Ask most people what “wellness” means, and they’ll think of fitness. Steps counted. Miles walked. Classes attended.
Rev. Kevin Coder, Vivie’s vice president of spiritual life, has another definition. “When we talk about wellness, we aren’t just talking about how far someone can walk,” he says. “We’re talking to the whole person—emotional, social, spiritual. Connection is important. Relationships. Purpose. Feeling seen and heard.”
If you’re exploring community living—for yourself or a loved one—that whole-person definition matters. It’s natural to wonder if moving into a community might mean slowing down or losing independence. But what many people discover is something different: more movement, more connection, and more purpose.
Physical wellness doesn’t have to mean strict routines and training regimens. In community living, it often looks simpler—and more enjoyable than you might expect.
Movement happens throughout the day: a morning stretch class, a walk with neighbors, music and laughter during cardio drumming. But Kevin points to something even more important than what’s offered—how easy it is to take part. “You just have to take the elevator down to the first floor,” he says. “You don’t feel like you’re going to a gym full of young people.”
The activities that draw the most people? The ones with laughter. “People are a lot more willing to exercise if it’s not about punishment—if there’s joy in it,” Kevin says. “The goal is consistency, not performance.”
That same approach is true for people with physical limitations. It starts with meeting you where you are, through seated options, gentle stretching, and small movements woven into daily routines. Kevin has seen new residents arrive relying heavily on a walker. A few weeks later, they need it a little less—because they’re more confident and at ease. They’re moving more, connecting more, and feeling better.
Loneliness among older adults is real—and often quiet. Retirement, families with busy schedules, friends who can’t get out as easily. In Minnesota, Kevin jokes, “You might not see your neighbors until spring.”
Days can feel longer—and connection can take more effort than it used to.
Community living changes that in ways that are less scheduled and more like just … life. Interactions happen where people live—at meals, in hallways, and during activities.
“That sense of community and belonging grows naturally,” Kevin says. “The check-ins. The small moments. The value of a conversation.”
Over time, those moments turn into something more. Kevin has seen residents reunite with people they hadn’t seen in years—friends from high school, familiar faces from old neighborhoods—while also forming new friendships.
He remembers a resident who moved in after losing her husband and leaving the farm they had built together. The transition wasn’t easy. But little by little, through small connections and everyday moments, she found belonging. “She was embracing a new chapter of her life,” Kevin says.
Physical wellness supports the body. Connection builds a sense of belonging. But purpose is something deeper—the thing that gives each day meaning.
“Helping someone find their purpose is the most important thing we can do,” Kevin says. “Purpose doesn’t retire. It just needs a new place to show up—and a little encouragement to find it.”
In community life, that can look different for every person. Some lead Bible study or plan card clubs. Others serve on resident committees or help organize events.
Kevin describes one resident who used to volunteer regularly—stocking food shelves, delivering meals—until her mobility made that harder. Working with Kevin, she found a new way to express her desire to help others: writing letters to deployed service members and people in prison. Her sense of purpose didn’t disappear. It just found a new home.
Kevin often sees residents discover a sense of ownership over time.
“This is their community. Their gathering spaces, their programs, their shared life,” he says. “When people move from being served to serving others, it’s a powerful shift. It transforms their own lives.”
At Vivie, wellness is part of the culture—the way team members greet you, the care put into preparing meals, the chaplains who are there for support when you need it.
“Wellness is an everyday thing,” Kevin says. “Being known, being seen, being respected. People first.”
Kevin speaks from deep experience. As a chaplain, he’s sat with people in their final hours. “I’ve never heard anyone reflect on amenities or programs, even though they make life richer,” he says. “They reflect on relationships. On people.”
If you’re exploring community living for yourself or someone you love, that perspective takes on new meaning. What matters most isn’t the list of offerings—it’s whether you or your loved one will feel recognized and supported in a place that feels like home.
In a Vivie community, you see that focus in the people you encounter each day—the team members and neighbors who help create a sense of care, connection, and belonging.