Adviser Winter 2019-20 LeadingAge New York Adviser LeadingAge NewYork Winter 2019-20 | Page 28

Feature
Living Better with Successful Aging at
Peconic Landing
A
ging is inevitable, but society’s views
on aging aren’t always positive. It’s
a common belief that as people age, they
lose their abilities or become unable to
do the things they love. Yes, aging comes
with its adversities, but there are plenty of
wonderful things that can come with age
when you change your mindset. At Peconic
Landing, there are a plethora of innovative
programs in place, but what sets it apart is
the mindset it takes. Its main initiative as a
Continuing Care Retirement Community is
to be a Center for Successful Aging (CSA).
As a CSA,
As a Center for Successful Aging (CSA), Peconic
Peconic
Landing
Landing uplifts its members and gives them the tools
uplifts its
members
they need to continuously grow and achieve new goals.
and gives
them the tools they need to continuously
grow and achieve new goals. It believes
that age is just a number, not a definition
of what you can accomplish. Partnering
with Masterpiece Living, an organization
dedicated to successful living research, helps
Peconic Landing promote healthy lifestyle
choices to its members and the greater
community.
As we age, why slow down when we can
continue our growth? What is keeping us
from doing what we love and more? Is it that
we can’t do the things we were once able
to when we were young? Or is it just what
society is making us believe? Thirty percent
of how we age is hereditary, but 70 percent is
up to us. It’s about making positive lifestyle
choices. As a CSA, Peconic Landing
empowers its members to maximize
their potential by applying the latest
research on living better.
Masterpiece Living is a direct
descendant of the MacArthur
Foundation, which helps with
tools and ongoing research to
better understand the successful
living process. With their help,
Peconic Landing reinforces this
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process with four major pillars: physical,
spiritual, intellectual and social. Making
each piece a priority helps members create a
better lifestyle, which in turn improves their
quality of life.
Every day, Peconic Landing members excel
in forging their path toward better living.
One example is Peter Zwerlein, who started
the Peconic Landing Ukulele Club. He
created this group with no knowledge of
the instrument, only a love for music and an
open-minded approach to learning. Using
online resources, he taught himself how to
play and then went on to pitch his idea for a
ukulele club to Peconic Landing’s directors.
Peter’s passion turned a small idea into a
rewarding hobby for himself and others,
one which encompasses three pillars of
successful living: intellectual, spiritual and
social. Today, the club meets twice weekly
and travels around the greater community
performing for local audiences.
Jean Mellano is another Peconic Landing
member who continues her growth in the
face of hardship. As an avid athlete, Jean’s
recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease could
have meant quitting what she loves most.
Instead, Jean has turned her diagnosis into
an opportunity to push herself even further.
She continues to be a devoted kickboxer
and also writes about her struggles and
achievements in various local media outlets.
By incorporating both intellectual and
physical practices in her life, Jean is a true
example of empowerment.
Peconic Landing offers programs in all
four pillars of Masterpiece Living so that
its members have endless options to grow
every day. By being proactive and exploring
new opportunities, we can all live a more
rewarding life.
Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Winter 2019-20