Bahama Bay Club

by Jeannine Gage 

Walking into Bahama Bay Club, visitors might think they’re entering a beautiful tropical resort. Pastel colors, bamboo furniture, decorative shells, and light-colored wood flooring fill the bright lobby. Large plants and tikis add to the island ambiance.

But visitors are not really in the Bahamas; they’re in Sanford. And Bahama Bay Club is not a resort; it’s a Caribbean-style senior living community.

“We want it to feel like a resort,” says Chief Operating Officer Corey Shenk. “Not a facility. We don’t like that term. We are a community.”

Bahama Bay Club, which opened in 2024, currently has 60 residents with room to double that number. The individual apartments feature a kitchenette, bathroom, large bedroom, and living area. A dining room serves meals all day and evening, and many services and activities are offered, such as happy hours, live music, outings, crafting, and exercise classes.

A resort-style lagoon area with shuffleboard and bocce ball is in the works.

“It’s been nearly four years since we started planning and building Bahama Bay Club,” says Corey. “We designed every inch with forethought and care.”

Creating Positive Vibes

Corey is proud not only of the impressive amenities and services, but also of the staff.

“Most of these places are owned by a corporation that then hires a management company,” he says. “The industry has a 60-plus percent turnover rate. Not here. We are focused on hiring and putting people in the right places and paying them more than our competition.”

Corey always looks for experienced professionals who have good attitudes.

“This can be a demanding job. Not everyone can do it,” he says. “Because we want it to feel like family here, we want positive, caring people.”

Bahama Bay Club also has a Resident Council that makes decisions about what outings and activities to offer. The community’s residents are encouraged to bring their ideas and requests to the council for consideration.

“This empowers the residents to shape the activities and services provided,” says Corey, “giving them a sense of ownership and belonging.”

Initiatives such as the Resident Council also go a long way toward creating an atmosphere of positivity, which is important when building a family environment among staff and residents.

“We prioritize people with positive attitudes and respect for themselves and others,” says Corey. “Those who want to be active and involved.”

Hankering To Help 

One of those people is Henry “Hank” Hancken. Hank moved in this past June, and he and Corey hit it off right away. Corey had been looking for a resident’s perspective on Bahama Bay Club’s advertising and marketing campaigns, and Hank has been assisting with that.

“That is really a wonderful rebound for me, because I have always been interested in advertising,” says Hank, a former college admissions administrator. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Hank, who frequently uses a wheelchair to get around, appreciates the fact that he can get medical care on site at Bahama Bay Club. And, because of the community’s aging in place capabilities, Hank is relieved that he won’t have to move when he needs more help.

He has been impressed with the dedicated team and activities at Bahama Bay Club, especially its boutique feel and family atmosphere.

“I marvel at the gathering of happy people here,” says Hank. “I hear this resonating all the time from people who have inspected other communities. They say, ‘Gee, I didn’t know this could be so good.’”