• Main: 828.684.0041
  • Learn More: 828.684.7330

Ardenwoods

  • About Us
    • Our Team
  • Senior Living Solutions
    • Independent Living
    • Heather Glen Assisted Living
    • Floor Plans
  • Lifestyle
    • Staying Safe – Staying Healthy
    • Resident Stories
    • Photos
    • Activities
    • Services & Amenities
    • Dining
    • Monthly Calendar
    • Surrounding Area
    • Blog
  • Health Services
    • Heather Glen
  • Resources/Financial
  • Contact Us
    • Maps & Directions
    • Employment Opportunities

Staff Spotlight: Gena Duncan

Meet Gena Duncan, Ardenwoods’ sales associate and public relations manager since March 2019.

Gena Duncan and her Can-Am motorcycle

Employed in the senior care industry for the last 15 years, Gena loves working with residents, crediting their often-wise words for giving her a new lease on life. Prior to working with seniors, Gena worked in construction for 20 years, originally moving to Western North Carolina to open a fireplace company with her husband. After the economic downturn in 2008, the business became hard to maintain, and it motivated her to make a career change.

When she first began working with seniors, one of the residents offered her a bit of advice: Live life to the fullest. She took this tip to heart, purchasing her own Can-Am motorcycle and learning to ride solo. No longer a backseat-biker, Gena is now on her second Can-Am, which she enjoys riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway alongside her husband, who rides his own motorcycle. She says that riding her own bike has given her a newfound sense of freedom — and she’s forever grateful for the wisdom of the residents she works with each day.

In addition to her work at Ardenwoods, Gena also has a real estate license, and she is in the process of obtaining her Senior Real Estate Specialist endorsement. Gena enjoys spending time with her three children: Jessica, TJ and Dillon; her two stepchildren: Jessica and Derek; and her four grandkids: Callie, Silas, Raiden and Raven.

When she’s not hard at work at Ardenwoods, you might find her relaxing out at Lake James, where she and her husband own a home — spending most summer weekends boating, kayaking, swimming and visiting with friends.

Happy Trails: Ardenwoods Residents Hiking Adventure

At the peak of leaf season this fall, six Ardenwoods residents proved that age is just a number as they embarked on an arduous adventure up a nearby section of the Appalachian Trail.

Ardenwoods offers residents miles of onsite trails

The hikers, ranging in age from 79 to 89, made their way up Lover’s Leap trail, just outside of Hot Springs, meandering through switchbacks, traversing a steep incline and following white blazes until the trail opened up to a spectacular panoramic view of the French Broad River and small mountain town below.

The Oct. 11 hike was organized by Ardenwoods and led by resident and seasoned outdoorsman Dick Jedwell, who landed on Lover’s Leap following a bit of research on senior-friendly sections of the famous 2,180-mile trail.

“A resident here in her late 80s had indicated that she would be interested in hiking at least a portion of the Appalachian Trail, so Ardenwoods approached me — having been aware that I’ve done a fair amount of hiking in my day — to get a group organized,” said Jedwell, who’s spent 40 years hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking and cross-country skiing with a group of friends all over North America. “I did a little investigation and settled on this particular trail, which is a short 2-mile loop hike roughly an hour trip from Ardenwoods. It’s a scenic little hike through the woods right along the edge of the French Broad River, and it’s very pleasant.”

Jedwell put a presentation together with details and videos of the hike, then invited all interested residents to attend an informational session ahead of signing up for the adventure.

“I knew there was a section of the trail that was going to be a challenge, so we did a few conditioning hikes just here on campus” to give residents a bit of practice — while also gauging each individual’s abilities for the trek ahead, Jedwell explained. “I think that proved effective, allowing the people who did go on the hike to be pretty confident that they were going to be able to complete it.”

The morning of the big trip, the six hikers piled into a bus and made their way to the trailhead in Hot Springs — and despite the difficult terrain, each resident ultimately overcame the obstacles and summited a section of the Appalachian Trail.

“There’s one section, about a third of a mile long, that’s really quite steep,” Jedwell said. “And, you know, none of us are any longer in our youth — so this did prove to be a challenge. But everybody got through it and seemed to enjoy it. I think we were all pleased that we met the challenge and accomplished our goal.”

Though a follow-up hike isn’t yet on the books, Jedwell said he’s happy to organize other hikes if the need arises. “In this area, there’s certainly an unlimited number of opportunities,” he said. “And I’ve done a number of them already, so I have all sorts of reference books that would help me out if there’s an interest.”

Intrepid Traveler: Gaby Tysinger

It’s hard not to get along with Gaby Tysinger. The bubbly 87-year-old Ardenwoods resident abounds with enthralling tales of a life well-lived, of travels and adventures recalled in such impeccable detail that you’ll find yourself walking the streets of Kathmandu — or watching a Burmese sunset — right alongside her.

Gaby Tysinger

Though she was born in Berlin, Germany in 1935, Gaby grew up in Switzerland, “halfway up a mountain” in the city of Lugano, where her family moved when she was only three months old. “We were very close to the Italian border,” she explained. “Once you got to the top of the mountain, the other side belonged to Italy.”

Taking refuge among the snow-capped peaks, Gaby and her family were spared from much of the dangers of war — though she still recalls watching smoke billow on the horizon as Milan and the neighboring city of Como, just across the Italian border, burned from Allied bombs.

After the war, Gaby attended schools all across Western Europe, though she admitted she “was not very keen on school.” In fact, “I hated school with all of my heart,” she said, laughing at her own bluntness. “But I was lucky to have encountered a lot of different people, in many different places, from many different countries.”

Lugano, Switzerland

Despite this aversion to schoolwork, Gaby developed a keen interest in geography and history at a young age, poring over maps and globes and imagining the landscapes that rolled across each country. It was through these daydreams that she became interested in the Himalayas — Nepal, in particular — which first opened its borders to foreigners when Gaby was a teenager.

“I saw the name Kathmandu, and I just thought: ‘Wow. It must be something.’ The name Kathmandu sounds like something from heaven.” she explained. Decades later, when presented with the opportunity to travel extensively with her mother, she was asked where she’d like to go, “and out of nowhere came the name Kathmandu,” she said. “My mother looked at me a little confused and said: ‘Where is that?’”

A whirlwind romance

Gaby and Jones Tysinger traveling in Europe

Prior to her globe-trotting travels through the world’s tallest peaks, though, she first had to meet the man of her dreams, pack up her life and move half-way across the world to the Appalachian Mountains. She met her husband, Jones Tysinger, in Frankfurt, Germany, while he was stationed in the area with the U.S. Army.

“I met him in January, we got engaged in April, married in May, and I came to America with him in July,” she explained. “My husband always joked with me: ‘Gaby, you’re the one who asked me to marry you. It’s supposed to be the other way around.’ And I would say: ‘I know.’ But 10 days after we met, I told him: ‘You know, we’re going to get married.’”

At first, Jones wasn’t so sure. There was a girl he was interested in back in North Carolina. But Gaby was charmingly adamant, telling him: “No, you had a girlfriend in North Carolina, but no more. You and I are going to get married.” He told her that he’d think about it and call her back. Four days later, he rang her back to let her know he’d start getting the visa paperwork together. It was certainly a whirlwind romance — prompting her worried father to give Gaby a one-way ticket back home as a wedding gift, “just in case” — “but it worked out very well,” she said. In fact, “I’m the only one in my family that never got a divorce.” The two were married for 53 years, until Jones’ passing in 2011.

Alps to Appalachia

When Gaby arrived in Knoxville with her new husband, she was just 21 years old. “It was a shock,” she explained. “Everything was a shock. There were vegetables I had never seen before in my life.” Luckily, she was welcomed into her husband’s family by her “super” sisters-in-law, who helped her adjust to life in Tennessee — and to the local produce, like butternut squash.

It was there that they began a family, welcoming a daughter, Chris, and a son, Michael. Her family is one of the greatest joys in her life, she said. And, despite not knowing how to cook upon arrival, she soon found herself truly enjoying making meals for those she loved. While her husband worked as a hydraulic engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority, Gaby enjoyed taking part in her children’s education on their school’s PTA, and she also volunteered at a local home for pregnant young women, taking them to and from doctors’ appointments.

Traveling in the Middle East

Prior to moving to Asheville in 1979, the family briefly lived for two years in Bryson City, which Gaby describes as a bigger culture shock than her initial move to America. “My English wasn’t very good, and I wasn’t used to the accents,” she explained. “So they couldn’t understand me, and I couldn’t understand them. For a while, I didn’t know what anyone was talking about. But I found a bridge club, and, after that, I made friends very quickly.”

Himalayas and beyond

Though she settled down in the Southern Appalachians, Gaby never lost her passion for travel and adventure, frequently visiting with family in Europe and taking trips with her husband, mother and other friends.

Gaby Tysinger traveling with her mother

“I was very lucky,” she said. “My husband was very generous. And when my mother invited me to travel in 1972, he was so supportive. We flew from Zurich to Iran,” she paused for a moment, then continued: “and from there we traveled to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sikkim, Nepal, then back to Europe. It was a wonderful trip. This was when Afghanistan still had a king, back before the Russians invaded the country — before we invaded the country. It was still very much in the old ways and very interesting. I loved it, and the people were so nice.

“That was the first trip,” she added. “The second trip, we went to Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, to Jakarta and Bali. My mother always wanted to travel, but she was not a very outgoing person. She said, ‘Gaby, I wouldn’t do this alone for anything, but I would love to travel. I would be happy to go anywhere with you.’”

Buddhist monks in Thailand

She’s not quite sure how many countries she’s been to over the years, but to put her travels into perspective, she began collecting coins from each country she’s visited — then attaching those coins to a charm bracelet. “Finally, we couldn’t put any more on the bracelet, and I have maybe four or five coins that should be on there but won’t fit,” she explained.

Gaby and her mother

Though she’s visited every continent over the years — hiking up to Machu Picchu in Peru and enjoying a family reunion in Namibia, Africa — her favorite countries are Bhutan and Burma (now Myanmar).

“Burma was a dream,” she said. “It was so peaceful, and there were so few tourists, because it was very hard to get a visa there at that time. One night, my mother and I were visiting a Buddha (statue) in Pagan that was bigger than a hotel — it had a staircase that came out to a terrace — and I just remember looking out over the river, watching the barges and boats traveling along. The sun began to set and the river turned golden. And below me, all the monks in yellow robes were walking by, going home from wherever they were working. It was just me and my mother sitting out there, and all you could hear was the birds. Our tour guide let us know we had to go back before dark, and I really didn’t want to leave. It was such a personal moment that I’ll never forget. It went really deep within me.”

Gaby and her mother enjoying the mountains

From Asheville to Ardenwoods

After Jones passed away in 2011, Gaby realized she no longer wanted (or needed) to maintain the couple’s large two-story condo alone. While visiting Ardenwoods with a friend for supper, she fell in love with the bright, spacious rooms and stunning mountain views. She immediately made up her mind: Ardenwoods was the place for her.

Gaby’s hometown of Lugano, Switzerland

For the last four years, Gaby has enjoyed her time in the Ardenwoods community by playing bridge, socializing with friends, and actively participating in the German, French, and Italian language clubs.

Though she’s no longer able to travel due to neuropathy in her legs and feet, the social butterfly is happy to chat about her many adventures with friends in the community — she may even encourage you to get out and explore yourself.

With Gratitude: Employee Appreciation Party 2022

Beneath all the twinkling lights, evergreen wreaths and neatly wrapped packages, you’ll find the greatest joy of the holiday season: the celebration that comes from simply being together.

Holiday smiles and festive styles

Each December, Ardenwoods brings residents and staff together as a community to honor our special connection. Throughout the year, in lieu of tips to the staff, residents collect donations that are then distributed to staff at the end-of-year Employee Appreciation Party. Though the party and its participants may change season after season, it is always centered around the same theme: gratitude.

Ardenwoods residents and staff

Each department put together a short presentation to thank the residents for their generosity — through poems, heartfelt thank yous, and even a few songs with accompanying dances. Two of our dining room servers, both of whom are musicians in their school band, performed Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” while a few other servers danced along.

In the holiday spirit

The connection between Ardenwoods’ residents and staff is what drives the small-town atmosphere that we strive for in our community. It is rare for the entire staff to gather in one place, and to do so with the residents filled the dining room with love, laughter and family. Getting to work together is always special, but there is nothing quite like the Employee Appreciation Party.

Ardenwoods Staff Spotlight: Nathan Rihm

Nathan Rihm has lived and worked all over the globe — managing dining halls on cruise ships and yachts, in hotels and breweries. But, with that line of work, the customers are always changing. There’s no chance to develop relationships with regulars, to connect on a deeper level.

Nathan Rihm is part of the Ardenwoods Team.
Nathan Rihm, Food and Beverage Director

In mid-September, Rihm became Ardenwoods’ new food and beverage director, managing both front-of-house and back-of-house staff and ensuring dining services run smoothly and safely, delivering meals of the highest quality. He said he’s thrilled to take on this new role for many reasons. For one, though it may be different than his most recent job, where he managed a brewery, that’s exactly the kind of change he had been looking for.

“My favorite part is that I get to serve the same people all the time and really impact people’s lives, instead of just their evenings or week while on vacation,” he said. “And all the residents have been wonderful to me. They’ve been so welcoming and engaging, and I’ve felt welcomed in like a member of the family.”

In addition to meeting and developing personal connections with the residents and other staff members, Rihm said he’s fallen in love with the mountains in the few short months he’s lived in the area.

“Ardenwoods is such a beautiful place, with such a sense of community,” he explained. “I moved here for the mountains and all the outdoor recreation opportunities. My fiancée and I love to hike and get outdoors, so we’ve traveled through the area a number of times and visited places like Lake Jocassee [in Upstate South Carolina] and hiked all over the area.”

In addition to the scenery, he added, the region is not all that far from his home state of Indiana, making it relatively easy to drive home and see family — or easier than it was when he lived in Hawaii and the Virgin Islands, anyway.

When asked about his goals as Ardenwoods’ new food and beverage director, he said he aspires to provide each resident with an elevated dining experience, to continue improving food quality and service, and to always look for ways to improve the quality of life for his new, extended “family” in whatever ways possible.

“Honestly, customer service has always been a big passion of mine,” he said. “I really enjoy working with people. It’s important to me to have work that allows me to be social, so that’s what brought me to Ardenwoods. I just want the residents to know that I’m always here to engage with them — that they’re more than welcome to approach me, and that I always greatly enjoy hearing their stories. Being part of this community is my favorite part of the position.”

When Rihm isn’t on-site at Ardenwoods, he’s likely to be found in the Blue Ridge Mountains, hiking a scenic ridge, kayaking, hunting or fishing. He’s also passionate about volunteering, and, being new to the area, he’s interested in finding the right organization to dedicate his spare time.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 35
  • Next Page »

Get In Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Reception/General Inquiries 828.684.0041
  • Marketing & Sales 828.684.7330
  • About Us
    • Our Team
  • Senior Living Solutions
    • Independent Living
    • Heather Glen Assisted Living
    • Floor Plans
  • Lifestyle
    • Staying Safe – Staying Healthy
    • Resident Stories
    • Photos
    • Activities
    • Services & Amenities
    • Dining
    • Monthly Calendar
    • Surrounding Area
    • Blog
  • Health Services
    • Heather Glen
  • Resources/Financial
  • Contact Us
    • Maps & Directions
    • Employment Opportunities
© Copyright 2023 Ardenwoods · All Rights Reserved | 2400 Appalachian Blvd., Arden, NC 28704 |
  • Terms
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Ardenwoods Sitemap