September 15, 2025
While recovering from illness, Marilyn decided it was time to move to independent living. Though downsizing was a significant life transition, the apartment options available at Paul’s Run immediately put her mind at ease.
“I was very impressed, especially with the apartment I got,” says Marilyn. “It’s a two-bedroom and it’s on the first floor. I have a lovely patio, and my son put a bird feeder out front. It’s the perfect location.”
Paul’s Run resident Kathleen found the two-bedroom option the perfect fit for her needs as well. “Going from a house to an apartment is a huge adjustment, and when I came in, it didn’t feel small. The thing that worked to my advantage was having the second bedroom,” she says.
Though both Marilyn and Kathleen live alone, they each love the freedom and flexibility the additional living space provides.
An extra room, many possibilities
Kathleen decorated her extra room with a credenza and sofa, but no TV. “I don’t even call it a second bedroom,” she says. “It’s my quiet space to just go and sit for a little bit. I call it my ‘quiet room.’”
Marilyn appreciates the flexibility and convenience afforded by the additional room. “It’s my workroom. I have my computer in there right now. I also have a chair that converts into a single bed,” she says. “I have a son who lives in Virginia. So, when he comes up to visit with his husband, they sleep in my bed, and I sleep in the second bedroom. It’s convenient in every way.”
A space as unique as each resident
In her time at Paul’s Run, Co-director of Sales and Marketing Rebecca Michels has seen residents make creative use of the extra living space. “We have one resident who made the second bedroom her closet. Literally, it was just racks and racks of her things,” she says with a laugh. “Another made it her sewing room. One person had a piano and made it their piano room.”
Director of Sales and Marketing Kim Braccia notes that choosing a more spacious unit can help residents transition more smoothly as they move from larger homes to independent living. “Downsizing doesn’t have to be stressful when you’re downsizing into a beautiful, spacious two-bedroom. You could just as easily call it a one-bedroom with a den or study. You can still have a beautiful, large bedroom and a den or craft room, and you don’t have to give up your office space.”
For seniors making the transition to independent living, the two-bedroom units at Paul’s Run offer more than extra square footage. They provide an area for quiet retreat, welcoming overnight guests, getting crafty and creative, and displaying cherished personal items.
Most of all, they give residents the flexibility to live life on their own terms, knowing there’s enough room to hold their memories and welcome new beginnings.