Residents Get Involved with Disaster Preparedness

Residents are encouraged to be involved in all aspects of community life at Walnut Village, including the community's comprehensive emergency preparedness plan in the event of any emergency including an earthquake.  "We have residents from all professions and life experiences, said Walnut Village Executive Director Debbie Infield. "Their wealth of knowledge provides valuable input to Walnut Village." That's why when researchers at the University of California, Irvine wanted to demons…

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Jet-Setter Joyce Kessler Loves Coming Home to Walnut Village

When Joyce Kessler was making the move to a retirement community, it was not an instant process. After visiting five different communities, she found that something important to her was lacking in each one. But when she decided to take a look at Walnut Village upon the recommendation of a friend, everything changed. "From the moment I pulled into the driveway, I had a very warm feeling," she said. "Even the exterior was very friendly, and it was exactly what I was looking for - a smaller, in…

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Resident Kathie Staniec Continues to Rediscover Herself at Walnut Village

In her memoir, "Common Threads," Walnut Village resident and author Kathie Staniec remembers how as a young mother of two, her life was not very adventurous. She wrote ... "I had never been adventurous. I had always been comfortable with the things that I was used to, only coloring between the lines with the classic Crayola colors." But in the summer of 1982, everything changed for the Illinois native. Her husband got a job in Southern California and Kathie and her family began a new adventure …

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Seven Compelling Reasons Why You Should Make the Move to Walnut Village Today

You hear it all of the time … you should wait until you need assistance with life’s daily activities to make a move to a senior living community. But in reality, moving while you are as active and independent as possible offers you the most opportunities to enjoy and fully participate in community life. Here are seven compelling reasons why making the move to Walnut Village now is the right choice. 1. Free Yourself from the Burdens …

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Falling Is Not a Normal Part of Aging.  Take These Smart Steps for Preventing Falls.

September 22, the first day of fall, is appropriately deemed national Falls Prevention Awareness Day, and is dedicated to raising awareness of falls and how to prevent them. As a leading provider of senior housing, Front Porch treats the risk of falling as a  very serious public health issue. No one thinks they are going to fall, but it happens. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. If you slip, trip or fall, it could change your life. You could break a bone, take a trip t…

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Stay Fit and be Well at Walnut Village with Wellbeing Director Ryan Fillingane

What if your gym was right around the corner from your front door, with a team of personal trainers to help you meet your fitness goals? Make Walnut Village your home and that's exactly what you'll enjoy - our Wellbeing, Fitness & Aquatic Center is in the heart of the Village. No need to motivate yourself to get into the car and drive to your next workout. It's only just steps away! As a new resident, you're sure to meet Wellbeing Director Ryan Fillingane shortly after your arrival.…

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Flutter By: I’m Happy to Be Part of Our Communities’ Efforts to Save the Monarch Butterfly

Amazing residents live at every Front Porch community. But let me tell you about a particular group of resident gardeners who believe that getting dirt under their fingernails and planting milkweed seeds - the monarch caterpillar’s only source of sustenance - is the best way to save the endangered butterflies.  This group inspired the "Front Porch Monarch Butterfly Collaborative" project. When I brought all our monarch butterfly enthusiasts together, I was in for a treat! I…

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Memory Care Neighborhood at Walnut Village Offers Unique Life Enrichment Opportunities

It's 9 a.m. on Monday morning at Summer House, Walnut Village's memory care neighborhood, and Life Enrichment Specialist Julie Rosenthal is excited for a new week of exploring possibilities with the dozen or so residents she engages with daily. For those living with, or caring for someone with memory loss, providing meaningful inspiration and joy is both a primary goal and an incredible challenge. Julie uses every bit of her 30 years of experience of caring for others to engage with…

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Judy Phillips Doesn’t Miss Much at Walnut Village

At Walnut Village and beyond, resident Judy Phillips wears many hats and has many passions. Once a month you can find her in the community's billiards room taking lessons. Then she puts those lessons to use three times a week with her classmates. She plays in the Walnut Village chime choir and is a singer in both the Walnut Village Chorale and the Long Beach chapter of the "Sweet Adelines," a group of female "barbershop" singers. She played the double bass as a member of the Boulder Phil…

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Butterfly Garden Adds to the Serenity at Walnut Village

In many ways resident Phyllis Fryer is a pioneer among her neighbors. Phyllis is one of the charter residents who moved to Walnut Village when it debuted in 2009. "We reserved our cottage before the community was built," Phyllis remembered. "We saw the artists' drawings and were excited about the village concept. More than a  decade later, it's as wonderful as ever to live here." In 2021, Phyllis was a catalyst for creating the community's butterfly garden, waystation and monarch…

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