The first time I visited the Life Plan Community, I was captivated with all it offered.

I imagined my 70-something self at Glenmeadow, working out in the gym, swimming in the pool, playing cards or sharing a meal with friends in the dining room, watching a movie in the theater. But I reeled myself in. Glenmeadow, I assumed, was out of my reach. I am a single woman business owner with a home, living on one income that doesn’t stretch very far.

I could look and admire, I thought, but not touch.

If I had been thinking like my journalism professor at Westfield State, I would not have assumed. I would have asked questions about the affordability factor at Glenmeadow. Had I done so, I would have learned back then that Glenmeadow is a place that even I could call home.

I didn’t learn that until last fall, however.

I was in a meeting with Linda, Torrie Dearborn and a colleague, Maureen Scanlon. We were discussing plans for community engagement and outreach in the year 2017. On the table in front of me were reams of materials, including an Excel spreadsheet that outlined the cost of entrance and monthly fees. I picked that document up and began to study it.

I lost track of the conversation around the table at that point.

I had discovered four options that would allow me—a single, lower middle class woman—to live comfortably at Glenmeadow. I must be wrong, I thought. It is so beautiful here; I could never afford it. I became engrossed in calculations, and indeed, I could.

I wanted to interrupt the discussion at hand; my discovery seemed that important. I did not, of course, but I left Glenmeadow that day with a lighter step. I felt so much more secure and prepared for my future than I ever had before. I could live at Glenmeadow. The knowledge continues to sustain me.

I have since raised the topic with Linda, to be sure I have it all straight in my head. What I’ve learned is that Glenmeadow is more affordable than people might imagine.

Please consider also calling Linda or Torrie at 413-567-7800; they would be happy to meet with you and walk you through the pricing options with your own financial situation in mind. They can also help you compare the cost of your current living situation with costs at Glenmeadow.

Essentially, if you own a home with equity or have other assets, Glenmeadow is very likely for you. Your assets will likely more than cover the entrance fee, and the monthly fee covers the majority of one’s monthly expenses; other expenses will become unnecessary.

When you live at Glenmeadow, there is one reasonable monthly fee that covers all of these costly services we all pay for now: electricity, internet access, cable television, groceries.

It covers as well the cost of a cleaning person and the professionals who take care of your home, from the plumber and electrician to the handyman to the guy who plows or mows the lawn. You also won’t need to pay property tax, homeowner’s insurance or health club fees, and even transportation is included if you decide not to bring your car.

Glenmeadow has a packed calendar of daily programs and active groups of intelligent people. So, you can also wipe out recreational costs while exponentially increasing your opportunities to see movies, take part in educational programs, work out, play games as part of a group, challenge yourself, enjoy an entertainer.

I am certain I’m not the only person who worries about my future health and well-being. Knowing I can live at Glenmeadow, with its commitment to helping seniors live out their later years without these concerns—a commitment I have seen up close—makes me feel ready for what comes next.

How exciting to consider that Glenmeadow might well nurture my mind, body, and spirit.