The city of Durham, NC, has really come into its own over the past decade and boasts some of the finest restaurants, performing arts, medical care, and amenities in the Triangle. It’s also home to one of the best Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) in the area.
Nestled on 47 acres in the heart of the city, The Forest at Duke has been compared to a luxury resort and even a docked cruise ship—but to its 400+ residents, it’s simply home.
According to April Ravelli, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Forest is a vibrant, not-for-profit CCRC right in the heat of Durham that has welcomed residents from numerous states and other parts of the world since it opened its doors 30 years ago.
“The Forest at Duke is a continuing care retirement community for people 65 or older who are looking for a welcoming, independent living environment,” Ravelli said. “And if they need assisted care or skilled nursing care or rehab, it’s all here should their needs change on a temporary or permanent basis.”
And man, are the residents spoiled! With plans that include housekeeping, meals (there are FOUR restaurants!), and full maintenance, they get to actually retire and live their lives.
The Forest offers five floor plans for apartment living and six floor plans for cottages and individual homes. Its newest addition in the walkable community is The Terraces, which will include 71 spacious, contemporary apartment homes that will frame a unique rooftop restaurant, outdoor entertainment, and gathering space.
As a new construction project, The Terraces will be offered outside of the community’s current waitlist through a program known as Charter Membership. For a small, fully refundable deposit, coupled with its Charter Member Agreement, applicants can establish a priority position for the exclusive expansion. Members can identify floorplans of interest, and at the point of reservation, select a specific apartment that best suits their needs. Charter members will also receive exclusive access to events, wellness programs, dining experiences, and more.
The people at The Forest appreciate and value differences and similarities within their residents, board, and staff. Their community includes a variety of races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and religions, and they strive for an inclusive community that celebrates and embraces these dimensions of diversity.
Ravelli noted that research has shown living in a close community can actually lengthen and increase one’s quality of life. The board and team at The Forest know this and make it a point to ensure their residents are immersed in the local community and have full access to all Durham has to offer.
At The Forest, there are more than 400 opportunities each month to keep doing, contributing, and achieving. Want to take a hike by the Eno River? Learn a new skill? Join a chorus, try a new restaurant, or discuss the latest bestseller? At The Forest, you can do all of that and more, including playing an active role in the Durham community.
Community responsibility is so important, in fact, that they’ve made it part of The Forest Way. Residents volunteer 64,000+ hours each year at schools, churches, charities, and hospitals to more than 50 local service organizations, and some create their own service projects. Team members volunteer as well, making a difference as part of the Service Day program and by donating resources to local service organizations.
The reason The Forest at Duke decided to be a Platinum Sponsor at the 2022 PrideLife Expo is that it aligns perfectly with their Strategic Vision 2027 plan.
“Our intention is to become a leader of preferred services for older adults so they can live a purposeful life—all older adults, not just those who live in The Forest community,” Ravelli emphasized. “Our leadership, our staff, our team members, our community at The Forest have made a concerted effort to be inclusive and welcoming, and to meet the specific needs of those who identify as LGBTQ. We’re so excited to participate in the Expo and tell attendees what we’re all about,” she concluded.
To learn more about The Forest at Duke, visit their website at www.ForestDuke.org. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram by searching on their handle @AtTheForestAtDuke.
To learn more about the 2022 PrideLife Expo and register to attend this FREE event, which will be held on April 2 from 9 am to 3 pm at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, visit www.PrideLifeExpo.org/tickets.