On Tuesday, Nov. 30, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce welcomed Seaside at Fort Myers into the community with a 4 p.m. ribbon cutting, part of an open house held from 3 to 5 p.m.

Managed by Retirement Unlimited Inc. of Roanoke, Va., Seaside took the reins of an existing assisted living facility on July 1 as one of 12 communities the organization oversees in Virginia and Florida. Seaside of Fort Myers is an independent living, assisted living, and memory care community. It debuted RUI’s signature programming in Florida for the first time there and Seascape at Naples. The company looks forward to taking on more Florida locations.

“Since our founding in 1984, RUI’s passion has been providing quality care, excellent customer service, and a luxurious lifestyle to the senior population throughout Virginia,” said Doris-Ellie Sullivan, president of RUI, which has operated under the Fralin and Waldron families since its inception. “After focusing on and perfecting that mission in Virginia for nearly 40 years through diverse enrichment programs, social experiences, and levels of care in comfortable and elegant settings, we feel the time is right to expand our senior living experience to Florida, and are excited to deliver a lifestyle that residents have earned and deserve to our Florida residents.”

Seaside’s open house showcased its signature programs starting with RUI University, which partners with colleges, universities, museums, art venues, and noted professors to present a free, semester-based learning experience for residents of the facility and community at large.

“From history to music and other topics of interest, we’ve really established RUI University as a lifelong system that takes learning to the next level,” said Sullivan.

 

Other signature programs include Taste of RUI, a fine dining and catering experience employing executive chefs; RUI Fit & Therapy, using personal trainers to help residents achieve wellness goals; Leash on Life, a concierge service for resident pets; and Inspiratas, which adapts its other programs to benefit memory care residents through the arts and gourmet dining.

 

“We are excited to be a part of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce,” said Holly Winningham, executive director of Seaside at Fort Myers. “We look forward to becoming an active partner in our community, showing support and building rapport with community leaders, and becoming a valued and trusted member of the Fort Myers community.”

 

“The chamber welcomes Seaside at Fort Myers into the fold as a one-of-a-kind service we are happy to inform residents and guests about,” said John Lai, chamber president and chief executive officer. “It fills a needed role in our community, and we look forward to partnering with its staff, which is knowledgeable in so many fields.”

 

ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. With more than 460 active Chamber members from both islands and businesses from Lee and Collier counties, the Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Francis P. Bailey, Jr., Chamber Visitor Center is located at the entrance to Sanibel Island and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA named the visitor center one of 13 official Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers in the state. It is open 365 days a year and provides comprehensive information about things to do, places to visit, and where to stay, shop, and dine. The chamber website sanibel-captiva.org receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year.

 

For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact Landen Drake, communications and marketing manager, at 239-472-8255 or [email protected].