By Terrie M. Roberts
Ninety-three-year-old Charlene Young’s smile is as sweet as her disposition and she wears it well.
The Oaks of Louisiana resident, who moved here nearly four years ago, is a delightful soul who has woven her life into the tapestry of life at Garden Apartments at The Oaks, one of the community’s independent living residences.
Her move to The Oaks wasn’t an easy one simply because she had built a life in El Dorado, Ark., where she lived for 41 years, more than 30 of them as a widow.
“The longer I stayed, the more difficult it was to leave,” Charlene says. “I did volunteer work and was involved in a lot of activities at my church and Sunday school. We had a choir that went to nursing homes and sang. I was busy with three bridge clubs, played golf and had a big garden.”
Advancing years and a trip to the emergency room was the impetus for moving closer to daughter Cindy Goodman, who lives with her family in Spring Lake.
With her daughter Charlene visited several senior living communities, falling in love with The Oaks and finding Garden Apartments provided an important requisite: “I wanted to be where I could step out my door and put my feet on ground,” she says.
Garden Apartments at The Oaks offers residents a comfortable homelike setting with separate front and back doors and many of the things people enjoy about home: parking just outside their door, a patio for grilling and entertaining, flower beds they can tend and personalize with their treasures …
Tower at The Oaks, another independent living option, is a multistory apartment residence that offers a resort-style lifestyle and concierge services.
“I have the perfect location,” Charlene says. “I have a lake view and I have wonderful neighbors.” Her apartment looks out onto Lake Herman and nearby walking trails help keep her active – she tries to walk once a day weather permitting.
Her days are full attending activities like the Hump Day Social and Garden Apartment coffee, singing in The Oaks Chorus and competing on the Live Oak Rookies bean bag baseball team.
“I also love visiting with my friends. Everyone is so nice here and I’ve made so many friends,” she says.
A few minutes with Charlene Young and it’s easy to see why.