Someren Glen centenarian Carol Rauchwarger and fellow citizens thrive in community
According to the Colorado Commission on Aging (CCOA) it is estimated more than 1,000 centenarians call Colorado home. Carol Rauchwarger is one of them, and she is thriving at the Someren Glen Continuing Care Community in Centennial, a neighborhood of Christian Living Communities (CLC). In her brightly decorated apartment, Carol reflected on her past but also spoke about her active and engaged life at Someren Glen, supported by a focus on fostering citizenship in her senior living community. For her, every day is an opportunity to learn something new.
Growing up in New York
“I was born on the upper west side of Manhattan at Sloan Hospital on September 16, 1923,” she said in her colorful New York accent. “Not Sloan Kettering, that’s another, more famous New York City Hospital… just plain Sloan Hospital.”
Growing up in the Bronx, Carol’s first childhood memory was “an example of my wild side.” She and a childhood friend lit napkins on fire and dropped them into their apartment complex courtyard. “The good news was we didn’t burn anything down and my mom never found out,” Carol shared.
Carol recalled how her mother managed to make ends meet during the Great Depression along with her brother Seymor. “My mother was a great lady, very strong and independent, and she is the reason why I am who I am today,” she recalled. “They were bad times back then, so my mom became a foster parent for $28 a month, which helped us out a lot, and it was fun for me because I always had a playmate.”
Carol was dating a man named Ave before the U.S. declared war on Japan and Germany in 1941. Her sweetheart and her brother enlisted shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Ave was captured by the Germans during the North African campaign and spent 26 months in a POW camp. Brother Seymor was captured by German forces on the northern French coast and also spent time as a POW.
“It was very worrisome for me and mom because both Ave and Seymor were being held by the Germans,” Carol reflected. “We would send them care packages, including cigarettes, through the YMCA. The good news is both survived, were released, and returned home.”
Ave and Carol married on June 15, 1945, moved to Queens, NY, and started their family. Son Marc and daughter Jeri were born. The family kept growing, and Carol now has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. “My six-year-old great-grandchild is mad at me because he and his parents just moved to Oregon and for whatever reason, thinks I’m to blame for the move,” chuckled Carol.
After Marc relocated to California for a job, Ave and Carol followed him there and lived in Los Angeles for 40 years. Carol shared, “We both loved California. The weather was much better than New York. I volunteered at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for 17 years, working the information desk and helping families whose loved ones were undergoing open-heart surgery. I remember seeing the hearts being brought in with coolers, the same kind you would use for a picnic. While I worked at the hospital, Ave retired and became a school crossing guard in Beverly Hills.”
Experiencing citizenship in her senior living community
Back in Colorado, daughter Jeri launched her career as a nurse and eventually influenced Carol to move to Someren Glen Continuing Care Community. “Jeri had a successful career as a nurse in Colorado and was appointed to the state nursing board,” shared Carol. “She had an office at Someren Glen, and she knew this community would be perfect for me.”
As a social butterfly, Carol spread her wings and soon developed many friendships with her fellow citizens. “I learn something new every day just by talking to my neighbors,” said Carol.
“Carol is a great example of aging well and she breaks the stereotypes of older adults,” said Someren Glen care team member Emel Ryeiss, CNA, QMAP. “Someren Glen and our other CLC communities embrace a ‘citizenship model’ of community living. That means we believe each individual, at every age, has gifts, passions, talents and experiences that can make our community stronger and better.”
Emel has supported older adults at Someren Glen for more than 13 years and feels the citizenship model has created a unique and special senior living community where everyone looks out for and supports one another – both residents and staff. Colleague Bonnie Minter shares Emel’s perspective. Bonnie started in housekeeping eight years ago at Someren Glen but through scholarships offered by CLC, became a personal care partner.
“I love our residents, they are what makes Someren Glen the special place it is,” shares Emel.
Donna, who has called Someren Glen home for six months, and Jeanne, who has been at the community for two years, both came to Someren Glen after their children shopped dozens of Metro Denver retirement communities.
“I’m so happy we chose Someren Glen,” said Donna. “You soon become part of the community, and you’re never left out.”
Jeanne shared, “I’m so happy here, the staff are so nice, I’ve developed wonderful friendships and I like everyone here. I hope they like me as well,” she laughed.
The impact of citizenship on our well-being
According to Jill Vitale-Aussem, President and CEO of CLC and author of Disrupting the Status Quo of Senior Living: A Mindshift, providing an age-positive environment that challenges the narrative that aging is all about decline and helplessness helps people think differently about aging. Positive views of aging have significant impacts on cognitive and physical health as well as life span.
“When older adults are active citizens in their communities, they experience continued growth and have meaningful purpose and roles, and a deep sense of belonging which strengthens not only their cognitive and physical health but supports the citizenship model itself and the greater good of the community,” said Vitale-Aussem.
Thayer Hubbard, a Someren Glen citizen since 2019 has fully embraced the citizenship model and is living her best life. “I visited a lot of places, and Someren Glen was the first place I walked into and thought ‘I could live here,’” reflected Thayer.
Thayer shares her apartment with her dog Molly, and one of her main passions is caring for the three garden plots she has at the community. Thayer’s gardens are in full summer bloom and filled with colorful forget-me-nots, roses, peonies, irises, and columbines she brought from her Greenwood Village home and replanted at Someren Glen. “As you can see, I love to dig in the dirt,” said Thayer proudly.
“Carol Rauchwarger, Thayer Hubbard, Donna and Jeanne are just a small sample of the citizens and citizenship model in action at Someren Glen,” shared Vitale-Aussem. “Each one of these special individuals is thriving in an age-positive environment where aging is honored and celebrated.”
