Londonderry on Tred Avon recently showcased renovations of its Community Center and Dining Room to the public. Through the strategic planning process, residents identified that the Community Center’s lobby, living room, library and dining room were in need of updates. According to Nancy Orr, Board President, “The world of senior living is undergoing rapid change, and we must align ourselves with the tastes and desires of the next wave of seniors, a younger demographic with different tastes and expectations.”
Londonderry engaged RLPS, a Lancaster, PA-based company with a focus on architecture and interior design for senior living communities. A resident committee worked with the firm’s interior designer to incorporate more contemporary design trends, blending styles with a fairly neutral color pallet, creating more of a coastal feel using blue and coral accents. Resident Pat Lewers, who also served on the resident committee, adds, “They also opened up the space and added improved lighting and flexible furnishings to brighten the spaces and make them more conducive for several purposes.”
In addition to visible changes, such as more floor space and French doors to let more light into the living room, there were changes made to enhance senior living. These changes include making the carpet and flooring the same levels to safely accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Copper wire was installed in the ceilings of the dining and living rooms to help reduce the background noise for residents using hearing aids.
Londonderry on Tred Avon’s living room before renovations. (photo courtesy of Bill Kepner)
Londonerry on Tred Avon’s living room after renovations. (photo courtesy of Bill Kepner)
The new floor configurations provide for multi-purpose usage of the rooms, including use of the library/computer room as a game room and the living room as a movie theater. The library currently houses the Center’s computers for resident use.
Lewers comments, “It’s a lot more cheerful and it is brighter, which helps with aging eyes. The LED lighting is also more economical.”
Resident Margie Blood was excited that Londonderry’s art committee was asked to help select resident artworks for the lobby and living room to complement the new décor. In addition, Londonderry is adding a new system for hanging resident art in the hallways of the Community Center. She states, “As an artist myself, I am glad that creativity is encouraged and that the resident artists were involved in some of the renovation process. “
Blood’s husband, The Rev. William Blood, was one of the founders of Londonderry but never got to be a resident himself. Now that she is living at Londonderry, she adds, “I am enjoying being a recipient of his work. It’s like I am home.”
Londonderry’s dining services have also undergone changes in the last six months with a new contract Strategic Dining, a consultant company assisting with menu planning, teaching and incorporating local fresh ingredients into the menu. These changes have enabled residents to have options with dining. A new bistro makes self-serve coffee, tea, cappuccino and expresso available to residents throughout the day. The lunch and dinner menu for the newly named dining room, Tred Avon Tavern, feature more Eastern Shore dishes. A new menu will be introduced every five weeks. Alan Sorrell Lynch, new Director of Dining Services, comments, “We are adding more seasonal items with fresh and local ingredients. This includes featuring our local vegetables and fruits, as well as local seafood in new ways.”
Sorrell Lynch has served as executive chef and sous chef at such local restaurants as Harris Crab House, Hemingway’s Restaurant and Annie’s Restaurant and looks forward to providing quality, fresh options for the residents of Londonderry. He adds, “I grew up on the Eastern Shore and enjoy using local food in my cooking, especially seafood. I am getting good feedback from residents about the dishes we are preparing.”
