Avenues: Offering a Feeling of Security and Independence

Dr. Bobbi Thornburg, a retired radiologist, recently became a member of Avenues by Brio Living Services. Avenues is a continuing care at home program that allows you to age in the home you love.

Bobbi grew up in Nebraska, completed X-ray tech school in Colorado, then worked in Tucson while completing her undergraduate degree part-time. Bobbi decided to go to medical school and came to Michigan in 1990 for a radiology residency. She started her career at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.

In 2012, Bobbi and her partner purchased their dream home in coastal California, but her partner became ill with lung cancer the following year. They were able to be married in their California home before her partner passed away. Bobbi retired from her career as a radiologist during the COVID pandemic.

At this point, Bobbi realized her friends and support system were in Michigan. Her parents in Nebraska had passed away, and her younger brother and his family live in Kansas. “What do you do when you don’t have family close-by?” Bobbi says. “You never know—your life can change in an instant.”

Bobbi decided to stay in Michigan in the home she remodeled, with Asian and vegetable gardens and her chickens. She learned about Avenues from friends of hers who are members. She made a call and joined Avenues in October.

“They do a thorough vetting process,” says Bobbi about Avenues’ executive director, Paige Hendrickson and team. “Paige met with me and told me about the program. Katlin Mills, Sales Advisor, is wonderful, very smart and compassionate. Jessica Lincolnhol was assigned as my Avenues navigator I can go to with questions. We really clicked.”

For Bobbi, the best part of Avenues is the feeling of security it provides for her. “It has taken away a great deal of anxiety for me and worrying if I would need some kind of help in the future. Now, I have someone to call. It’s really nice to have that—to know someone is there, and they’re a good team.”

If aging in place in the home you love sounds like the perfect way to retire, learn more about how you can become an Avenues member!