Most retired seniors spend their time being leisurely — socializing, taking trips and visiting with loved ones, for example. But at one special assisted living community, residents are working harder than ever, producing television shows from home.
Learn more about how seniors can stay active and continue work after retirement.
How Assisted Living Residents Continue Work After Retirement
The Wasserman Campus, a senior living community in Los Angeles, California, isn’t home to your average assisted living residents.
The campus, a part of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, is home to some of the entertainment industry’s biggest veterans, who haven’t stopped working — instead, they’re producing television shows from the community.
Senior actors, editors, producers and writers, who are said by an NPR article to “have credits dating back to the days of live television,” are currently running Channel 22, a television station that airs exclusively in the community.
The article explains: “About a quarter of the almost 200 active retirees participate in creating programs for the channel, assisted by a small full-time staff and a volunteer crew of local students and industry professionals. Among the shows they create are a comedy series called “Law and Disorder, ” about a fictional “Precinct 22” where the cops, victims and perpetrators are all over 80 years old; and a talk show called “The Roaring 90s,” which is kind of like “The View,” but with women in their 90s.”
Channel 22 station manager, Jennifer Clymer, says the channel is unique in that: “You’ve got people who have to make sure they’re hitting their meds on time… or if they need a 2 o’clock nap, you get a 2 o’clock nap.”
The station reportedly scatters old Hollywood movies and sitcom reruns with the original programs created by residents, during that time.
Active Senior Residents Live Longer
Bob Beitcher, CEO of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, says that outlets like these could help senior residents live longer. “I think it gives them a sense of purpose.” He continues: “People never get tired of seeing themselves or their names on-screen and having someone come up and say, ‘I saw your show the other night. It was really cool.'”
Our friends at A Place for Mom confirm that there is some truth to Beitcher’s presumption. “Seniors who were active physically, mentally and socially were the most likely to live past the age of 90, and lived an average of 5.4 years longer than inactive seniors,” the A Place for Mom article says.
Channel 22 program manager and resident, Anne Faulkner, who is also a working actress according to NPR, sums up the community the best:
“When you come in here you would think, ‘Oh, these are old people, and they’re retired. Their life’s over,’ “she says. “This is a place you can come and still amount to something.”
If you or a loved one are looking for assisted living, AssistedLiving.com has more than 200 Senior Living Advisors who have in-depth knowledge of the communities in their area, and can send you a list of communities that meet your family’s needs. Contact us to get started.
