A Day in the Life: Mike Lombardi of UMC at The Shores

If you’re considering making the move to an assisted living community, chances are you’re wondering what your day-to-day might look like. While we can’t speak for all senior living providers, at United Methodist Communities, we want all of our residents to live an abundant, self-directed life. By design, that can look different for everyone. Truthfully you can spend your day with us much like you would in your own home, but with the option to socialize freely right outside your door! How you choose to spend your days is completely up to you. Yes, we offer a variety of daily activities, fitness classes, and amenities to occupy your time, but it’s always your choice to attend.

You might appreciate hearing about our Shores community from someone who lives there. Meet Ocean City local legend Mike Lombardi, 96 years young, retired master barber. Here’s a few choice tidbits from Mike on living with UMC at the Shores.

How do you start your day?

I get myself up, take a shower and get ready for the day. Then I head downstairs for a nice breakfast. I like to have orange juice, a big bowl of cereal, and two egg whites, no yolks…maybe two slices of bread. I don’t have to ask the dining servers for what I want, they know when they see me and they’re very nice.

After breakfast, I have some time to enjoy myself. I take a walk around the community and see what’s going on that day. When it warms up, I walk outside too. I’ve always done a lot of walking, years ago I’d walk on the boardwalk all the time, sometimes five miles! Here, there are places where I can sit down and rest when I have to. I enjoy what’s provided here for me.

Are there any activities you usually do?
I get involved with all types of activities here. I used to lift weights but I broke my shoulder a few years ago, so I can only go so far with that now. But with everything else, I’m still pretty good! Sometimes I get together with friends here during the day. The Shores has a schedule of activities with something different every day, so there’s a lot to do.

I see you in the lobby a lot, is that a place you like to hang out?
Yeah, the new lobby area is a good place to see people come and go. Sometimes I’ll sit for a while because I see people to talk to and people I know. A lot of people know I’m here, so they come to see me.

I heard you gave Melly the therapy dog a haircut, is that true?

Yeah, I did give her a little haircut. Not my first dog haircut! I had a poodle once and I gave her haircuts too.

In the afternoon, do you go back to your apartment after lunch?
It depends on what I have to do that day, if I’m going to the gym, or have something to work on, or if there’s an activity I want to do. If not, I might go back to my apartment. I tend to eat dinner with my friend Joe every evening. We get a table in the back of the dining room and it’s relaxing. I think the food here has gotten a lot better after COVID, it’s very good. I know Chef Joe, he’s a good Italian (laughs).

What’s your favorite part of the day?

Breakfast! You get to see people and the food is good.

How would you describe life at The Shores?

The Shores is a wonderful place, especially for people who are in a position where their husband died, or their wife died, and now they’re all by themselves. When you lose your spouse and stay at home alone all day, that’s not the answer. I did that for a while and that’s just not the answer. It’s hard. Coming here, I’m able to be with people, socialize, and be a lot more relaxed.

Life at UMC at The Shores

At UMC at The Shores, our community is like one big family. As Mike said, when he gets to the dining hall, they know exactly what to bring him… What’s better than having the people you interact with every day care enough to remember your meal! It’s the little things that brighten our day and make us feel at home. Listen, we know what you’re thinking, but we promise Mike’s not the only one who gets the special treatment around here, this is how we treat all of our residents!

You can read more about Mike’s life story, as well as residents from our other communities, in our “My Working Years” issue of Engage Magazine. You can find Mike on page 5 https://online.anyflip.com/cwok/uhtk/mobile/index.html

Our community offers many opportunities to socialize, whether it’s meeting a friend for a meal, or attending an activity class, or taking a stroll around the campus.  If you have any questions about daily life at our Jersey Shore senior living community give us a call at 609-438-8257 or visit our website at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/blog/a-day-in-the-life-mike-lombardi-of-umc-at-the-shores/