By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“People ask why we have an in-house television studio, and I tell them it is such a great tool to communicate anything informative, educational, or entertaining to those who live at Seabrook,” says Barbara Hirsch, lead community television coordinator at Seabrook.

For this month’s article in our ongoing series on Erickson innovations and how they are changing the way people view retirement, we take a look at an amenity that’s available at all Erickson campuses: the community cable television station and studio.

A Service and Activity
Every home in every Erickson community is wired for cable TV and receives basic cable service as part of the monthly service package. In addition to all the standard TV channels, every campus broadcasts its own channel only in the homes of those who live there. At Seabrook, it’s Channel 21, broadcasting seven days a week. Seabrook also features a scrolling bulletin board on Channel 20 that posts events and emergency information.

Staffed by Hirsh and intern Travis Tanay, Channel 21 produces a range of programming, from simple on-screen bulletin boards to broadcasts of events that go on in the community. But Hirsh and Tanay don’t do it alone. They have a large cadre of community members who have made television their avocation.

“We could not be doing the volume of programming and special projects without the assistance and involvement of our volunteers, many of whom were pure novices before they stepped into the studio and said, ‘I want to learn.’ They have made a difference for the community and for themselves,” says Gary Engelstad, director of resident life.

All Aspects of the Production Process
According to Hirsh, over 30 people are involved in every aspect of the television studio. Volunteers host, produce, edit, direct, and record. “Everybody has their own strength and it comes together like pieces of a puzzle,” she says.