When Lisa Fazio and her husband began considering a move, it wasn’t because they were ready to slow down. In fact, Lisa is still running the transcription business she and her husband had built together more than 40 years ago. But as life changed, they realized they needed a home that could provide more freedom, support, and peace of mind.
“My husband has Parkinson’s disease, and it got to the point where he wasn’t doing anything around the house anymore and he used to do everything,” Lisa said. “We started looking because we knew at some point we were going to need help. And I’m only one person. I can’t go up on ladders, and I’m not getting any younger either!”
The couple began researching retirement communities, specifically continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) which provides the perfect combo: financial security against rising healthcare costs, and an active, resort-like atmosphere without the pressures of home maintenance. Last Christmas, a flyer in the mail, from The Terraces at Bonita Springs, sparked their interest.
One Life-Changing Tour
“The Terraces was having a Christmas event with bell ringing,” Lisa said. “We had been looking at CCRCs, and I said to my husband, ‘This sounds like fun. Let’s just go and see.’”
When Lisa called to confirm their reservation, she asked if they might also be able to tour the community while they were there.
“She called me back less than 30 minutes later and said, ‘Come two hours early and we’ll schedule a tour for you,’ which I thought was great. But we never actually made it to the bell ringing," Lisa laughed.
Instead, they joined a tour with several other prospective residents and stepped into an apartment that immediately felt right.
Lisa said, “We walked into the apartment and I said to my husband, ‘This is it.’ It has a beautiful courtyard view and a little nook in the corner for my computer. We run our own transcription business, so it was a perfect spot for my work. I said, ‘This one-bedroom is all we need.’”
Her husband agreed.
A Perfect Fit: One Bedroom Bliss
Today, the Fazios live comfortably in their one-bedroom apartment, where Lisa continues to run their successful business. She has also become deeply involved in the community and now serves as president of the resident association.
One of the first things she noticed about The Terraces was the welcoming, family-like atmosphere.
“Everybody that we met smiled and was pleasant,” she said. “You don’t get that everywhere. People weren’t afraid to tell us how much they liked living here.”
After doing the math, the Fazios also discovered that the move made financial sense.
“Once I sat down and did all my calculations with all the eating out we had been doing—because neither of us likes to cook—we were actually saving money by moving here and having food included,” Lisa said. “No real estate taxes, no home insurance. All those expenses make a huge difference when you start deleting it.”
Security for the Future
For the Fazios, the most important benefit of moving in was knowing future care would be available if needed.
“I really liked the fact that everything was under one roof. Eventually my husband may have some assisted living,” Lisa said. “We’re not there yet, and I want to keep him in our home as long as possible, but I know the option is there.”
That peace of mind helped make the decision easy for their family.
“Little did we know when we came for the bell ringing—which we didn’t actually see—I would put a deposit down almost the same day,” she said. “Now that we’ve been here for a while, it’s the best decision we could have made.”
Life at The Terraces also brought an unexpectant surprise: incredible food without any work!
“The food is fabulous. The variety is unbelievable, and the presentation is gorgeous,” Lisa said. In fact, she rarely uses her kitchen. She joked, “we’ve used one pot because my husband likes hard-boiled eggs. That’s pretty much it!”
A True Village
Beyond the resort-like amenities and security of prearranged future care, Lisa appreciates the freedom The Terraces gives her to travel worry-free with friends—including an annual girls’ cruise that’s now in its 16th year. The difference now is the peace of mind she has while she’s away.
“At The Terraces, I don’t have to worry about my husband, he’s well taken care of,” she said. "“We used to live in Village Walk in Naples, and we always joked it was like a little village, but this is a true village. Everybody looks out for everybody else.”
And that sense of community has made a meaningful difference for both of them.
“The stress level has decreased tremendously,” Lisa said. “When you’re less stressed, you’re healthier. That says a lot to me—and he’s less stressed too.”
