People often wonder what they’ll be leaving behind when they move to a senior living community. Will life feel different? Will they still enjoy the activities that matter to them? Will they feel connected to the people around them?
While friendships and social circles change over time, our desire for connection doesn’t. We all value having neighbors who know our names, people to share a meal with, and familiar faces we see every day.
One of the biggest surprises many residents discover after moving to a Vivie community is how naturally new relationships begin. They often start in simple ways—a morning coffee, an art class, or a friendly invitation to join a card game. Over time, those new neighbors become trusted friends, routines become traditions, and the community begins to feel like home.
For some residents, those friendships become so important that they continue even after circumstances change.
One of those friendships began in an unlikely place: a dining table at Nelson Care Center by Vivie.
Four residents—Shannon, Irene, Barb, and Ginny—happened to become tablemates. Before long, they were sharing meals, playing bingo, laughing together, and cheering one another on through life’s ups and downs.
Their friendship grew quickly.
“These ladies are my best friends forever,” says Irene. “They really care and they are not fake. They are new friends, but they are some of the greatest friends I have ever had.”
Even when life took them in different directions, their friendship endured. Shannon moved to another state, leaving behind the friends she had grown so close to. Irene eventually returned to her family home, but she still visits Nelson Care Center nearly every week. She comes back to visit her friends, see familiar team members, and, of course, join a game of bingo.
Their circle continues to grow. When a new resident recently joined them for lunch, Ginny and Barb welcomed her to their table and invited her to play Farkle with them that evening.
“Even at our age, we can still make new friends,” Barb says.
It’s a simple story, but one that reflects something many residents discover after moving into a community: The friendships that matter most often begin in the most ordinary ways.
Finding belonging in a community looks different for everyone.
For Judy Sturgeon, it meant discovering there was always something happening—and someone to enjoy it with. Since moving to The Plaza by Vivie after experiencing health challenges, she’s found herself attending motion class, gathering with neighbors for happy hour, and taking part in Donuts and Devotions, a weekly group where residents come together to reflect, pray, and encourage one another.
“I realized I was lonely, but I didn’t realize how lonely,” Judy says. “And how much fun it is to be around people again.”
While the variety of activities makes it easy for Judy to stay involved, she says it’s the people who keep her coming back.
“There is so much going on and so much camaraderie,” she shares. “Everybody helps everybody.”
For Kathy Lentz at Timber Pines by Vivie, finding her place meant sharing her own interests with others. She volunteers to lead a weekend exercise class, contributes to the community’s popular Armchair Travel program, and makes a point of welcoming new residents.
“I like to know people’s names when they move in, and I like to greet them by name. I like to pass out birthday cards,” Kathy says. “It’s so important, as older people, we often don’t feel recognized.”
At River Heights by Vivie, resident Sara describes something similar. Through games, group activities, and everyday conversations, she’s built close relationships with the people around her.
“We have groups that meet together and we play games,” she says. “We have a close relationship and we laugh.”
Over time, those everyday connections become something deeper. Residents celebrate birthdays together, check in when someone is absent, and notice when a neighbor needs a little encouragement. That's when a community starts to feel less like a place to live and more like a place where you belong.
Those everyday moments don’t happen by accident. They grow in communities that make it easy for people to spend time together, discover common interests, and become involved.
Across Vivie’s senior living communities, residents connect in many ways. Some join wellness classes or book clubs. Others volunteer, attend educational programs, or enjoy activities with visiting children. Seasonal celebrations, concerts, and community events also bring together residents, families, neighbors, and visitors, creating natural ways to meet new people and strengthen relationships.
At Highview Hills by Vivie, residents run The Teapot, a small community shop where neighbors can pick up everyday essentials while catching up with one another. Just outside the shop, a table with coffee and cookies encourages shoppers to linger a little longer. Once a month, the space comes alive with Teapot Treats and Wine, where residents gather for refreshments, music, and conversation.
Resident Jim, one of the volunteers who helps operate The Teapot, says it’s “a fun way to learn about the other residents who live here.” For him, helping run the shop is also a way to give back to the community he calls home.
Whether it’s welcoming a new neighbor, sharing stories, or lingering over coffee with friends, these everyday interactions help create something that’s difficult to measure but easy to recognize: a place where people know one another, look out for one another, and feel at home.
People often consider senior living because they're thinking about practical needs—a more manageable home, access to support, or planning for the future. Those things remain an important part of the decision.
But ask many residents what has made the biggest difference in their lives, and they’ll often talk about the people.
Every resident’s story is different. Some make friends quickly. Others take time. But again and again, they discover that belonging isn’t something you have to arrive with. It grows through kindness, shared experiences, and people who choose to welcome one another.
At Vivie, that’s what community is all about—not simply living near one another but building relationships that help a place feel like home.
If you’re exploring senior living for yourself or someone you love, we’d love to show you how Vivie’s communities help residents stay engaged, build relationships, and feel at home.