Erickson Tribune

Tallgrass Creek Community News

UPDATED: Tuesday, October 10, 2006

One Man’s Vision to Change the State of Retirement in America

Posted on Sunday, October 01, 2006
 

Founder of Erickson Retirement Communities Champions Improved Health Care and Policy for All Ages

By Carrie Anne Deters
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“Every 10.9 seconds in America, another person turns 60,” said John Erickson, founder and CEO of Erickson Retirement Communities. Twenty-four years ago, amenity-rich, campus-style retirement living was only available to the wealthy. Erickson felt called to change that situation and make convenient, exceptional retirement living available to more people.

Aging in America
John Erickson believes that people in retirement fall into two groups. Erickson said, “Well, for 25 years, I’ve been concerned about this amazing dilemma. One group negatively reacts to the process of aging and figures they should hang on and hope it doesn’t get worse, while only about 10 percent of the people proactively make life better by pursuing a community lifestyle option offering services and amenities on site.

“There’s 10 million people like you in retirement and only about a half million total retirement units that are designed to serve your wants and needs in this country.”

Remedy for ‘Retirement’
In 1983, Erickson took steps to remedy this dilemma by creating his flagship community, Charlestown, in Baltimore, Md. As the first community of its kind, it made a rich retirement lifestyle affordable for middle-income Americans. Now with 18 communities in 10 states, and more on the way, Erickson has a grand vision to establish other initiatives to change America’s perspective on aging.

Erickson said, “I want you to know that Erickson is a lot more than putting together a housing program. We are the leader in what we think improves the quality of aging in America today.”

Affecting Positive Change
Erickson is currently supporting new initiatives to improve the state of health care in America and the American perspective on retirement and aging.


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Supporting New Policy
The Erickson Foundation devotes time and money to various causes locally and nationally. The foundation endowed the University of Maryland Baltimore County to create the Erickson School of Aging. Students will research and study ways to guide the policy changes that are going to take place in aging over the next 15 years and affect over 78 million people approaching retirement.

Medical Advances
Erickson said, “One of the problems in our country is that we really pay for sick care and not for health care. With the help of Erickson residents we are changing that. By coordinating medicine, disease management, and preventive care, you get outcomes that keep people out of the hospital, and living well.”

These efforts in tandem will help to improve the state of retirement for years to come.

Shattering Media Stereotypes
When speaking to the Priority List members at the recent Wind Crest Ground Breaking Ceremony, Erickson said, “The media and entertainment industry communicate very negatively about aging in our country. Yet, the retired group in this country has some of the greatest contributions you could ever imagine to society in philanthropy, in community involvement, in mentoring, in arts—everywhere.”

Erickson plans to change the way Americans view retirement and retired people by creating positive media images through television programming called Retirement Living that will feature shows specifically geared toward the image and interests of those in retirement.

Erickson Inspires, Members Respond
At Wind Crest’s Ground Breaking, John Erickson inspired many Priority List members. Martha and Dennis Bradshaw from Denver, Colo. say, “John Erickson has a vision for living a total life where we can not only live but we can live a healthy life. That’s what we’re really looking forward to—living healthier longer and being able to live a full life.”

Ken Caldwell, a Kansas native currently living at an Erickson community in Maryland, says, “In many ways, John Erickson revolutionized retirement living.”

The Time Is Now
When speaking to the Priority List members, Erickson said, “You are the visionaries. You believe you can add value beyond what anybody can imagine to these communities—that’s what really makes life and my job worthwhile.”

Do you share John Erickson’s vision? Are you ready to accept the challenge to live each day to the fullest?

Don’t miss your opportunity to be a Tallgrass Creek Pioneer.



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