Ask Nan and Charlie Powell’s grandson what he thinks of their retirement home, and he’ll recall the friend who compared it to a cruise ship that never leaves port. But when the Powells sold their four-bedroom Columbia home and moved to Vantage House, luxury was the last thing on their minds.

While they love all the onsite amenities, the deciding factor for them was Vantage House’s continuum of care. “If I need to go into the nursing home, Nan can stay here, and I’ll be just an elevator ride away,” says Charlie, who’s undergone two heart bypass surgeries.  “Everything we’ll ever need is here.”

The Powells have lived in Columbia since 1971. Before he sold his business and retired, Charlie was a popular pharmacist who was known for his interest in holistic care. A compounding pharmacist, he developed medicinal creams that could be absorbed through the skin for Hospice patients no longer able to swallow conventional medicines. Before she retired, Nan was a Jungian Therapist.

Now, the Powells fill their days with the discussion groups at Vantage House and trips to theaters and other cultural activities in Baltimore and Washington. Charlie’s newest interest is acrylic painting.