Ashton Grove
Retired residents connect with retired race horses
“We are so blessed because of the space we have. Our residents often enjoy happy hour on the back porch overlooking the horse farm,” says Ashton Grove’s Davonna Saier, adding, “Many have their favorite horse, and you’ll often find them feeding our four-legged friends carrots on a nice day. We’re conveniently located near shops, physician offices, and the hospital. We’re also just a few minutes from downtown Georgetown.”
Ashton Grove Senior Living in Georgetown sits on more than 80 acres of land. Half of the acreage is occupied by an active adult senior retirement community while the other half features eight paddocks, a 16-stall barn, and horses. Ashton Grove offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Private Cottages.
The senior living community features a variety of amenities in addition to the uniqueness of an on-site horse farm. Residents have access to salon services, restaurant-style meals offered in a dining room or smaller bistro, an on-site gym, along with several common areas for recreational, social, religious, educational and wellness programs.
Saier describes a typical day there as “one full of fun, socialization, gourmet food, and purpose. Everything from daily activities to optional dignified care plans are carefully planned and offered to all of the Ashton Grove family. We provide many choices and the staff understands that learning what is important to each individual is key to their experience.”
Ashton Grove’s Independent Living option offers maintenance-free living in a resort-like community and full access to all campus amenities. These rooms, known as Ashton Grove Cottages, are available as two bedroom, two bath units. “Many seniors today do not need assistance, but want the amenities of a senior living community,” says Saier. “Residents in independent living come to the main building for meals and activities, all of which are included in their rent. This concept is fairly new, and has been such a success.”
She continues, “Residents love the maintenance-free living with the comforts and security of a safe community and strong friendships. Several have even bought golf carts and enjoy riding to and from the main building, as well as all over the property.”With the Assisted Living option, residents receive help with personal care and daily living activities based on a personalized service plan. Private units are available as one or two-bedrooms, or studios, featuring the choice of a room with a horse farm view or a patio.
Memory Care provides enhanced therapeutic stimulation for those with memory loss, in addition to individualized personal care and daily activities. Saier adds, “Everyone has a story, and we honor those stories in any way we can. Every day I watch our residents connect beautifully with all sharing one thing in common — to enjoy life! Our staff’s main purpose is to maximize the quality and experience of our resident lives through compassionate care, dignity, and service. We have happy hour every day at 4. Residents often enjoy live entertainment and of course, delicious food. We have a robust daily activity schedule and many resident-driven events and groups.” □
Old Friends
Old Friends, which began in Georgetown in 2003, is a non-profit retirement facility for horses. Creating an Old Friends extension in the “backyard” acreage of nearby Ashton Grove offered an amenity unlike any other.
The Old Friends blog explained the concept at the official unveiling, “When Old Friends supporters Bev and John Passerello moved from California to Ashton Grove Senior Living in Georgetown, they saw the potential for a wonderful blend of happy horses and happy people. The Passerellos saw that Ashton Grove, a new facility only a few miles from Old Friends’ main farm, included some good pasture land and a barn. They saw that Old Friends could use more space for horses—retired people and retired horses—it was a natural pairing.”
The process of building an on-site horse farm was ten months in the making, but the initial seven retired Thoroughbreds arrived on-site in September 2020. Community resident Tom Emerson quickly became an avid volunteer, feeding the horses every day, rain or shine, even on holidays.
Prior to living at Ashton Grove, he’d “never been that close to a horse before,” but instantly embraced the mission. “Such magnificent creatures,” he says of his equine neighbors, “old people like me have a retirement home, I think old horses should have a retirement home too.”
Learn more about Ashton Grove Senior Living
Ashton Grove Senior Living
502.735.4400
ashtongroveseniorliving.com
This sponsored feature also appears on page 8 and 9 of the 2021 Senior Living Lexington Guide.
To advertise in Senior Living Lexington, call 859.361.4169
