DATE=8-19-03
TYPE=English Feature
NUMBER=7-37764
TITLE=Leisure Times for the Remainder of Life
BYLINE=Faiza Elmasry
TELEPHONE=619-0940
DATELINE=Silver Spring, Maryland
CONTENT=
INTRO: When people retire, they have a number of choices, one of which is moving to a retirement community. Leisure World in Maryland, which opened 37 years ago, is one of the largest active retirement communities on the East Coast. All of Leisure World's 9-thousand plus residents are 55 or older. VOA's Faiza Elmasry spoke with some of them about the many activities available to them:
AUDIO: //CUT1 AMBIENCE & GROUP//
VOICE#1: "They have bridge games here, Mah Jong games, chess game."
VOICE#2: "In the main Clubhouse they have woodworking and ceramic classes."
Voice #3: "Indoor pool, outdoor pool, movies, religious services."
Voice#4: "They also have trips and we go to Atlantic City, we go to theaters. Widowed men meet widowed women. And we have a medical building here across the street."
TEXT: Anita Katz has lived here for almost 25 years.
She says when her kids left home; she felt the need to move out too.
AUDIO: //CUT2 KATZ//
"It [the family home] got too big, too many steps. And then I knew about the Leisure World. I just like the idea of having security, because actually I go to Florida in the wintertime and I do not worry about leaving my place. You are secure here. If you walk here in the middle of the night on crutches, you're secure."
TEXT: Leisure World Director of Education and Recreation Marilyn Goerg explains why people here enjoy their times.
AUDIO: //CUT3 GOERG//
"Because they are busy and they may have the opportunity to pursue the interests that perhaps they had no time to pursue previously. Their grounds are taken care of, but they take care of their own homes. So, they are independent and they do not have the responsibilities of someone who lives outside who has to worry about mowing lawn or watering flowers, although we do have a garden that they can attend their own garden."
TEXT: Dr. June Pollack is a retired physician who still has her own practice. She is also a volunteer with the Save Kids Coalition in Montgomery County. Dr. Pollack has lived in this community for the last 15 years. Though she lives alone, her life remains very busy.
AUDIO: //CUT 4 POLLACK//
"I have been in a seminar group, in which we present three to four seminars every year dealing with everything from immigration policy to policies in Iraq and the Middle East. I also do the health seminars. I bring in doctors and we've had seminars on breast cancer, heart problems. In addition, I play bridge, I belong to The Lions Club and I take tap dance classes."
AUDIO: //CUT5 TAP DANCING//
TEXT: Rachael Wasser is teaching a tap dancing class to a group of women in their seventies.
AUDIO: //CUT6 WASSER//
"Tap dance is good for delaying Alzheimer's. It keeps you going. It is good for your memory. I've been dancing for many years and I am 85."
TEXT: Ms. Wasser is not a stranger to this community. Actually she used to live here before moving to an assisted life care house in Colombia, Maryland, a couple of years ago.
AUDIO: //CUT7 WASSER//
"It is easy for me because I am legally blind. It has an elevator, so you do not have to worry about the steps. My apartment is cleaned and I have an auditorium to myself to teach tap dance. I put on shows there. I live independently as long as I can live. If I need assistance, I go to a different section. It is wonderful."
AUDIO: //CUT8 SINGING: GETTING TO KNOW YOU//
TEXT: Retired engineer Dave Weiss is enjoying singing and acting as a member of the theatre group "Fun and Fancy."
AUDIO: //CUT9 WEISS//
"I have been taking singing lessons from a woman who is about 86 years old who used to have a studio in a near by community and I think I've learned a bit from her and I am still working on it. You know if you are going to make it to Broadway, you've got to pay your dues."
TEXT: Dave and Kay Austin are a married couple who share many things in common, including a love of the performing arts. They run the theatre club. About this club Kay says:
AUDIO: //CUT10 MRS.AUSTIN//
"When we ended our season last June, we had 300 and some members. Since the clubhouse was built, we have a stage and we have been able to do a lot better things. We had some scenery built, we've gotten some very good musicians and we have really expanded a lot. In addition to that, we have an out reach program. We put on entertainment for all sorts of organizations. Some of them are here in Leisure World, but most of them are outside, such as nursing homes, assisted living, community centers and specific organizations such as churches and organizations such as the Lions, Rotaries and so many other organizations."
DAVE: "On some occasions, we have little children in our audience."
TEXT: As the eldest member in the club, Mr. Austin believes that such performances are good for his health.
AUDIO: //CUT11 MR.AUSTIN //
"I passed my 90th birthday last January, and I think this activity; dancing, singing, memorizing things are making your feet and your mind coordinate. I even tap danced for a while. That I think has kept my mind active and helped me to stay physically active."
TEXT: Staying active is what life at Leisure World is all about, and the residents here say thanks to all of the games, clubs, classes and other pursuits available to them, they are living some of the best years of their lives.
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