Independent Living

Otterbein Cridersville Midway between two bustling towns, our Otterbein Cridersville campus offers the best of two worlds. You enjoy the energy of urban life and the beauty of a rural retreat. Along I-75 in northwest Ohio, amid wooded hills and verdant fields, lie 120 beautifully landscaped acres. Three fish-stocked lakes sparkle through the paved roads for those interested in biking and walking. Tidy homes sit on friendly little streets. Designed for active lifestyles. In these neighborly surroundings, every step leads to something pleasant to do. You’ll find yourself among friends who enjoy the same things you do like biking, strolling, feeding the swans or fishing in the lakes. A fitness center, pool, woodshop and garden — among many other amenities — keep things lively. A vibrant social scene. Our monthly newsletter, the Wesley Lakes News, is so jam-packed with happenings, we keep having to add pages! Book groups and coffee clubs. Games and parties. Concerts, lectures and a campus cinema. Guest speakers on topics such as history, nature and health. Prayer groups and worship offerings. Never a dull moment! Easy to get out and about. Excursions and local sight-seeing opportunities come naturally to Cridersville residents. We’re easily accessible for friends and family; less than five miles from Lima and Wapakoneta. Personal transportation can be arranged into town if you want to take in the local symphony, art or theater. Why not try the museum, civic center or shopping at the local mall? Choices and amenities galore. As with all Otterbein campuses, life is filled with option at Cridersville. Options for living spaces, dining, wellness and health care offerings, life enrichment and so much more. What would you like to do today? You set the pace. We just keep up with you! Cridersville History Cridersville has always been a great little village in a lovely region of Ohio. But the area was lacking in options for senior living. In the early 1980s, the Health and Welfare ministries of the United Methodist Church recommended it for a retirement community. The Westview United Methodist Church, along with the Cridersville town officials, aggressively promoted the idea to Otterbein Senior Lifestyle Choices. Contributions from Westview and a generous donation from a local landowner made the vision possible. In March 1988, the Otterbein Cridersville Community broke ground on the 56-acre site. The first residents moved in that December. The continuing growth and success of the community shows just what vision, faith and determination can do. However, our origins date back to 1912, when the first Otterbein community was built in Lebanon, Ohio. The full story of Otterbein’s founding is quite inspiring. Originally a home for the elderly and orphaned, in the 1960’s Otterbein devoted itself exclusively to enhancing the quality of life and holistic growth of older persons. Since then, Otterbein Senior Lifestyle Choices has grown to include retirement communities, skilled nursing and rehab neighborhoods, and home health. We continue to look forward with vision and faith. What Makes Us Special Life Enrichment. Every Cridersville resident meets with an happenings counselor who works with you to create a plan for personal development. We care for the whole you: physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, and vocational.