When Libby Slappey and Charles Crawley moved to Meth-Wick more than two years ago, they weren’t downsizing because of a health crisis. They weren’t moving because they could no longer manage their home. And they weren’t waiting for someone else to tell them it was time.

Instead, they did something many older adults put off: they planned ahead.

By moving while they were healthy, active, and fully able to make the decision themselves, they gained something they believe becomes increasingly valuable with age: choice.

As Libby sees it, waiting too long often means giving up some of that control. “It’s ridiculous to wait until some catastrophic event befalls you, and then somebody else is making the decisions for you,” she said.

Rather than waiting for a health concern, family emergency, or other life event to force a change, the couple chose to make the move on their own terms. More than two years later, they’re convinced it was the right decision.

Planning Ahead Means Having Choices

Before moving to Meth-Wick, Libby and Charles lived in a condominium on Cedar Rapids’ southeast side. They enjoyed their home and remained active in the community, but they had already begun thinking about what they wanted the next chapter of life to look like.

The couple spent several years discussing their future and eventually joined Meth-Wick’s waiting list, knowing it might be some time before an apartment became available. That planning proved valuable.

When the call finally came that an apartment was open, they were ready. They had already thought through what they wanted, where they wanted to live, and how they hoped to spend their retirement years.

They intentionally chose one of the smaller residences on Meth-Wick’s campus—a one-bedroom apartment in Greenwood Terrace. They saw it as an advantage. The smaller space forced them to downsize and make decisions about their belongings rather than postponing those choices for another day.

As Libby put it, “You can’t take it with you.” For her, downsizing was less about getting rid of possessions and more about the opportunity to decide what belongings mattered most and what they wanted to pass along to family and friends.

Many of those items found new homes with people they care about, making the process more meaningful than either of them expected. That was one of the biggest advantages of planning ahead. “Move when you can make those decisions yourself,” said Libby.

Community Before You Need It

One of the biggest benefits of moving when they did was having time to become part of the community.

“It’s funny,” says Libby. “So much of the move-in experience was similar to college.”

There was a floor representative to answer any questions, neighbors to meet, dining options, activities to explore, and “upperclassmen”—residents who have already navigated many of the stages of aging that newer residents will eventually experience.

“There have been some real role models for us here,” she said. “People who have shown us what it means to age with dignity.”

The couple believes that’s one of the biggest advantages of making a move before it becomes necessary. Instead of arriving during a crisis, residents have time to build friendships, establish routines, and connect with the people around them.

“If you come a little earlier, you get a chance to develop community,” Charles said. “That’s really the difference.”

Whether it’s gathering for meals, attending programs, joining resident groups, or simply stopping to chat with neighbors, opportunities for connection are woven into daily life. That sense of community has become increasingly important to both of them.

“We’ve often said to each other, ‘That’ll be us someday,'” Libby said, referring to older residents who have become examples of aging with grace, resilience, and humor.

Peace of Mind for the Future

The Life Plan model was another important factor in their decision to choose Meth-Wick Community. Knowing that additional levels of care are available on the same campus gives them confidence that if their needs change in the future, they won’t have to leave the community they’ve come to know and love. They’ve already watched neighbors make those transitions thoughtfully and on their own terms. For Libby and Charles, that’s exactly how they hope to approach whatever comes next.

The move has also provided peace of mind for another reason: it reduces the burden on family members. By downsizing, organizing their affairs, and making the move while they’re healthy and active, they’ve been able to simplify many of the decisions that often fall to adult children later in life.

“If we could put a big bow around everything we’ve done and hand it to our families, that’s the gift,” Charles said.

Looking Ahead

Today, Libby and Charles remain deeply engaged both at Meth-Wick and throughout the Cedar Rapids community. They volunteer, participate in resident leadership, and continue to look for ways to help shape the campus’s future for the next generation of residents. They know every person’s situation is different. But if there’s one lesson they’ve learned, it’s that planning ahead creates opportunities that may not be available later.

Looking back, neither regrets making the move when they did. If anything, they wish more people understood the value of making the decision while they still have time, options, and the ability to choose for themselves.

As Charles puts it: “There is no such thing as moving too early. You can definitely move too late.”