ue and Thom Rinker, age 74 and 75 respectively, were feeling very isolated in their condo in Baltimore County. “We were ready for a change,” says Sue.
“My mother had lived at a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) for 20 years and some of our friends had moved to that type of community. We really liked what a CCRC offered.”

According to seniorliving.org, a CCRC (also known as a Life Plan Community) delivers independent living and an amenity-rich lifestyle with access to onsite, higher-level care should a resident’s medical needs progress. The levels of care usually include independent, assisted, memory care, and skilled nursing as well as rehabilitation therapy on the campus. This continuum of care ensures residents that they have the comfort of remaining in the place they call home and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their future care is figured out.

“We wanted a CCRC so our two children who live in the area wouldn’t be burdened with our future healthcare,” Sue continues. “But for now, we are healthy and wanted lots of great amenities.” The Rinkers, who live at Blakehurst in Towson, say that it’s like living at a five-star resort.

Robin Somers, CEO of Broadmead, a Life Plan Community in Cockeysville, says, “Today we are seeing many of our residents coming in younger. Rather than in their 80s, they come in their 70s.”

Elizabeth O’Conner, director of marketing and sales at Blakehurst, adds that not only are residents younger, “they are very active.”

Without the drudgery of home maintenance, doing daily chores like cleaning and meal planning, and even trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine booster, there’s time for residents to be physically active and explore myriad intellectual and cultural opportunities. But for those who prefer to spend time alone or with a few friends, there’s that too.

A fitness center ranks high on must-have lists for incoming residents. In many CCRCs, residents will find state-of-the-art equipment, classes including yoga, tai chi, and aerobics, and a heated pool. Sometimes there’s even a juice bar and a spa for manicures, pedicures, and massages. Parker Williamson, 81, is an avid sailor who lives at BayWoods of Annapolis, a waterfront community. He says, “I exercise every other day, but don’t like group classes, so the personal trainer worked up a routine just for me.”

“Today’s residents want individualization,” remarks Somers.

Sharon Krulak, 79, is a new resident at Blakehurst. She’s also an artist who works in mixed-media. When the Krulaks were looking at Blakehurst, she told O’Connor, “I need a room to do my art. And they made it happen.”

At Broadmead, two residents who were trained and experienced beekeepers had a conversation with the Broadmead executive director, and the Broadmead Apiary was established in 2013. Today, there is a group of six residents who are involved. Throughout the year they inspect the beehives, feed the bees sugar syrup, and harvest the honey into jars for sale.

Usually, CCRCs have councils, committees, and their own governing body where residents can make things happen. “At Blakehurst we have 43 residential-run committees,” says Sue Rinker. “Thom is on the residents’ board and I’m on the refurbishing and jigsaw committees.”

CCRCs have concerts, guest speakers, and some arrange continuing education through Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (university-based education specifically for people 50 and older) or nearby universities. At Broadmead, they recognize artists within their community and in the greater Baltimore vicinity by having exhibits, programs, and educational outreach. This April, the Broadmead Art Council will host an exhibit of the works of Herman Maril, a Baltimore native known for painting seascapes, interiors, and landscapes. These exhibits and lectures will be open to the greater community.

Other amenities usually include endless clubs, beautiful walking trails, gardens where residents can plant vegetables and flowers, a movie theater, a library, woodworking, a beauty salon and barber shop, card and poker rooms, billiards, bocce, and a resident computer and business center. Some communities have a croquet court, a putting green, and pickleball. As most CCRCs welcome your four-legged family members, there are even dog parks. And in keeping with making life effortless, some places will deliver your incoming packages right to your door. The list of concierge services goes on, including scheduled transportation to grocery stores, shops and more. At Edenwald, a CCRC in Towson, a bus transports residents to cultural events and attractions like the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerhoff, a string quartet at Shriver Hall, and plays.

Cuisine plays an important part in daily life. The number of dining venues depends on the CCRC and so do the plans they offer. Many have a grill, café, bar, and outdoor dining. CCRCs pride themselves on having an excellent chef, offering plenty of choices on the menu, high quality ingredients, and dining experiences resembling a great restaurant.

In this area, all CCRCs are close to vibrant cities—Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. As Parker Williamson, resident at BayWoods, says with a laugh, “What’s great is we can visit Baltimore and D.C. and take advantage of all they have to offer, but we don’t have to live there.”

The Guide to Regional Continuing Care Facilities & Senior Resources

ASBURY METHODIST VILLAGE
201 Russell Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(301) 216-4001
asbury.org/asbury-methodist-village

ASBURY-SOLOMONS ISLAND
11100 Asbury Circle
Solomons, MD 20688
(410) 394-3000
asbury.org/asbury-solomons

BAYLEIGH CHASE
501 Dutchmans Lane
Easton, MD 21601
(410) 657-4900
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/bayleigh-chase-easton

BAYWOODS OF ANNAPOLIS
7101 Bay Front Drive
Annapolis, MD 21403
(410) 268-9222
baywoodsofannapolis.com

BEDFORD COURT
3701 International Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20906
(301) 598-2900
sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/bedford

BLAKEHURST
1055 W. Joppa Road
Towson, MD 21204
(410) 296-2900
blakehurstlcs.com

BRIGHTVIEW SENIOR LIVING
Multiple locations
(888) 566-8854
brightviewseniorliving.com

BROADMEAD
13801 York Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
(410) 527-1900
www.broadmead.org

BROOKE GROVE
18100 Slade School Road
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
(301) 924-2811
www.bgf.org

BUCKINGHAM’S CHOICE
3200 Baker Circle
Adamstown, MD 21710
(301) 804-2159
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/buckinghams-choice-adamstown

CARROLL LUTHERAN VILLAGE
300 St. Luke Circle
Westminster, MD 21158
(410) 848-0090
clvillage.org

CHARLESTOWN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
715 Maiden Choice Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
(410) 405-7683
ericksonseniorliving.com/charlestown

COLLINGTON EPISCOPAL LIFE CARE COMMUNITY
10450 Lottsford Road
Mitchellville, MD 20721
(301) 925-9610
collington.kendal.org

EDENWALD
800 Southerly Road
Towson, MD 21286
(410) 339-6000
edenwald.org

ELIZABETH COONEY CARE NETWORK
1107 Kenilworth Drive, Ste. 200
Towson, MD 21204
(410) 323-1700
Elizabethcooneyagency.com

FAHRNEY-KEEDY
8507 Mapleville Road
Boonsboro, MD 21713-1818
(301) 733-6284
fkhv.org

FAIRHAVEN
7200 Third Ave.
Sykesville, MD 21784
(410) 892-1946
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/fairhaven-sykesville

FRIENDS HOUSE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
17340 Quaker Lane
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
(301) 924-5100
friendshouse.com

GINGER COVE ANNAPOLIS LIFE CARE
4000 River Crescent Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 266-7300
gingercove.com

GLEN MEADOWS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
11630 Glen Arm Road
Glen Arm, MD 21057
(410) 592-5310
presbyterianseniorliving.org/glen-meadows-retirement-community

GOODWILL RETIREMENT VILLAGE
891 Dorsey Hotel Road
Grantsville, MD 21536
(301) 895-5194
goodwillhome.org

HARMONY AT WALDORF
11239 Berry Road
Waldorf, MD 20603
(240) 270-2759
harmonyseniorservices.com/senior-living/md/waldorf/berry-road

HERON POINT OF CHESTERTOWN
501 Campus Ave.
Chestertown, MD 21620
(443) 214-3605
actsretirement.org/communities/maryland/heron-point-of-chestertown

HOMEWOOD AT FREDERICK
7407 Willow Road
Frederick, MD 21702
(301) 644-5600
homewoodfrederick.com

HOMEWOOD AT WILLIAMSPORT
16505 Virginia Ave.
Williamsport, MD 21795
(301) 582-1472
homewoodwilliamsport.com

INGLESIDE AT KING FARM
701 King Farm Blvd.
Rockville, Maryland 20850
(240) 557-8791
inglesideonline.org/ingleside-king-farm

LEISURE CARE: THE LANDING OF SILVER SPRINGS
13908 New Hampshire Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20904
(301) 388-7700
leisurecare.com/our-communities/landing-of-silver-spring

LUTHERAN VILLAGE AT MILLER’S GRANT
9000 Fathers Legacy
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 465-2005
millersgrant.org

MAPLEWOOD PARK PLACE
9707 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 571-7444
maplewoodparkplace.com

MARYLAND MASONIC HOMES
300 International Circle
Cockeysville, MD 21030
(410) 527-1111
mdmasonichomes.com

MERCY RIDGE
2525 Pot Spring Road
Timonium, MD 21093
(410) 561-0200
mercyridge.com

NORTH OAKS
725 Mount Wilson Lane
Pikesville, MD 21208
(410) 484-7300
northoaksseniorliving.com

RIDERWOOD VILLAGE
3140 Gracefield Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904
(301) 701-4076
ericksonseniorliving.com/riderwood

ROLAND PARK PLACE
830 W. 40th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 243-5700
rolandparkplace.org

THE RESIDENCES AT VANTAGE POINT
5400 Vantage Point Road
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 964-5454
vantagepointresidences.org

OAK CREST VILLAGE
8800 Walther Blvd.
Parkville, MD 21234
(410) 405-7419
ericksonseniorliving.com/oak-crest

ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES OF CENTRAL MARYLAND
Six locations in the area
(410) 644-1880
mdbonedocs.com

RECORD STREET HOME–HOME OF THE AGED
115 Record St.
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 663-6822
recordstreethome.org

THE VILLAGE AT AUGSBURG
6811 Campfield Road
Baltimore, MD 21207
(410) 834-4143
thevillageataugsburg.org

THE VILLAGE AT ROCKVILLE
9701 Veirs Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 424-9560
thevillageatrockville.org

WECARE
1852 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
(410) 602-3993
wecarepds.com

WILLOW VALLEY
600 Willow Valley Sq.
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 464-6800
willowvalleycommunities.org

Sure, spending the day at the spa can be a heavenly retreat, but rejuvenation doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank or even leaving your home. After all, why can’t every day be a spa day? By adding just a few tools and treatments to your beauty routine, you can achieve those luxury spa results on your own.

GUA SHA: If you’ve been to any skincare store lately, you likely have noticed this smooth curved gemstone taking over shelves. Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that has made its way into mainstream beauty routines. The use is simple. With gentle up and outward strokes across the facial muscles, you use the edge of the stone to flush the lymphatic system, resulting in de-puffed and calmed skin.
Try: Becket Hitch, 2360 W Joppa Road, Lutherville-Timonium, 410-296-4818.

DRY BRUSH: Nothing says full-body reset like exfoliation. Gentle enough so as not to cause damage but rough enough to clear pores and rough spots of dead skin, sisal fiber brushes and rags are a beauty tool must-have. Not only does dry brushing give your skin a clean slate, but the abrasion is said to trigger a full-body detox through stimulated blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Try: Shea Radiance, shearadiance.com.

HAIR SERUM: While hair and scalp serums might not be part of your everyday routine, taking the time to do this deep treatment can be crucial to your hair health. Ingredients such as argan and jojoba oils are excellent at keeping the hair moisturized and sleek; essential oils such as calophyllum have calming and conditioning properties that help maintain a healthy scalp.
Try: SoBotanical, 48 East Cross Street, 410-234-0333.

INCENSE: The first step in recreating a spa-like atmosphere at home is setting the mood. Incense is an aromatherapy tool. Made with essential oils, you can select blends that evoke a sense of calm or some- thing more refreshing. Burning incense is quick and easy—perfect to include in your morning or nighttime routine.
Try: Tortuga, 4717-A Harford Road, 410-291-9091.

A few weekends ago, I was having a bad morning. Edie hadn’t slept well and Lou was whining for canned whipped cream for breakfast. I was trying to cook unwanted scrambled eggs while Edie simultaneously demanded to be held while wiggling to get down. The house was a mess, the cats kept jumping on the counter, Lou was standing on the tops of my feet to get my attention, and I could feel myself coming undone. Intuiting my subtle behavior (I was a borderline monster), Rob neutralized the situation with an episode of Paw Patrol and suggested I take two hours to go do something for myself.

It turns out his acknowledgement was enough. Suddenly, having the choice to leave or stay opened me up to readjust my mood, and that slight adjustment was enough to buoy me back to homeostasis. I felt grateful to have a partner who recognized the need to take a beat, and that made me want to hang back and finish making eggs for him while our children picked Cheerios from between the sofa cushions. In the end, I stayed and enjoyed a slow morning with my family. But it got me thinking about all the amazing things we parents can do for ourselves in two hours. It’s the perfect amount of time to get out of the house and do something alone without carrying the guilt of leaving your spouse a man down.

Here are a few places where you can spend an hour of your time (with travel time and a stop for coffee built in) and restore your peace or body or sanity or whatever else those barnacles have taken from you.

Intuitive Wellness: I seriously almost didn’t include this one because its such a special, perfect place and I’m selfish and didn’t want to share. But who am I to deny the achy, stressed people of Baltimore their 60 minutes of holistic, healing, heavenly massage? Book an appointment at this Roland Park sanctuary and win the battle Legos have waged on your feet.

Movement Lab: Have you ever taken a sound bath? Or hung upside down like a beautiful bat? Or jumped so hard on a trampoline that not peeing yourself a little feels like a miracle of physiology? Movement Lab offers really diverse classes in an incredibly inclusive, accessible environment. I walked into my first anti-gravity (!) class thinking I’d be carried out by paramedics, and by the end I was trying to catch glimpses of myself in the mirror because I needed to see how cool I looked hanging upside down. (I actually looked pretty terrible but I was still wildly impressed.)

The Ivy Bookshop: Get a coffee, take yourself to The Ivy, and strike up a conversation with their staff. Let someone who knows and loves books guide you around until you find the perfect one. Remember that the internet is convenient but the algorithms telling you what to buy haven’t actually read the book. Use the remainder of the hour to read in your car with the heat on.

Lake Montebello: Do a lap or two. Parking is easy, the path is flat, and the lake is pretty. Get out and move your body while listening to a podcast (might I suggest Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend?). I’m also really interested in getting into roller blading, so maybe you could buy a pair and do that, and I can decide if you look cool enough for me to invest in the sport as well.

B.Willow: This is one of Lou’s favorite places so I feel a little bad going without him, but whatever. It’s a very calming space (they just opened a new Canton location, which I’m assuming is equally tranquil) and it’s so nice to wander around, choose a plant, dig in soil, and bring something beautiful into your home.

A bar: I have the great fortune of living within walking distance of several lovely food and beverage establishments, and have no shame in taking myself to a bar stool and enjoying a drink like a damn adult. Order something pretentious like a craft beer in a special glass or a cocktail featuring a mostly irrelevant garnishes. Pull out the book you picked up from The Ivy during your last jaunt, and pretend to read while spying on all the 23-year-olds complaining about how tired they are. Refrain from commenting because getting into bar fights is not what this restorative two hours is all about.

When you think Curio Wellness, you probably think medical cannabis. You probably don’t think luxurious day spa where you can get everything from a relaxing massage to an indulgent facial or therapeutic acupuncture session.

But tucked away inside the York Road establishment is a secret oasis of beauty and wellness. Opened in April, The Spa at Curio Wellness is peaceful and serene, with four beauty treatment rooms and an experienced staff of beauty professionals leading the charge.

While a dispensary and spa joining forces might seem unusual, esteemed local facialist Robin Ferro was eager to make the move to give her clients a full-body wellness experience.

“It’s funny, because I was concerned about what my clients would think about me moving to a dispensary, but as soon as I would start to talk about it, people were really interested, and they wanted to know more about it,” she says. “I don’t work in the dispensary itself, but it is just another tool for helping people manage things such as stress and other ailments that could affect their skin.”

Ferro notes that there are over-the-counter products infused with CBD (oil derived from the cannabis plant) that can serve as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories for the skin. On top of that, her spa offers a wide variety of skincare services such as dermaplane, LED light therapy, microdermabrasion, and clinical peels, and she hopes to carry more CBD-infused products in the future.

“They are doing a lot of testing on the effects of CBDs on the skin and their ability to help with some skin cancers,” says Ferro. “It’s a really groundbreaking time to be in this industry, and it’s only the beginning.”

After an awkward pedicure in 2013, Michael Elliot swore off nail salons indefinitely. Something about the experience made him uncomfortable, and he began to analyze it. 

“From the predominantly female clients to the paint color on the wall, that place was clearly designed to appeal to women,” he says. “I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if there was a place that would appeal to a guy when he needed this type of service?’” 

That was Elliot’s “Aha!” moment, and the birth of Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys. After an unsuccessful appearance on Shark Tank in 2014, Hammer & Nails is now a successful franchise with locations in Miami and Los Angeles, and a new location coming to Metro Centre at Owings Mills this month. 

Elliot has created the ultimate “man cave nirvana” with big bison leather chairs, personal TVs, noise- cancelling headphones, and a complimentary frosty beverage for each client who enters the shop. “From the moment you walk in, you feel like you’re in a different place,” says Elliot. “You’re leaving the world outside.”

While all the hand- and foot-care services include nail trimming, a soak, cuticle care, a hot towel, and a massage—that’s where the similarities to traditional nail salons end. Some of the premium treatments include a Citrus White Ale Pedicure with a Dead Sea salt scrub, the “Jack and Hammer Experience” with a whiskey-spiked soak and scrub, and a Guinness-laced hand and foot repair. Men’s hair and shaving services will also be available at the Metro Centre location. 

“I saw an opportunity to create a place that wasn’t just going to be about getting a service you could get anywhere else,” says Elliot. “I wanted it to be experiential—the kind of place a guy would want to be for an hour or more and get a manicure and pedicure in a comfortable and relaxing state.”

We’ve all experienced that moment of panic when we realize spring is here and we have done absolutely nothing to get our bodies ready. Whether blowing the dust off our cute sandals and realizing we need a pedicure or trying on that short dress and wishing we had gotten a spray tan, the time is now to take some action. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite salons, spas, and studios to take care of those warm weather needs.

About Faces Day Spa
We are all ready to shed the stress of the winter months and the anti-stress facial at About Faces is meant for just that. Intended to “restore the balance of mind and body,” this hour-long treatment also includes a massage of the back, face, and hands to aide in complete stress relief. Also debuting this spring is a new body contouring treatment that involves a waterless scrub and firming massage that leaves the skin toned and smooth. 1501 S. Clinton St. 410-675-0099

Elizabeth Jacob Spa & Salon
Treat yourself to a full day of Nirvana with a head-to-toe recharge for the summer. Enjoy an aromatherapy facial and massage along with a salt scrub, main/pedi, and shampoo and style. If that isn’t enough to get you feeling right, add on a wax service to complete a day of bliss. 18821 Frederick Rd., Parkton 410-357-0833

FX Studios
Men, we know you’ve been hitting the gym to get summer abs, but there’s more to getting beach ready than just ripped muscles. Relax in a private room watching ESPN while receiving a deluxe mani/pedi. Along with a basic shaping and cuticle cleansing, the service also includes an arm and hand massage, and exfoliation for added hydration. If nail care isn’t your thing, the spa is currently offering a “Spring Escape” package that includes a facial and massage. Multiple locations, including 11270 Pepper Rd., Hunt Valley. 410-771-1500

K.Co Design Salon & Day Spa
If spending hours baking on the beach or lying in a tanning bed isn’t your idea of getting that “fresh off the beach glow,” K.Co has a special for you. Receive $5 off a Norvell spray tan. This UV-free, vegan, paraben-free, and gluten-free tan allows you to have the perfect sun kissed glow without any damage to your skin. 6080 Falls Rd. 410-377-7727

Ojas Wellness Center
Sometimes we need a little more than a basic massage to recharge. At Ojas, all massages include aromatherapy, warm stones, and hot towels. If you want to step it up a notch, the spa offers a cupping massage designed to grab hold of your deepest muscles to release toxins and stimulate circulation. You may sport a few circular bruises afterwards like Michael Phelps, but it fades within a few days leaving you refreshed. Multiple locations, including 1501 Sulgrave Ave., Ste. 103. 410-664-6527

Red Door Spa
Treat yourself to luxury pampering with big plush robes, fruit-infused water, and soothing ambiance. Red Door Spa offers a multitude of massage, body, and facial treatments to choose from. In case you are interested in ridding your body of unwanted hair, the spa also offers face and body waxing including: bikini, legs, arms, back, and chest. The Village of Cross Keys, 42 Village Sq. 410-323-3636

Salon by Debbie
Treat yourself to a mock trip to the tropics with the spa package of the same name at any of the three locations under Salon by Debbie. Experience raindrop therapy, a form of aromatherapy treatment that involves dropping essential oils along your spine—like raindrops—followed by a back massage and warm towels. You’ll conclude your simulated tropical vacation with a mango butter pedicure that leaves your feet feeling baby soft. Multiple locations, including Spa on the Avenue, 8165 Honeygo Blvd., White Marsh. 410-931-1130

Spa at Four Seasons Baltimore
Immerse yourself in total extravagance at this haven housed in the Four Seasons Baltimore hotel. The spa menu includes nine types of massages, body treatments, facials, waxing, and nail services. Complimentary perks with every spa treatment include access to relaxation rooms, steam room, sauna, and the illustrious infinity pool that overlooks the Inner Harbor.  200 International Dr. 410-576-5800

Studio 921
Freshen up your hair color with some new highlights or go for a bold new all over color to embrace the warmer weather. Deep conditioning treatments are also offered (and necessary) to liven up your dull hair. Once your hair is taken care of, indulge in a hydrating facial or 921 essential manicure to jump-start the summer season. 921 E. Fort Ave., Ste. 108. 410-783-7727