‘Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else’
- Sr Perspective
- Jul 31
- 7 min read
BUSINESS PROFILE: Arabella Manor, Alexandria
Arabella Manor celebrates 20 years of worry-free independent living
By Rachel Barduson
Arabella Manor is celebrating its 20-year anniversary of providing independent living – exclusive to those 55 & better. For 20 years, tenants have been “Livin’ the Dream” as they make lifestyle choices which best fit their individual needs. As a maintenance free/worry free, entirely independent living community, the meaning behind the name Arabella is “beautiful sanctuary.”
Joni Neal, President of Arabella Manor, realized that rental spaces that allow “aging-in-place” were not wholly available. In other words, there were no rental apartment communities for the 55 and better population in Alexandria – so she got to work. Ground-breaking began in October of 2004 for what would soon become Arabella Manor. In September of 2005, Joni celebrated a grand opening and open house with this new community - and by 2006 - all of the apartments were occupied.
“It’s a smaller independent living community in Alexandria where everybody knows your name,” Joni said. A second dwelling was soon added in 2014. Today, 20 years after its beginning, Arabella Manor has two beautiful apartment buildings, providing spacious apartment homes with conveniences to fit individual lifestyles.
Arabella Manor is a women owned and operated private community located at 1810 and 1812 Darling Avenue East in Alexandria. The secure two-story buildings with attached garages are set amongst a pond adorned with wildlife, ducks, geese, egrets and frequent deer sightings. Joni said that tenants agree that having a true month-to-month lease, with no charge for companion, is a feature that sets Arabella Manor apart from other senior living apartments.
“Our apartments are built for tenants to ‘age in place’ with wide doors and halls that accommodate wheel chairs and other needs. Tenants can also bring in a hospital bed if needed. There is no service that you cannot bring in,” Joni explained, adding, “We are not attached to a nursing home or memory care. We are completely independent so our tenants can make their own choices. We have a lot of people who are entirely independent and more than half of the people who live here still drive.”
“I feel a lot of people think that when they leave their farm or home they are destined for the nursing home,” said Mariah Hanson, Executive Director of Arabella Manor. “That is just not true. There is a whole gamut of options. Alexandria really supports our aging population. We have tenants that have come from their farm, the metro area, Arizona, Texas, Utah and Washington, to name a few. Tenants have become generational. Their mom lived here independently and now they choose to live here independently. Arabella is specifically designed for seniors to live safely. There isn’t any push to go into a nursing home. And I think our tenants like to be able to decide what they desire to do and what services they want. ”
Arabella Manor has eight different floor plans to choose from, ranging from 753 square feet up to 1,625 square feet. These one, two and three-bedroom apartments feature an open-floor-plan with large kitchens, spacious living rooms, bay windows and are individually climate controlled. All are equipped with a full-size refrigerator, glass-top stove and dishwasher, walk-in shower with full bench and adjustable shower head, plumbing for washer and dryer hook-up, pre-wired telephone and TV connections in several locations of your apartment, and a spacious walk-in closet. Central air, central heat, electricity, water, sewer, garbage, recycling, selective TV channels, common area with Wi-Fi and activities are all included in the monthly rent. Attached garages are available as an added amenity.
Arabella Manor provides several features and comfortable living conveniences including a library, game room, beauty shop, RN nail trimmings, coffee gatherings each morning and afternoon, happy-hour gatherings, birthdays, potluck dinners, a fitness center, elevators, community grill, covered porch with seating and raised gardens. Educational speakers for health and well-being, Bible studies and communion are all made available. No one needs to shovel snow, rake the yard or even change a light bulb. Guests can stay overnight in a tenant’s apartment, however, a guest suite is available for tenants who have visiting family members. The mail is delivered inside the buildings for the convenience of the tenants.
“Our community embraces independence and provides an active lifestyle, a variety of social events and catered meals if desired. An activities calendar for each month is available. Your four-legged babies are also welcome,” explained Joni.
Services are available from the provider of the tenant’s choice. Some examples include laundry, meal prep, home health, medication management, safety pendant and bathing assistance.
“Services could be medical, medication management or housekeeping. If a tenant has someone come in and clean their apartment home and they don’t like how it is being done, they can just hire someone else,” Mariah said.
In celebrating 20 years of service, Joni said, “Our success in supporting seniors to age-in-place goes to our staff who make Arabella Manor comfortable and to our tenants who make Arabella Manor exceptional.”
Lois Henningsgaard, 100, loves her independent living at Arabella Manor and still drives to get her groceries, go to church, go have coffee at a cafe and continue to make new friends.
“My eyes are good so I still drive. Arabella Manor has everything I need and more. I have my mother’s treasures here with me. The best thing about living here is there is always someone to visit. I love to be with people. We can have afternoon coffee with friends and, if we want, we can have catered meals brought in. Yesterday my friend Elaine brought me some groceries, just because that’s how she is.” Lois said. Lois said her secret to longevity and independence is simply being kind to others.
Elaine Olson and Bev Sunde are two tenants who knew Arabella was the place to age independently because both of their mother’s were once tenants here. Elaine has been lived at Arabella for two years.
“I’ve known Joni even before Arabella Manor was built. She had the vision – apartments for independent living for 55 and better, not attached to a nursing home – this was not in Alexandria until Joni made it happen. It was a new concept.” Elaine explained. “It’s great here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. We call the staff our ‘house mothers’ – they are great. They are happy, and they keep us happy. I am definitely Livin’ the Dream.”
Delores Larson, 96, came to Arabella from Tucson, Ariz. One of Arabella’s “original tenants,” Delores and her husband Jim moved in on April 1, 2006, when it was brand new. Delores was born on a Minnesota farm in 1929, moved to Duluth with her family and in 1949, went to Washington DC to “become a government girl.” She was a secretary at the Pentagon.
“There was a dormitory for girls, right across from the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I met my husband in DC and we came back to Minnesota in 1951 when we married,” she explained. They raised their family in White Bear Lake and when Delores’ sister was living in Tucson, Delores and Jim moved to Arizona. The couple decided to move back to Minnesota and she was very grateful that Arabella Manor was here.
“It’s Joni and her staff that has made this place home. It’s the best. I’ve been here for 20 years and I love the independence that Arabella provides. It’s like living out in the country.” Delores’ husband Jim passed away eight years ago and it’s her strong faith that keeps her positive. Her positivity and wisdom speak volumes. Delores says the secret to longevity is contentment, a strong faith and, “I’ve learned that first impressions aren’t always correct.” At Arabella she joins sing-a-longs and her son, Scott Larson, formerly known as Shotgun Kelly on the radio, has supper with her almost every night, “It’s home and it’s a beautiful life.”
In addition to independent senior living, the Arabella family of properties also has a townhome option. Arabella Ranch offers inspiring town homes. For more information on Arabella Ranch, visit www.arabellaranch.com or www.facebook.com/RanchTownhomes.
Arabella Manor invites you to celebrate 20 years of Independent Senior Living in Alexandria on Thursday, Aug. 21, from 4-6 p.m. There will be tours, music, treats, tributes and memories. Arabella Manor is located at 1810 & 1812 Darling Avenue East in Alexandria (directions from downtown Alexandria: Take County Road 82 East, left (north) on McKay, right on Darling Avenue East). For more information, go to arabellamanor.com or call 320-763-1763.
Joni Neal summed up “Livin’ the Dream” – the motto of Arabella Manor - “Here at Arabella - tenants have their friends – they have each other. I often hear them saying ‘we have more fun here’ or ‘we’re in the fun building’ and so on. Laughter is contagious. I am grateful for the community support of Arabella Manor and 20 years of success in providing a beautiful setting for independent living to those 55 & better. Arabella Manor – it is our beautiful sanctuary.”
This is a paid business profile. If you would like to learn more about promoting your business in the Sr. Perspective with a business profile, call Jim at 320-334-3344.
Comments