Sitting down with Amanda Mahan, director of sales and marketing
(803) 796-0370
Laurel-Crest.com
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about your community?
It often surprises people to learn that moving here can reinvigorate seniors. That’s because many people fear that aging disconnects them from life, that their world will shrink to four walls and a TV, that outside contacts will fall silent –– and that the phone won’t ring. At Laurel Crest, it’s the opposite: Our community effectively and satisfyingly helps them reconnect and keep their connections strong; residents go about their lives unconcerned about isolation, loneliness and uselessness. They find friendships and indulge in planned and spontaneous activities. Days are pleasant and not unreasonably busy, with only occasional fanfare, because that’s how life is. Life is ordinary, genuine and filled with possibilities for making connections. Laurel Crest is about people living their lives the way they want to.
What inspires you daily?
Most people remember when neighborhoods, extended family and other social networks provided rich and wonderful ways to stay connected. They shared, watched out for each other and took an interest in their friends’ lives. It inspires me to observe that this kind of connectedness is an apt description of our lifestyle. People talk to each other, forming bonds around shared experiences of work, travel and family. They make plans together — an evening out, a party, a travel adventure, volunteerism. It happens naturally. And in the bonds they form, they feel needed, valued and useful. They grow their confidence in each other. They connect — which is the very nature of community.
How has Columbia benefitted from your community?
Since 1994, we’ve provided a fun and fulfilling lifestyle for Columbia’s seniors. We respect their vitality and independence. We offer them a variety of ways to continue to connect with the larger community. We take care of them throughout the aging process, with a continuum of care that ensures their well-being.
