Residents at Lantern Hill, an Erickson Senior Living community in New Providence, N.J., have an abundance of on-campus activities and amenities to choose from. Between daily movie screenings, exercise classes at the fitness center, and catching up with friends at three restaurants, there’s always something to do at this vibrant community!
Conveniently located less than an hour from New York City, Lantern Hill also offers local and regional trips for those with the itch to travel.
Bill Bradford, who moved to the community in 2019 with his wife Casey, serves as chairperson of the Resident Advisory Council’s trips committee. He notes that the Big Apple has lots to see and do.
“As more and more young people move here, trips to New York City are very appealing. But we also include local trips for those residents who don’t want to venture too far away. We also aim to make trips financially appealing so that more residents sign up,” Bill says.
Trips for all interests
Jennifer Gsell, resident event coordinator at Lantern Hill, works with residents to organize travel plans that appeal to many interests.
“We had a fun outing to LiGreci’s Staaten on Staten Island, N.Y., for a three-course meal plus live music and comedy,” says Gsell. “A resident came to me with this idea, as she had been wanting to organize it for a while but wasn’t quite sure how to make it happen.”
She continues, “My team and I worked with her, and it was a huge turnout–about 50 people. They all had a wonderful time and came back with photos and videos of everybody dancing.”
Other trips have included a performance of the American Ballet Theatre, a docent-led tour of Ellis Island, and lunch at a local winery. Gsell is currently looking into a trip to West Point, N.Y., home to the U.S. Military Academy.
“Museums are very popular, and we are fortunate to have incredible options like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) , or the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum not very far away in New York, as well as the Morris Museum in nearby Morristown, N.J. Also, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is located at Drew University, and residents also enjoy seeing the cherry blossoms every spring in Newark,” says Gsell.
Bill adds that his wife, Casey, is a docent at the Newark Museum of Art and recently led a tour for Lantern Hill residents.
Residents lead the way
Gsell also partners with Bill and the trips committee to come up with opportunities.
“A big piece of my role is getting input from residents and hearing their opinions and suggestions. I conducted two separate focus groups and an open discussion to learn what trips they have enjoyed and what they’d like to see more of,” explains Gsell. “Everyone has a different set of tastes and interests, so it’s really about casting a wide net.”
Neighbors frequently reach out to Bill with trip ideas, and his fellow committee members are constantly researching places that may be of interest.
“For the first time, we are sending a questionnaire to each resident with a specific list of trips to see what interests them,” he notes. “We don’t want to put together a trip and have only two people sign up, so it’s important that we are always talking to residents to hear what types of trips they want to enjoy.”
Bill also notes that if a resident signs up for a trip alone, more likely than not, they’ll come home with a friend or two. “I have seen several single residents sit together on the bus going on a trip, and by the end of the day, they have a new friend!” says Bill.
Leave your worries behind
Another perk of living at Lantern Hill is that when you leave your apartment home–whether it’s for a local day trip, a week or more at the Jersey Shore, or to spend the winter in Florida–you can simply lock your front door and go.
“Prior to moving to Lantern Hill, residents had to ask friends and neighbors to check on their house when it snowed and bring in the mail and newspaper,” says Lantern Hill Sales Director Kate Tanis.
“Now, residents who want to travel can do so without worrying about their apartment home while they’re away. Our maintenance-free lifestyle is what delivers that peace of mind.”
“As a result,” adds Gsell, “our residents are always on the go. They lead a very active lifestyle here, and I’m inspired by them every day.”
To learn more about senior living at this vibrant community, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and so much more.
