Reclaiming the Third Place: How Senior Living Restores What Modern Life Took Away

Do you remember the hit TV show “Cheers” from the 1980s and ’90s? It was set in a Boston bar, where regular patrons went to take a break from their worries—and often share a good laugh.

The bar in “Cheers” was the quintessential “third place”—a phrase coined by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg right around the time that “Cheers” was in its prime. “Third places,” he explained, are different from home (a “first place”) or work (a “second place”). They’re places where people go on a regular basis to relax in good company—and they can exist just about anywhere, from a church or library to a coffee shop or even a neighbor’s driveway.

Over the years, third places have gained widespread recognition for promoting better health and happiness. However, they can also be harder to access later in life due to factors like mobility, cost, geography, and other aspects of aging. Why does this matter, and how might senior living communities help you rediscover the joy of third places? Here’s a closer look.

Why Third Places Matter at Any Age

No matter what your age, having a third place can offer many possible benefits, including:

• • • Improved mental well-being
    • A sense of belonging
    • Reduced feelings of loneliness and social isolation
    • Greater self-confidence
    • Stronger community bonds

Despite these benefits, third places are becoming less common as our society continues to evolve and people spend more time online. The COVID-19 pandemic also might continue to have a lingering impact.

For older adults, the challenges may go even deeper. Seniors may sometimes have difficulty driving to third places, or they may have problems with vision, hearing, or mobility that can make it harder to participate in certain group settings. As a result, some people may experience a loss of community, identity, and the benefits that can come from regular social contact.

Senior Living as the New Third Place

As senior living communities like those at Era Living continue to evolve, they promise to help fill the void for third places that can sometimes occur later in life. As an added benefit, you don’t need to drive or spend extra money to enjoy a third place as an Era Living resident. The opportunities are right at your fingertips through offerings like:

• • • Casual lounges
    • Community dining
    • Vibrant activity calendars
    • Guest speakers
    • Book clubs
    • Fitness classes
    • Art gala opening events

Engaging in these activities and spaces can help put “third place” values of connection and community back into your daily life. In this way, retirement living communities can offer much more than everyday amenities and a roof over your head. They can provide compelling opportunities to interact, discover new interests, form friendships, and nurture the human need for connection.

Where “Everybody Knows Your Name”: Third Places, the Era Living Way

“Norm,” a popular character on the TV show “Cheers,” had a special barstool that was always there waiting for him when he went to the bar to spend time in his third place.  Like the show’s theme song said, it truly was a place where “everybody knows your name.”

In their own way, Era Living’s senior living communities can also offer a welcoming setting where “everybody knows your name.” Your special spot may be your regular place at a table in the dining room, or a seat in the book club. Or you may have a regular date with fellow members of a walking group.

From classes and activities to common gathering spaces, Era Living communities are designed around connection, comfort, and creating opportunities to interact with others. These interactions can spark spontaneous conversations and help foster mutual support and a greater sense of purpose.

Accessibility, Identity, and Belonging

It can be natural to wonder how a retirement living community might affect your sense of identity and belonging if you’re contemplating a move. Will you be able to find your third place in a new community? Also, what if you enjoy your independence? Isn’t senior living mostly about health needs?

At Era Living, we’ve designed our communities around a diverse senior population to help accommodate each resident’s unique social, physical, and financial needs. Whether you’re interested in senior independent living or another level of care, you can find what’s important to you—all in one place. Our senior housing options include:

• • • Independent Living for Seniors
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care

Regardless of which kind of housing you choose, accessibility is built into our community model. We provide a space to connect with people from different backgrounds and life experiences in a welcoming environment. Health can be one component, with services available if you need them. However, you can also come to Era Living because you want to thrive in a beautiful, vibrant setting.

Countering Loneliness with Intentional Community

Era Living’s built-in opportunities to find “third place” connections can be especially impactful in today’s increasingly isolated world.

Loneliness seems to be a growing concern for many people—and research shows that older adults can be especially at risk. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA):

• • • One in four adults age 65 and older are socially isolated.
    • Loneliness and social isolation have been associated with higher rates of depression, a weakened immune system, heart disease, and dementia.

Sometimes, a major challenge to countering loneliness is finding a social outlet and taking that first step. At Era Living, we want to make it as easy as possible to find a community where you feel connected and at home.

Discover Your Third Place!

As you think about your connections and the things that bring you joy, can you name a third place in your life … or maybe one that you enjoyed in the past? This can be a fun way to explore your interests and reaffirm what’s important to you. It can also help guide your search if you’re trying to identify what makes one senior living community different from another, beyond amenities and care levels.

If you or a loved one is considering a Seattle retirement community, we invite you to visit us and see how third places are thriving at Era Living! Schedule your tour today and discover the possibilities to connect in new and meaningful ways.