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A new health care partnership at Culpepper Garden is drawing residents out of their apartments for exercise while making physical and occupational therapy easier to access.
About 50 residents are already attending free exercise classes offered several times a week by Goodwin Living. The program gives health professionals an opportunity to learn about residents’ needs and identify those who could benefit from additional services.
“I have never seen so many residents energized,” Culpepper Garden Executive Director Marta Hall Gray said.
The partnership brings services directly to Culpepper Garden’s independent living residents. A full-time physical therapist is now on-site, allowing residents to stop by and schedule an appointment without leaving the Arlington community. Occupational therapy professionals from Goodwin Living can also be brought in when needed.
About 20 residents used the new clinical services during their first three weeks.
“As with anything new, it grows over time,” Goodwin Living Chief Business Development Officer Andy Siegel said. “But this participation after three weeks is pretty fast.”
Siegel said building trust is especially important when providing health services. Gray credited Goodwin Living’s outreach and the information it provided to residents for the program’s early participation.
On-site care also removes a transportation obstacle. Previously, residents had to coordinate outside appointments with Culpepper Garden’s bus schedule, which could be difficult to remember and manage.
The new arrangement makes care more accessible for a diverse population. Gray said 25% of residents are Hispanic, while another 25% reflect Arlington County’s broader diversity. She added that some residents are currently afraid to go out.
The partnership took on added importance as Culpepper Garden wound down its assisted living program. Independent living residents can no longer move into assisted living at the community if their needs increase.
Paul Timpane, Culpepper Garden’s director of property operations, said the organization wanted to ensure those residents could receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and mental health services in a format that had not previously been available on-site.
Gray said balance problems and falls are among the most frequent concerns for older residents. A fall resulting in a broken hip can become a life-changing event from which many seniors do not recover, she said.
Goodwin Living viewed the transition as an opportunity to establish a clinic at Culpepper Garden, where the organization already had a longstanding relationship. It is the first Goodwin Living clinic of its kind, and Siegel said the organization hopes the model can be repeated elsewhere.
Planning began in January as Culpepper Garden’s assisted living services were winding down. Negotiations continued during the summer, and the organizations signed a contract in October.
The partners then selected an accessible location, evaluated residents’ needs and prepared the space. Equipment added for the program included a physical therapy bed and other items designed for older adults. Goodwin Living also assembled a care team, met residents and established operating procedures.
Exercise classes started in January 2026, followed by treatment services on Feb. 1. Siegel said Goodwin Living hopes to expand the range of care offered over time.
Goodwin Living is a nonprofit, faith-based senior living and health care organization. Its regional operations include Goodwin House communities in Alexandria and Falls Church, along with hospice and home health services.
Culpepper Garden is an award-winning affordable retirement community in Arlington.