Our House has been caring for the Westshore community's older adults since the late 1970s. At that time the only options available to older adults were either living at home or moving into a nursing home. When Mattie Maran founded Our House in November 1978, area seniors gained the opportunity to join a community of their peers where they could stay independent, stay involved, and continue to live their lives to the fullest. Since 2000 Our House has been owned and operated by Mattie's daughter, Marguerite L. Van Derwyst, while Mattie continues to enjoy the good life at Our House as a resident. We met with Marguerite and Office Manager Corey Niebes recently, and listened as they provided this overview of Our House's services and offerings;

Our House is a congregate living community specifically designed for older adults who do not wish to live alone, but want to remain independent and stay involved. Founded on the belief that the most important needs of any person - old or young - are those of dignity, independence, friendship, socialization, and continued activity, our facility and our procedures are geared toward creating a welcome atmosphere that fosters socialization and staying active. Our goal is to enhance the vitality that our residents already possess by providing them with a cozy living environment and full activity schedule that make it easy to kindle friendships while maintaining their privacy and independence.

Located on nine wooded acres complete with walking paths, a duck pond, greenhouse, flowering patios, and abundant wildlife, we offer month-to-month leases and private rooms furnished with your personal belongings. Our fully carpeted rooms include individually controlled heat and air conditioning, telephone, cable, utilities, emergency pull cords, security systems, and sit-down showers. Anything available to residents in their own home is available at Our House, including personal care services provided by trustworthy, reliable independent caretakers. Residents are encouraged to share the company of other residents in our spacious living room, sitting by a fire, or next to the piano, singing or just listening. There are also lounge areas on the residence levels for gathering and relaxing with friends.

We have earned an envious reputation for our food, and our residents receive three nutritionally balanced meals a day in addition to unlimited snacks. Each resident gets to pick the menu for his/her birthday, and every resident gets to share in that birthday menu. If you do not like what is on the menu, our chef will prepare something more to your liking. If you have a favorite recipe, our kitchen staff will be happy to make it, or even let you help prepare it if you would like.

Our philosophy since the very beginning has been that healthier people are going to be happier and more inclined to enjoy life. To help our residents stay healthy and fit we offer exercise classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Any resident having perfect attendance for these classes receives a $50.00 discount on their monthly rent. We are currently holding a Fit for Life program designed to encourage our residents to improve their health by losing body fat. After this three month program is complete, the resident who has lost the most body fat will receive a $1,000.00 discount on their rent.

An important part of life at Our House is ensuring our residents have every opportunity to stay active and involved. We offer crafts, sing-a-alongs, bingo, movies, card games, and gardening. We go on picnics, out to lunch, out to dinner, and on One Tank Trips to Niagara Falls, Amish Country, and the Islands. We have gone to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Women's Aerospace Museum, theater performances, and Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers games. Residents can pamper themselves by scheduling an appointment at our on-site beauty shop/barbershop, as well as meeting with the Podiatrist, who comes once a month.

Our goal is to enhance the vitality that our residents already possess by providing them with a cozy living environment and full activity schedule that make it easy to kindle friendships while maintaining a sense of privacy and independence. If you believe the golden years are a time to celebrate, come join the company of other like-minded seniors, and discover why, at Our House, life has just begun.

Our House has been specifically designed for older adults who do not wish to live alone, but want to remain independent and stay involved. Call or stop by Our House today, and don't forget to tell them Avon, Ohio Business & Living sent you!