Sisters enjoy living close to each other at the active senior living community in Bucks County.

Twins Joan Greenberg (left) and Jane Root (right) were reunited at Ann’s Choice. Joan’s insider knowledge helped Jane decide to move from Indiana to the Erickson Living-managed community this fall

“Being born with a twin is like being born with a best friend.”—Trisha Marapodi

There’s no denying it: Twins have a unique bond that keeps them close over a lifetime, even when they live more than 600 miles apart.

Such was the case for Ohio natives Joan Greenberg and Jane Root, identical twins who spent most of their adult lives in different states: Joan in Pennsylvania and Jane in Indiana. The sisters reunited this August at Ann’s Choice, an Erickson Living-managed senior living community in Bucks County, Penn.

Joan and her late husband Sandy joined the community in 2003. The retired teacher and librarian, with Masters’ degrees in both disciplines, recalls, “We were pioneers. There were only two residence buildings and one clubhouse, but we dove into all the activities and watched the community blossom.” Today, more than 1,900 residents reside at the beautiful 130-acre community

Meanwhile, Jane was enjoying her life and career in Indianapolis, where she resided for 53 years. She holds a Ph.D. in adult learning and development; she spent 20 years as the Training Director for a large Indianapolis hospital, then as the Director of Resource Development for an international nursing organization. Joan regularly shared updates about how the community was growing, the friends she’d made, and all the activities she was enjoying. Jane visited the campus several times over the years. She saw how happy, active, and engaged Joan was, and could envision the same kind of life for herself in the future.

“The idea of living here was always in the back of my mind,” she says. “I never considered looking elsewhere. Ann’s Choice was the only option for me.”

Expert guidance “from the inside”

Because Jane was in Indianapolis when Covid-19 limitations went into effect, she relied heavily on Joan’s experience and advice about which apartment model to choose. “Joan sent photos, floor plan diagrams, and all the information I needed. She was amazing at helping me get organized, assisting from the inside, and guiding me about what to expect. If I had a question, I’d just ask Joan,” Jane laughs.

On August 18, Joan picked up the keys to Jane’s apartment home, which is just one floor above Joan’s. “How convenient is that?” she says with a smile. On August 25, the sisters’ long-awaiting reunion took place. Jane arrived on campus after a 12-hour drive from Indianapolis and saw her new home for the first time.

Word of mouth matters

When it comes to choosing the right retirement community, the influence of friends and family can play a significant role.

Ann’s Choice’s Sales Director Deborah Olcese says, “We constantly hear ‘Our friends love living here, so we want to learn more.’ Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to spark interest in the active, maintenance-free life we offer here. Once people visit and see all the amenities and beautiful apartment homes, they are eager to move in.”

She adds, “Our entire community, the residents and staff, is like one big happy family, and we always love welcoming new people to Ann’s Choice.”

Joan and Jane are perfect examples of that family feeling in action. Sharing information about and experiences at Ann’s Choice brought the sisters just steps apart instead of 600 miles. “Having my twin here is truly a gift,” says Joan, and Jane couldn’t agree more.

To learn more about Ann’s Choice, visit AnnsChoiceCommunity.com.

Ann’s Choice, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 103-acre campus in Warminster, Pennsylvania. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,900 residents and 1,000 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Ann’s Choice can be found at AnnsChoiceCommunity.com. 

Written by Dorrie Anshel