Celebrating the Stories That Shape Fairwinds – Redmond

Jul 29, Alissa Sauer

Community grows when people take the time to truly know one another. At Fairwinds – Redmond, that happens by getting to know who someone is today while honoring the experiences, relationships, and accomplishments that helped shape them along the way.

This month, as we celebrated America’s 250th anniversary, residents explored the idea of “Then and Now.” The theme showed up in socials, outings to iconic Seattle destinations, guest presentations, graduation-inspired activities, and reimagined versions of nostalgic favorites like Name That Tune, trivia, and Mingo.

The highlight of the month was our Then and Now Social, an afternoon that brought residents, families, friends, and team members together in a meaningful and very personal way.

Meeting the “Then” Behind the “Now”

When someone moves to Fairwinds – Redmond, we first meet the person they are today. We come to know their sense of humor, kindness, wisdom, interests, and everyday routines. The Then and Now Social gave us the chance to learn more about the lives behind those qualities, and to acknowledge the lifetime of stories, accomplishments, and memories that create our community.

Before the event, residents shared photographs from earlier chapters of their lives. Our team paired those treasured images with current photos to create a special slideshow. As each “then” photo appeared, guests tried to guess the resident before the current image was revealed. The room quickly filled with surprises as familiar faces took on new dimensions, and we saw residents as children, students, graduates, young professionals, spouses, parents, adventurers, and friends.

See the stories and explore the lives of our residents in our Then and Now slideshow. Watch the Slideshow Here.

A Community Where Residents Feel Known

This social was uniquely special because it gave residents the opportunity to share parts of themselves that may not come up in everyday conversation. Families could celebrate important memories, while team members gained a deeper understanding of the people they see and support each day.

That sense of being known matters and may be the most important part of community life. It helps turn neighbors into friends and makes Fairwinds – Redmond a place to belong, rather than simply a place to live.

The slideshow has continued to spark conversations long after the event ended. Because the response was so positive, it remains on display in the community, giving residents, visitors, and team members more opportunities to stop, look, and share a story.

Honoring the Past. Celebrating the Present.

Our Then and Now Social reminded us that strong communities are built when people feel seen, valued, and known. By honoring the lives our residents have lived, we grow closer today and create new memories together.

If you’d like to join us in making some of those memories, we’d love to welcome you. Schedule a visit to Fairwinds – Redmond, explore our independent living and assisted living community, and join the fun!