A nurse, an X-Ray technician and a retail professional entered a senior living community. Each of them were from the same small town. Each of them were strangers. That’s how it started for Atria Golden Creek residents Marilyn, Yvonne and Joel.
Marilyn arrived at Golden Creek in 2021 after moving to Orange County to be close to her daughter. The following year, Yvonne moved from Irvine, where she had been living with her family. The two became fast friends but had no idea how much they had in common. It wasn’t until 2023, when Joel moved in, that their connection was revealed.
By that time, the Engage Life team had started using Atria’s Resident Match Program, which compiles and compares results from resident discovery surveys. Engage Life Directors then match residents based on similarities like dietary preferences, hobbies, religion and more. As Golden Creek’s Engage Life Director Moe Ali says, “Location is a big factor.”
Ali realized Marilyn, Yvonne and Joel were all from Dorchester, MA and formally introduced them to each other. After the initial surprise, the three began reminiscing about their hometown.
They discussed Marilyn’s experience as a nurse, how Yvonne went back to school for her X-Ray tech license and Joel’s career at the local department store. They recalled the same parks and ice cream shops, and they remembered enjoying the aroma from the Baker Chocolate Factory. “We just let them talk,” Executive Director Dori Redman describes. “It was an emotional thing to witness.”
Since their introduction, the three have been inseparable. Whether it’s a meal, a Social Series event or a game of Bridge, the residents from Dorchester can be found together. “They join us for everything,” Redman says. They’re active in the community in other ways, too. Joel offered to help residents fill out their online customer surveys in September, and Redman says they always have great things to say to visitors. “If they’re in the dining room, we know to take tours to their table.”
At their table, they still compare old school routes and other ways their paths might have crossed in Dorchester. Three people continue to bond over where they come from. Each of them are neighbors. Each of them are friends. That’s how it’s going for Atria Golden Creek residents Marilyn, Yvonne and Joel.