In this post, we remember the life of Donald L. Moon – founder of Friends Life Care.

Don was a visionary leader who dedicated his life to serving older adults and promoting their dignity and independence. He was a pastoral minister in the Quaker Church and Clerk of the American Section Friends World Committee for Consultation.

And he was also a former CEO of Foulkeways at Gwynedd.  Way back in 1967, Foulkeways started as the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Pennsylvania and the first Quaker CCRC in the United States.

Pioneer of a New Way to Age Successfully at Home

Over 35 years ago, Don formed Friends Life Care. Friends Life Care is a nonprofit organization that offers comprehensive and personalized support for aging in place. From its earliest days and continuing now, Friends Life Care is an organization based on the Quaker values of peace, simplicity, integrity, community, and equality.

He believed that every older adult deserves to have a choice in how they age and where they live. And he worked tirelessly to make that possible. Friends Life Care has been a pioneer in the field of aging services for decades. It is an organization that has grown to serve thousands of members across Pennsylvania and Delaware.

In addition, Friends Life Care was the spark that launched a new business model – Continuing Care at Home (CCaH). Today there are more than 30 CCaH programs running across the nation.  Most recently, this same business model has morphed into other, complementary business offerings, such as policyholder wellness programs used by long-term care insurance providers.  Don Moon’s vision continues to impact seniors and baby boomers through the decades.

Recognition and Legacy

In 2015, Don Moon was one of the inaugural honorees in the newly established Continuing Care Hall of Fame. Don was chosen for his innovative and significant contributions to the development of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) and Continuing Care at Home programs.

Sadly, Don Moon passed away on July 31, 2023, leaving behind a special legacy of compassion, innovation, and excellence. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and all those who benefited from him both personally and professionally.