A Place to Call Home
As a unique destination community, new Lathrop residents from points near and far experience an incredibly rich, welcoming and friendly environment where all residents are free to be who they are and to continue along their individual paths while sharing the benefits of living “in community.”
Some Lathrop residents have spent their lifetimes in the The Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts. Others attended college here and moved elsewhere, before coming “home.” Many have adult children and grandchildren in the area. Still others are brand-new, drawn to this place known for its culture, beauty, values and quality of life.
Local long-timer or Valley newcomer, Lathrop residents consider this home.
- Residents take classes at the area’s well-known colleges and universities.
- They bike and hike trails on the Lathrop campuses and throughout the region.
- They contribute their time and talents to a range of organizations to improve the well-being of all.
Lathrop residents shape, guide and help govern the community in which they live. And they do it all from a comfortable, peaceful place they call home.
Community Amenities
Campus Amenities
Wellness Features
- Art Studios/Galleries
- Community Gardens
- Dining Room
- Dog Park
- Libraries
- Local Transportation
- Pool Table
- Fitness Rooms / Equipment
- Exercise Classes
- Hiking / Walking Trails
- Personal Trainer
- Support Groups
- Wellness Director
Shaping the Community
A resident-engaged life—Lathrop residents shape the way of life in the community. Active committees coordinate, manage and create their community and the programs they enjoy. If there is an activity or program missing, you have the freedom to create it. All Lathrop residents are welcome to attend activities and programs on either campus. Feel free to join in and transform your experience of aging.
Resident-Led Programs and Activities
Lecture / Entertainment
Cultural Outings
Guest Speakers
Learning in Retirement
Play / Poetry Reading
Scheduled Movie Night
Weekly Concerts
Wine and Cheese Socials
Fitness / Health / Wellness
English Country Dancing
Healthy Bones and Balance Class
Hiking / Walking Groups
Meditation and Mindfulness
Support Groups
Tai Chi
Wellness Clinic
Yoga
Recreation and Enjoyment
Billiards
Bingo
Bird Watching
Bridge
Lane Luncheons
Poker
Scrabble Group
Walking / Hiking Groups
Weekly Sing ALong
Hobbies and Other Interests
Art Studio
Book Club
Computer Classes
Gardening / Landscaping
Knitting Group
Land Conservation Committee / Click here to visit the Resident Land Conservation website
Resident Newsletters
Resident Stories
Meet Judith B.
Excerpted from “No Second Chances? Who Says?”
“…from the first time we drove into the Lathrop Community at Northampton, we felt at home…This time I was a grown-up, and could follow my own heart…Warmth is a characteristic of the Pioneer Valley, especially in Northampton … we’ve found the qualities of eagerness, enthusiasm, openness, idealism and the desire to share, all alive and flourishing here. “Cool” … was what my life till then had been. So the warmth here came as a marvelous surprise. It’s said that you can’t go back to the crossroads, take that other road … diverging, untaken … Well I’m no longer so sure of that. Daily I drive the streets of Northampton, daily I feel like I’m part of the bustle of Smith College. Every day I feel the buoyant sense of a second choice, a second chance. I breathe the air of a place where the importance of the mind is taken for granted. It’s in the air: learning is what people, both young and old, DO – it’s a natural activity. For me, a perpetual student, what bliss! … I am in my natural environment. It may have taken 50 whatever years, but here I am – where I’m supposed to be, at last, and after all….” —Judith