Live Well During Retirement in the Roanoke – Salem Region

The freedom you gain during retirement means more time to relax and reconnect with your favorite hobbies while at the same time discovering new passions and immersing yourself in new experiences. The Roanoke - Salem Region is an ideal place to do so. It has so much to offer retirees that the area has been listed in “Forbes Best Places to Retire” and the ShareCare Community Well-Being Index. Here are just some of the opportunities to live well during retirement in the Roanoke – Salem Region.

Festivals in the Roanoke – Salem Region

Festivals are a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture, meet new people, and have some fun! There are numerous festivals in the Roanoke – Salem Region, and some of the most popular include the following:

• The famous Blue Ridge Folk Festival takes place each October and celebrates the music and culture of the region.
• Olde Salem Days is a huge art fair in September with more than 300 artists and crafters, a car show, and great food vendors to enjoy.  

• Dickens of a Christmas is the Roanoke – Salem Region’s largest holiday celebration and spans three consecutive Friday nights in December with a tree lighting, a parade, a costume contest, and much more.  

Arts in the Roanoke – Salem Region

Art, theatre, and history are a passion for many, and retirement in the Roanoke – Salem region gives you access to a host of ways to tap into your creativity and thirst for knowledge, including the following:

• Hollins Theatre at Hollins University features live stage performances and readings from students in the Theatre Department throughout the school year.

• Mill Mountain Theatre features professional performances of dramatic classics and full-scale musicals, along with educational classes for all ages on its two stages in Roanoke.  
• The Roanoke History Museum and O. Winston Link Museum are operated by the Historical Society of Western Virginia and have collections, photography, and exhibits relating to the story of Roanoke.
• The Harrison Museum of African American Culture offers a unique combination of speakers, art, and exhibits.  
• The Taubman Museum of Art is an award-winning museum that offers eleven galleries with 15-20 exhibitions per year and is home to a permanent collection featuring artists such as Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Purvis Young, Petah Coyne, and John Cage. What’s more, Friendship continues to be a proud supporter and participant of the museum’s Brush Pals program for kids and seniors.  
• At the Virginia Museum of Transportation, you can take a step back in time to learn about the history of planes, trains, automobiles, and rockets, as well as earlier modes like buggies and trolleys. 

Life-long learning in the Roanoke – Salem Region

Life-long learning has numerous benefits, from brain health to finding purpose to social connection. Plus, it’s fun to learn new things! Some of the options for you to do so during retirement in the Roanoke – Salem Region include the following:

• Roanoke College in Salem features the Elder Scholar program, which offers a five-week lecture series each semester in addition to a travel program called Adventure Scholar. The program is designed for those 55 and older and consists of native Roanoke Valley residents as well as those who relocate to the area during retirement.
• The Osher Life-long Learning Institute at the University of Virginia features diverse course offerings as well as short courses, lectures, presentations, and events. 

Retirement in the Roanoke – Salem Region at Friendship Retirement Community

At Friendship Retirement Community, we empower retirees to advance their own health and well-being by creating vibrant lifestyles that inspire creativity, support choice, protect dignity, and celebrate experience. We feature three campuses in the Roanoke – Salem Region offering a range of services from independent and assisted living to memory care and more. In addition, we help residents to live well during retirement in the Roanoke – Salem Region with the following:

• Freedom from the burdens of home upkeep with residence and yard maintenance and group transportation provided.
• Beautiful grounds with stunning views of the Blue Ridge mountains and spacious accommodations with 26 different floor plans from which to choose.

• A location just minutes away from the Roanoke – Salem Region’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment.
• Conveniences such as an onsite beauty salon and pharmacy.
• A full calendar of social events, activities, and outings, as well as clubs, classes, guest speakers, discussions on current events, and volunteer opportunities.  
• A state-of-the-art fitness center with a pool, fitness programs, health and well-being services, and chef-inspired menus prepared in collaboration with a nutritionist or dietician.
• Home care services that help keep you independent for as long as possible, award-winning therapy services, and multiple levels of care on the same campus.

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