From left, Steve Ketcham, Majorie Fisher and Gail Wrenn pose in the common area of Saranac Village at Will Rogers on Wednesday, Sept. 4. (News photo — Grace McIntyre)

SARANAC LAKE — Gail Wrenn, Majorie Fisher and Steve Ketcham — residents at Saranac Village at Will Rogers — had quite a bit to say about how much they love living in a senior living community.

“My favorite thing about this place is everybody’s happy. It’s a very positive environment,” said Wrenn, who has lived at Saranac Village for 12 years.

“You never get bored,” Fisher interjected. She moved to Saranac Village last October.

“The trips are really good — the food’s good, too!” Ketcham said, smacking his stomach with his hand. He’s lived there eight years.

Loneliness and isolation are a major factor in the mental, emotional and even physical wellbeing of older adults, an important reminder as health agencies raise awareness around Healthy Aging Month in September.

Marjorie Fisher poses with her food at a picnic outing with one of the Saranac Village at Will Rogers activity assistants, Beth McNally. (Provided photo)

Jamie Whidden, who serves as executive director at Saranac Village, has spent 25 years helping older adults find community and live a healthy lifestyle. Their calendar is packed with activities and clubs, including an outing club that introduces seniors to new activities and experiences, something Whidden said is a powerful tool in healthy aging.

“This is a treasure chest of experiences, and the people here are just so valuable in their experiences and the things that they can do to enliven their lives,” Wrenn said. “And I have to tell you, the opportunities here are many, so you don’t have to worry about what you’re going to do with your day because they’re all posted up there on the on the wall.”

It makes a tangible difference. Ketchum said he used to struggled for years with high blood pressure, but less than a year after arriving at Saranac Village, it returned to a healthy level.

“We do see people who, once they’re able to come to be in an environment where it’s easy to make connections with other people, they do find that they’re becoming more lively, more connected,” Whidden said. “Their minds are working a little better, and they’re just having more fun and activity and beauty in their life.”

There is mounting scientific evidence that isolation contributes to physical health outcomes as well. A 2020 consensus study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which is cited among CDC resources, linked social isolation to dementia and an increased risk of death from all causes.

Debbie Kanze, Activities Director at Saranac Village at Will Rogers, leads a crossword puzzle for residents on Wednesday, Sept. 4. (News photo — Grace McIntyre)

This doesn’t discount the importance of other healthy habits. The Essex County Health Department posted a reminder on Facebook about Healthy Aging Month that includes getting regular checkups, getting 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly, and engaging in resistance training of some kind.

Although seniors often face barriers that make it difficult to maintain health habits, there are resources available, according to Krissy Leerkes, director of the Essex County Office for the Aging.

Among the resources funded by the state Office for the Aging is an online platform called GetSetUp that offers free classes for adults 60 and older. The classes, which are as varied as chair dancing, two-point perspective drawing, growing microgreens or navigating an iPad, are designed to keep older adults mentally, physically and socially active. To learn more, visit https://www.getsetup.io/partner/nystate.

In addition to the Essex County Office for the Aging, there are also numerous other organizations with resources addressing all areas of health. These include the AARP, the National Council on Aging and the National Institute on Aging.

A feature of the community at Saranac Village is that members of the community are even able to direct each other to resources. Whidden recalls a previous resident who was extremely proactive about connecting veterans with services.

“The brain trust of all of the people here, and what they bring is truly impressive,” Whidden said.

What’s also impressive is Wrenn’s weekly schedule. She leads a choir and a Sunday singalong, serves on the resident council and puts on Monday night movies. She also rehearses weekly with a string orchestra that performs four times per year. Needless to say, she loves her community.

“If you ever sit in the dining room in at lunchtime, there is a lot of chatter, and it goes from table to table,” Wrenn said, describing how people hop from table to table after they finish eating, asking about each other’s day. “Everybody’s so caring about other people here, and it’s really a trust that we build with each other, which is so nice to have, because you don’t find that everywhere.”