When Susan Sultanik moved to Ann’s Choice, an Erickson Senior Living community in Bucks County, Pa., at 70, she didn’t know many people her age. Turns out, she just hadn’t met them yet.
Since starting the Baby Boomers Social Club in March 2023 with some of her peers, Susan now knows over a hundred neighbors!
“It’s nice to be able to identify people who can relate to the movies, music, and the social aspects of the time we all grew up in,” Susan says.
Meeting on the third Thursday of each month, the Baby Boomers Social Club creates plenty of opportunities to connect through ice breakers and games.
Fostering connections
Within a week of announcing the group, 57 residents attended the first meeting. Now, the “booming” club is thriving with more than 150 members.
“It has really taken off! There is a need for it,” says Jan Maharam, Susan’s cochair and neighbor who moved to Ann’s Choice at age 64.
She continues, “When you move anywhere new, it can be intimidating. I didn’t know a soul when I came here, but now I have lots of friends. Baby boomers moving in now have a great opportunity to meet people in their age group.”
Susan, Jan, and the leadership committee use activities like “Speed Connection,” Name That Tune, game nights, and comedy nights to break the ice and foster connection.
“Speed connection is like speed dating. It’s a hoot!” says Susan, explaining that participants slide down one seat every seven minutes to meet a new person.
Out and about
Jan has been nurturing the creation of subgroups within the Baby Boomers Social Club, including The Explorers, a reading group, and a theater group. The Explorers, which includes club members who like to travel off campus, recently visited Reading Terminal in Philadelphia, Pa., for lunch.
In fact, Jan and two friends she met went to Music Mountain Theater in Lambertville, N.J., to see a production of Anything Goes.
“If it wasn’t for the Baby Boomers Social Club, I wouldn’t have met these two ladies,” Jan says.
Susan had a similar experience as Jan, but in reverse. She and her husband Mickey were in Myrtle Beach, S.C., when they ran into another couple from Ann’s Choice they had met through the Baby Boomers Social Club.
“People I otherwise wouldn’t have known, Sandi and Paul Greenwald, happened to be there. We got together and had the best day,” Susan says.
Activities for everyone
Both Jan and Susan agree that the club isn’t the only way for their peers to make friends and stay active. From exercise classes and card games to the lifelong learning series, there are lots of amenities and activities to explore at the vibrant community.
“Moving to Ann’s Choice was the best decision we ever made,” Susan says. “I didn’t do much just sitting in my house, and now everything is right here at our fingertips–exercise, activities, and socialization.”
Thanks to the abundance of activities on campus, she’s had opportunities to form intergenerational relationships as well.
“I’ve met a lot of people at all ages,” notes Susan, who plays mah-jongg with a few neighbors in their 80s and 90s on Thursday nights.
Priority party
Thanks to the Priority List, retirees considering a move to Ann’s Choice don’t have to wait to meet people their age. Jan recalls a Priority List event fondly.
“The sales team invited around 70 baby boomers and 70 Priority List members so we could connect. I think a few of them even moved in after that,” Jan says.
In addition to exclusive social events, Priority List members also gain right of first refusal on desired apartment homes, access to personalized moving support from a planning and moving consultant, and community updates–not to mention invites to the recent Baby Boomers Dance.
All that’s required to join the list is a risk-free, fully refundable $1,000 deposit.
Join in the fun
Reflecting on the club’s growth, Susan and Jan are delighted that they’ve managed to bring hundreds of residents together from the community’s three neighborhoods.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet and make new friends in a structured way,” says Jan, who notes that many members strengthen their relationships outside of club meetings. “We like to do things together, such as go to dinner, go to the movies, and travel.”
Susan, who can’t wait to meet more peers in the coming years, urges anyone considering a move to act sooner than later.
“You can move in when you’re younger and take advantage of all the community has to offer!” she says.
To learn more about affordable, independent senior living at Ann’s Choice, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and so much more.
