growth and are curious and actively learning new things. If…
For the sixth year in a row, U.S. News and World Report ranked Prairieview at The Garlands among the elite 19% of short-term rehabilitation providers nationwide to earn “High Performing” status, the highest possible achievement. This rating is based on several criteria, including staffing, medical outcomes, resident feedback, and processes of care. U.S. News relies…
Q: What is a favorite activity at The Garlands that encourages collaboration, stimulates brain health, engages long-term memory, facilitates friendships, and is just plain FUN? A: Trivia Night! What started as a one-time event attended by a few Garlands members has grown into a heated battle of the brains for many! Teams of 6-8 —…
Garlands members Mary and Dick Schwemm were both born in Barrington, attended the same second-grade class at Hough Street School, were confirmed in the Barrington Methodist church, were chemistry lab partners junior year at Barrington High School, and were members of the Homecoming Royalty Court. Before senior year was over, they were going steady. “The…
The secret behind The Garlands’s spit-spot and award-winning cleanliness isn’t the latest and greatest cleaning product or a new-fangled vacuum cleaner. It’s much simpler than that: just real people caring for real people and one another. What appears as only a single bullet point on The Garlands brochure’s long list of convenient services, housekeeping is…
At the Garlands, interactions with furry friends offer therapeutic benefits for animals and Garlands members alike. This winter, nine seven-week-old Hoof Woof & Meow Animal Rescue puppies were invited to “puppy yoga” with Garlands members, who were overjoyed with their roly-poly antics. “Needless to say, there was more shoelace pulling, cuddles, and puppy kisses than…
Considered the “Royal Dog of Madagascar,” Rambo cavorts with Garlands “commoners” who are more than happy to share treats and belly rubs on his daily walks. Our beloved pets are with us through thick and thin, adding joy and laughter — and so many other benefits — to our lives and our homes. The…
GONE SWIMMING! At the crack of dawn almost every Saturday morning, Garlands member Steve Bromet leaves a “gone swimming” sticky note on the bathroom counter for his wife before he quietly slips out the front door and into The Garlands lap pool. The morning light pours in from the aquatic center’s atrium skylights as the…
As we greet the New Year, The Garlands is fortunate to remain a financially stable, award-winning, and growing community that receives accolades from members, their families, and the greater community. Record Growth Last year, we welcomed 58 new members, and we are now 95% sold and compiling a waitlist. A Commitment to Re-Investment As we…
Wishing you much peace, happiness, and a little Elton John-style Rock ‘n’ Roll in 2024 ~ The Garlands ~