Today is Wednesday
Jul 09, 2008
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All things Erickson |
| | Posted on Friday, December 07, 2007 | | | By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
Improve the way America ages. In a nutshell, that’s the overarching goal of businessman John Erickson and his many projects.
What started from one small community 24 years ago has since grown into an enterprise that consists of 20 full-service retirement communities spread out across the country, a newspaper read by more than five million people each month, nationwide television programming, health care networks, a variety of educational programs, and a charitable foundation.
“In the end all of those things are connected and it’s really just about changing the negative views on aging and making life better for everyone. It’s as simple as that,” Erickson says.
A new way of thinking
With the number of Americans age 65 and older expected to hit 71 million in the next 20 years, Erickson believes that it’s the big picture, including all of his businesses put together, that will help make a difference in how older Americans live in the years to come.
“It’s going to be a complete paradigm shift in the next few years,” the 63-year- old Erickson says. “And people are going to have to wake up and understand that growing older isn’t a bad thing. It’s life. We need to learn about aging and jump in with both feet.”
Built-in inspiration
The many arms of the company make sure they are in constant communication.
And it’s been a successful way of approaching their businesses. “We don’t operate in a vacuum. The best practices from each organization carry over,” explains Deborah Dasch, editor of The Erickson Tribune. “Each one of our successes helps to inspire the others’ work.”
One example, Dasch says, are the many residents of Erickson communities who become the inspiration for the stories that appear in the Tribune. | |
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“The Tribune captures the best of retirement, from stories about our residents to professional advice on a whole host of topics. If Retirement Living TV has a great story to tell, or someone from the health care team has advice that might benefit our readers, you can be certain it will end up on our pages.”
And Dasch says that’s how the whole company operates. “There’s constant communication, a back and forth on every level,” she says.
The future
But it’s not just about the here and now and improving the lives of people today. It’s also about helping to shape the future. The best practices learned at the communities, from management to administration, are now being taught in the Erickson School on Aging, Management and Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Erickson created the school with a $5 million gift.
And information garnered from the Erickson health care programs is being used to improve the health care system in the U.S.
Looking to the future, Erickson also recently renovated an old boy scout camp at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay that offers character education and state public school curriculum to Baltimore’s inner-city youth.
The creation of The Erickson Foundation ties it all together. It supports projects that promote successful aging, the training and education of disadvantaged youth, aging research, and higher education initiatives.
“Most would have stopped after they were ahead,” says Dan Rexford, Erickson’s executive vice president of acquisitions analysis. “But John [Erickson] has tremendous vision. He brings everything full circle and sees the big picture.”
What it’s all about
The following organizations were all created by John Erickson:
Erickson Retirement Communities
Motto: “Dynamic communities that celebrate life.”
Mission: Twenty communities serving more than 20,000 residents across the nation, Erickson communities provide a unique, engaging atmosphere for people who want to live retirement to its fullest.
The Erickson Tribune
Motto: “Inform. Inspire. Involve.”
Mission: The Erickson Tribune, the nation’s fastest-growing monthly retirement newspaper, is filled with information, resources, and articles that cover a wide range of topics for today’s retiree. With more than five million readers, the Tribune engages people who seek a more fulfilling retirement lifestyle.
Erickson Health SM
Motto: “The health care system for people like you.”
Mission: An unparalleled network of experienced doctors who share their best practices to offer you exceptional care, Erickson Health stands alone as a leader in health care for the mature adult.
Erickson Advantage
Motto: “Care on your terms at your door.”
Mission: Erickson Advantage, a health insurance plan designed with the needs of Erickson residents in mind, emphasizes preventing health problems from developing, not just treating them after they arise.
NorthBay
Motto: “Character, Leadership, Adventure, Discovery.”
Mission: NorthBay provides a phenomenal opportunity for middle school students to understand that their lives are just as fragile as a delicate ecosystem. A unique program, NorthBay combines education and life lessons to empower students at a pivotal time in their lives.
Renaissance Gardens
Motto: “The choice you can feel good about.”
Mission: Renaissance Gardens is the nation’s premier provider of assisted living and skilled nursing care.
The Erickson Foundation
Motto: “Education across the lifespan.”
Mission: Established as a private operating foundation in 1999, the Erickson Foundation supports projects that promote successful aging, the training and education of disadvantaged youth, aging research, and higher education initiatives.
The Erickson School
Motto: “Preparing leaders for the changing world of aging.”
Mission: In partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the Erickson School of Aging, Management and Policy explicitly focuses on preparing leaders passionate about enhancing the lives of older adults in the fields of practice and public policy.
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