“She’s loved here, and that’s a beautiful thing.”

For Helen Marinozzi, age is just a number. She and her husband embraced retirement, staying active and getting involved in their Florida community. Helen was an avid golfer, and even after her husband passed away, she kept up her social calendar.

Then she had a fall, and that changed everything. Her daughter Maryann Pelizza, a Michigan resident, wasn’t satisfied with the care her mom was getting in Florida. After receiving care in the Midwest, Helen finally began the long healing journey and eventually returned to Florida. But a doctor had told Helen, “This is a great opportunity to move and let it be your choice.” Those words stayed with her, and she decided to move closer to her daughter to embrace the time they had together.

“We knew other people who had lived at Royal Park Place and had a good experience,” Maryann says. “Mom came here and she really liked it.”

Helen continued her independence, doing almost everything on her own, enjoying the socialization and ease that came with living in a retirement community. With her daughter nearby, she had everything she needed, including healthcare and assistance options. Those options came in handy after Helen injured her back and needed rehab to recuperate. The rehab center released her, but she wasn’t ready to go back to living independently, so she took advantage of the Transition to Home program at Royal Atrium Inn, where she stayed in a fully-furnished room with caregivers ready to tend to her needs.

Instead of returning to her apartment at Royal Park Place, Helen and her family decided it was time to move to Royal Atrium Inn. She’s still fairly independent, but has assistance when she needs it, and Helen and Maryann agree that is the best of all worlds.

“The aides are just super,” Helen says. “They treat me like I’m their own grandmother.”

Helen also loves the setting of the friendly community. “From the atmosphere, and the garden, and the soothing sound of water running in the atrium area, it’s peaceful and calm.” And when her daughter wants to visit her children and grandchildren who are living throughout the country, the family feels secure. “There’s peace knowing you can leave town and Mom will still be cared for,” she says. “The people here know what they’re doing, and everyone, from the management to the nurses to the maintenance staff, know everyone’s names.”

She knows the staff care deeply. “I know they’ll visit, not just for her health, but because they genuinely enjoy spending time with her,” Maryann says. “She’s loved here, and that’s a beautiful thing.”