By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Oak Crest, was the first stop for a four member delegation of experts in the field of aging from Tianjin, China.

Members of the Tianjin Gerontology Society toured the Erickson Retirement Community and dined with residents and staff as part of their three-week trip to the U.S. to experience and learn about their American counterparts.

Expert attention
The delegation included Professor Hui Wang, president of the Tianjin Gerontology Society; Shizhong Gao, vice president of the society; Jiaodong Zhao, assistant chief editor of Tianjin Elderly Times; and Cun Xuan Wang, chief physician and associate professor of Tianjin Medical University.

Dr. Charles Borowsky, president of the International Institute for Suburban and Regional Studies, helped coordinate the delegation’s trip to the U.S. “I can think of no better place for the Chinese delegation to begin their journey than by interacting with the residents and employees of Oak Crest,” he says. “They truly received a firsthand look at the exciting opportunities and experiences developed by Erickson.”

Reciprocal benefits
At Oak Crest, the response was reciprocal. “We were honored that the Chinese delegation selected Oak Crest and Erickson Retirement Communities as a model for providing innovations in housing, health care, and resident life to those making the transition into retirement,” says Colleen LoPresto, executive director of the community.

“The visit truly demonstrated the global commitment to changing the traditional view of the retirement years. The residents and employees of Oak Crest were proud to host [them],” she says.

Resident interpreter
One resident was a particularly proud host. Frank Chen, originally from Tianjin, served as an interpreter and attended the dinner meeting. “It was fascinating to exchange information regarding our cultures and to learn of the consideration being given to retirement living in China,” he says.