Here's What's Going On...

Sustainable Sourcing is ALWAYS on the Menu at The Garlands A guardian of Garlands members’ nutritional health and gastronomical delight, Executive Chef Glenn Zamet is a bit of a self-professed “locavore.” Sourcing locally produced, healthy food that is organically grown by Barrington neighbors while, at the same time, protecting the environment for future generations is…

Inspired by cooking contests on television, including Top Chef, Chopped, and Hell’s Kitchen, The Garlands culinary team hosted their own heated cook-off called “The Taste of The Garlands” this summer.

When it comes to choosing where to enjoy your next best life, you certainly have options. Here are the reasons why savvy planners report that exemplary service, a casually elegant setting, a close-knit community, and long-term comfort and financial stability set The Garlands apart.

As the curtain opens and morning light pours into the well-appointed, one-bedroom Prairieview at The Garlands apartment, caregiver Maribel Lopez-Torres cheerfully belts out the classic garage rock refrain – “G L O R I A, Gloorrr-ri-a.”

Supplemental outings like FitSprings classes provide our members with an option to expand upon what we learn in our in-house classes. With FitSprings, we can combine the principles of yoga and Pilates into a new high-intensity, low-impact workout that is equally as effective as it is fun!

Garlands homes offer the highest quality construction and thoughtful interior design and feature large, open floor plans, spacious rooms, oversized windows, and the finest finishes and appliances. However, current inventory of Garlands homes is limited. Luckily, these select one-bedroom and Hawthorn Villa floorplans — offer immediate, “picture-perfect,” albeit limited, availability.

‘Tis the season for heading back to school, and at The Garlands of Barrington, a premier life plan community for older adults, “schooling” knows no age limits! According to a recent AARP study on lifelong learning, 55% of Americans ages 45 and older seek personal growth and are curious and actively learning new things. If…

Q: What is a favorite activity at The Garlands that encourages collaboration, stimulates brain health, engages long-term memory, facilitates friendships, and is just plain FUN? A: Trivia Night! What started as a one-time event attended by a few Garlands members has grown into a heated battle of the brains for many! Teams of 6-8 —…

The secret behind The Garlands’s spit-spot and award-winning cleanliness isn’t the latest and greatest cleaning product or a new-fangled vacuum cleaner. It’s much simpler than that: just real people caring for real people and one another. What appears as only a single bullet point on The Garlands brochure’s long list of convenient services, housekeeping is…

At the Garlands, interactions with furry friends offer therapeutic benefits for animals and Garlands members alike. This winter, nine seven-week-old Hoof Woof & Meow Animal Rescue puppies were invited to “puppy yoga” with Garlands members, who were overjoyed with their roly-poly antics. “Needless to say, there was more shoelace pulling, cuddles, and puppy kisses than…

Considered the “Royal Dog of Madagascar,” Rambo cavorts with Garlands “commoners” who are more than happy to share treats and belly rubs on his daily walks.   Our beloved pets are with us through thick and thin, adding joy and laughter — and so many other benefits — to our lives and our homes. The…

GONE SWIMMING! At the crack of dawn almost every Saturday morning, Garlands member Steve Bromet leaves a “gone swimming” sticky note on the bathroom counter for his wife before he quietly slips out the front door and into The Garlands lap pool. The morning light pours in from the aquatic center’s atrium skylights as the…

As we greet the New Year, The Garlands is fortunate to remain a financially stable, award-winning, and growing community that receives accolades from members, their families, and the greater community. Record Growth Last year, we welcomed 58 new members, and we are now 95% sold and compiling a waitlist. A Commitment to Re-Investment As we…

Beyond physical fitness and good times, Garlands health and wellness programming offers significant therapeutic value as well. For example, regular Mindful Meditation sessions, led by the Venerable Bhante Sujatha, a Buddhist monk, are a great way to boost mood and practice selfcare, and bi-weekly Exercise for Diabetes classes followed by glucose monitoring help type 1…

Garlands fitness experts, Adrian Fleisher, Bethanie Lochman, and Alex Edmonds, are always up for a good time, and they are ever mindful that inspiration, creativity, and good ole fashioned FUN are key to a healthy lifestyle regardless of age. That’s why they infuse their traditional fitness offerings, like weightlifting, land and water aerobics, balance classes,…

Weather permitting, Garlands golfers swing over to the nearby Makray Memorial Golf Club, a premier 18-hole course, to test their skills, enjoy the fresh air, exercise, and take advantage of their Garlands-sponsored, complimentary, golfing privileges. The challenging course offers strategic bunkers, well-manicured greens, bluegrass roughs, spectacular views, and a great opportunity to get to know…

The Garlands takes great pride in its award-winning design, top-quality care, life enrichment offerings, and customer service, but what we value most are the relationships The Garlands fosters among members and our team. This pervasive sense of community is, of course, because of the outgoing nature of the people who live and work here, but…

1. the vibe Maybe it is the aesthetics and timeless décor, or perhaps it is the people, sense of community, and the culture, but most all agree that there is a comforting home-like, and casually elegant “vibe” that is noticeably unique to The Garlands. “It just feels like home.” – Carol Palmer 2. the people Many…

At The Garlands, fine dining is a cornerstone of fine living. Chef Glenn Zamet and his team of sous chefs, cooks, pastry chef, dishwashers, servers and hosts, consistently exceed Garlands members’ expectations with plenty of delicious meal choices in four distinct restaurant venues daily. But, Chef Zamet and his team know that the role food…

The innovative vision conceived for The Garlands two decades ago was as revolutionary then as the Arts and Crafts movement that inspired its interior design and serves as a metaphor for the beauty of life at The Garlands. Craftsman philosophies that stress the inherent beauty of the material, the importance of nature as inspiration, and…

Turning Preconceptions UPSIDE DOWN! Many Garlands members are grateful to Inspirational Wellness Advisor, Dr. Sandra Sieber, and Fitness Coordinator, Bethanie Lochman (pictured above), for their enthusiastic approach to making a difference in their physical and mental wellbeing. Some even say that “hanging out” with Bethanie and Sandra in fitness classes offers them a new lease…

Garlands Travel Club members had the opportunity to admire the work of one of their own while cruising Chicago’s famed architecture.  Garlands member, Sally Nutini (pictured above left)and her husband’s construction company, North Products, were behind a significant amount of high-end, custom skylights and doors created and installed in landmark buildings throughout the greater Chicago…

Cooped up by COVID no longer, Garlands members are cautiously and optimistically traveling to destinations known (and unknown) and enjoying the convenience of a pre-planned itinerary, the luxury of furnished transportation, and the company of friends. Fasten your seatbelts – The Garlands Travel Club is hitting the road! Their first stop was The Windy City…

This fall, The Garlands Play Readers, a troupe of ten-plus thespians, all of whom are over the age of 75 and live at the Barrington retirement community, delighted packed audiences at two performances of their original variety show, “Laugh and Sing.”   Filled with songs made famous by the likes of Doris Day, Bing Crosby,…

One of the most spectacular aspects of retirement is having the time and resources to explore one’s passions. Many Garlands members have mastered this aspect of “the fine art of retirement.” Some are literally studying and producing their own fine art . . . and inspiring Garlands staff to do the same. Their collective works…

Veronica Potter is a Marine Veteran and artist who danced her way through life—literally teaching ballroom dancing and performing as a flamenco dancer. So, while most people find it hard to stay put these days, Veronica sees this time as an opportunity to soldier on, go with the flow and create more art. “I’ve made…

Photographic Exhibit at The Gallery at The Garlands   Garlands member Bill Lawton got his first camera in junior high, and he hasn’t stopped taking photos since! “There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t take a photo of something,” says Bill. “If I haven’t taken a picture, it hasn’t been a…

Mahjong is a tile game that originated in 19th century China and links back to Confucius and his love of birds. The “twittering of the sparrows,” or shuffling and tinkling of the tiles, signals the start of the game. At The Garlands, the Mahjong bird metaphor continues, as in “birds of a feather flock together” to…

Teddie Kossof entered the beauty industry in the late ‘60s and in 1975 opened the doors to his namesake salon and spa in Northfield. Forty-four years later it continues to be among the nation’s top salons, serving Chicago’s North Shore. In 1998, Teddie’s son, Alan joined the salon business and co-owns the salon, overseeing the…

  It is 1922 in New York City, and a young Millie Dillmount has just moved to the Big Apple in search of a new life – what’s a small-town girl to do? But, in real life, it is 2019 at The Garlands of Barrington and the actress who is playing Millie is a mere 81…

Marlene Peterson is a priceless original.   Be CREATIVE When a Garlands friend asked Marlene if she painted, she replied, “I don’t ‘do’ art.” The friend’s response, “How do you know?” sparked Marlene’s curiosity and creativity. Dozens of masterpieces later, Marlene exhibits her work at The Gallery at The Garlands and around town, but her true gift is…

The art exhibit “Divergent Paths” on display at The Gallery at The Garlands of Barrington July through August 30, 2018 features work by a group of talented women artists and friends who are equally passionate about creating art and supporting each other’s artistic endeavors. The self-named Watercooler Sisters—a result of a happy accident on a restaurant reservation—are showing a…

The Garlands Play Readers, a troupe of 20+ thespians, all of whom are over the age of 75 and live at the Barrington retirement community, act, lip-sync and dance their way through dramas, sketch comedy and one-acts that are performed live in The Garlands’ own 200-seat Performing Arts Center.

Explore your artistic side…nurture a green thumb…audition for a leading role. Whatever strikes your fancy, you’ll find the companions, means and freedom to make those dreams a reality at The Garlands. Here you can create a one-of-a-kind lifestyle for a one-of-a-kind you.

Over the last 15 years our members have inspired us to set goals, dream bigger and have fun! We have countless examples of members with remarkably inspiring stories about their lives before and since moving to The Garlands—health improved, interests pursued, bucket lists crossed off . . . and the list goes on. “The Inspira philosophy and name are in honor of our members past, present and future and 15 years of inspired living here at The Garlands,” says Lund.