Priority List Members Continue to Move to Riderwood

One of the first and most beneficial steps people often take on their journey to moving to Riderwood, an Erickson Living-managed senior living community in Silver Spring, Maryland, is joining the community's priority list, which is a preferred membership to secure a position for an apartment home.

By securing that position, prospective members will be notified when their desired apartment styles become available. Joining the priority list is simple. After you fill out an application and pay a fully refundable deposit of $1,000 and a onetime, nonrefundable processing fee of $150 per person, you can hold your place in line for the apartment home you want.

Looking to the future

Many things have had to be put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, but Riderwood Sales Counselor Debbie Brumbach says planning for your retirement doesn't need to be one of them. In fact, she says joining the priority list makes sense whether you're planning to move in a few months or a few years.

"Joining the priority list now gives you a place in line and preferences before anyone who joins after you," Brumbach says. "It's easy to see the benefits of being in a community like Riderwood, especially in a time like this, and joining the priority list is the best way to take the first step toward enjoying a worry-free retirement."

In-person appointments and events were put on hold during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, but Brumbach says she and the rest of the sales team found other ways to stay connected to prospective residents and keep priority list members informed about everything happening at the community. They were conducting virtual appointments to tell prospective residents all about living at Riderwood and show them the amenities the community offers.

"While we aren't able to see our priority list members in person, we have been providing a few new perks during this social distancing time," Brumbach says. "We are working on hosting intimate groups in virtual downsizing seminars, our personal moving consultants are available for virtual one-on-one downsizing meetings, and we have been keeping our members updated with letters and emails explaining what is going on at Riderwood and how we are keeping our community members safe."

Joining the priority list includes many other benefits such as being the first to hear about new information, including home availability, new construction, and special offers that could save you money. In addition, Riderwood priority list members have access to Erickson Realty and Moving services, a special program that offers complimentary coordination of all realty and moving needs, including downsizing, home staging, packing, and selection of a real estate professional.

No slowdown in interest

Coronavirus hasn't slowed Maryland retirees' interest in learning more about Riderwood. Brumbach says people have continued to join the priority list, reserve apartment homes, and move to Riderwood throughout the pandemic. "We have had many people join the priority list just by seeing the community virtually," Brumbach says. "And several of those people and also those that have been on the priority list for many years have decided to reserve apartments and plan a move in the coming months."

It's often in difficult times that we find out what we're really capable of—and that certainly rang true during the pandemic at Riderwood. Staff from all departments worked together to make sure residents were safe and well taken care of. Mail and packages were delivered directly to residents' doors. Instead of risking exposure to the virus by going to the grocery store, Riderwood neighbors were fortunate to have meals and even wine delivered to their doors by the dining services staff.

Riderwood set up a concierge service to get community members necessities like toilet paper and coffee while they were sheltering in place. All levels of staff were pitching in to operate the concierge service.

"Our prospective residents have been very impressed by how well we are taking care of our current residents during these unusual times," Brumbach says. "They are also realizing the benefits of being in a community like Riderwood that makes it our number one goal to make sure our residents are safe and happy."

Consider Riderwood if you're interested in living in a connected and engaged senior independent living community. Beautiful walking paths, gardens, resort-style amenities, an on-site medical center staffed by full-time medical professionals, and new friends await. Request more information today.