Making the decision to move into a retirement community is rarely easy. For seniors exploring retirement living, there are many emotions that come with the decision. There is the sadness of leaving a home that you love, the uncertainty of making new friends, and the fear of leaving behind familiar routines.
For Village On The Isle (VOTI) residents Rob and Heather McMonagle, the decision to move into a retirement community weighed heavy on them. While Rob was ready, Heather was not. The couple had many heartfelt conversations and ultimately decided that the right place for them was Village On The Isle in Venice, Florida. One year after moving into their apartment, Heather will tell you it’s one of the best things she ever did.
They’re graciously sharing their story with us in this blog.
When Retirement Plans Change
The McMonagles moved from Maryland to Venice in 2022 and purchased a home in South Venice. Their plan was to settle into their home, remain there for the foreseeable future, and eventually pass it on to their children. For the couple, this was a big step in securing their legacy. Yet, overtime, things changed.
“Challenges related to hurricanes, family health and home maintenance prompted us to reconsider our long-term plans,” said Heather. “However, our timelines and triggers for change remained unclear.”
The couple began discussing their next steps and what they wanted for their future.
- They wanted to give themselves and their children a meaningful future
- They wanted to retain control over where and how they lived
- They were desirous of a community, not just a neighborhood
- They wanted to reduce time, money and effort spent on home maintenance
- They wanted to simplify their finances and stabilize their expenses
- They wanted to continue traveling to visit family and tour internationally
In addition, the McMonagles were driven by insights from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the world’s longest studies of adult life. Over the course of 80 years, researchers have found that close relationships – more than money or fame – are what keep people happy throughout their lives.
These relationships and sense of community protect people from life’s discontents and help delay mental and physical decline. They are also a better predictor of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.
Finding a home where they could have this kind of community was important to the McMonagles.
Exploring Retirement Living
Exploring their options, the McMonagles started touring retirement communities in the spring of 2024. Living in Venice, they had always admired VOTI from afar but had never visited the community andknew little about it.
“We appreciated the classic elegance of the community and the prime island location,” said Heather. “But knew little about the residential model.”
Village On The Isle in Venice, Florida is a Life Plan community, a unique Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) that provides increased levels of care as one ages. Residents move in when they are healthy and active and then have access to assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing as they need it.
At 62, Heather admits that she was in denial that they were ready for retirement living.
“It felt like a ‘maybe someday’ place,” she added.
During the spring and summer of 2024, the couple’s conversations continued. After another major hurricane season that year, they decided it was time to move. They closed at VOTI in December 2024 and moved in January 2025. Heather credits her faith in God and her husband to help her reach this good decision.
For the couple, VOTI felt like the right fit for easing any future uncertainties.
Easing Anxiety About the Future
Since moving into VOTI, the McMonagles have fully embraced their new lifestyle.They’ve found themselves immersed in various social activities on campus aswell maintaining their activities off campus. They’ve been pleasantly surprisedby the community’s vibrant and engaging resident culture, high-quality diningoptions, and comfortable accommodations.
They’vealso found that the leadership team’s proactive, long-term vision for the future, and strong communication and follow through has also put them at ease.Rob shares that they value the “kind, competent, and cohesive staff who supportboth daily living and long-term wellness.”
“Life at VOTI has significantly reduced our anxiety about the future,” he adds. “Wehaven’t needed the medical services, but we see their value through others whohave.”
When asked what they would say to someone who is on the fence about moving to a retirement community like VOTI, the McMonagles had this to say:
“We would say ‘come join us.’ VOTI’s Life Plan community supports residents tothrive through every stage of life. It helped us turn uncertainty into clarity.Why not see how it can do that for you?”
Explore All That VOTI Has to Offer
If you’re a senior looking to enjoy retirement living, we invite you to explorethe exceptional lifestyle offered at Village OnThe Isle in Venice, Florida. Village On The Isle offers a uniquelifestyle where you can enjoy the beauty of the Florida Gulf Coast without the hassle of home maintenance.
Our residents have rich social lives and participate in a full calendar of events that include a mix of social, cultural, spiritual, educational, and service-oriented recreation. For more information about our amenity-rich community, schedule a visit by calling (941) 202-4451.