Holmdel Native Launches Online Platform To Fight Senior Isolation

HOLMDEL, NJ - For over 30 years, cultivating an environment for seniors to live their fullest lives has been Holmdel native Meredith Oppenheim’s passion.

As a Holmdel High School student, Oppenheim earned a United States Congressional Award for her strides as an advocate for the overlooked and underserved older population. After graduating from Harvard Business School in 2001, working in the senior housing and care industry and serving on former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Age-Friendly Commission as well as the NYC Department for the Aging, Meredith began to see the real-world effects of aging when her father became ill several years ago.

“I was very close to my grandparents. I wanted to help them live longer and better lives. I tried to do the same for other older people in New Jersey,” said Oppenheim in a statement.

Shifting her focus to the wellness sector, Oppenheim launched her latest endeavor earlier this year, a virtual community of people ages 60 and older passionate about living life to the fullest. Dubbed Vitality Society, the online community launched in January 2020 providing a mix of wellness, mindfulness and cultural classes with a community-oriented focus.

"I felt that senior housing offered very valuable services and experiences that so few ultimately benefit from," Oppenheim told Patch. "I wanted Vitality Society to offer the same camaraderie and opportunity that comes with senior housing for those at home to remain connected and well."

Oppenheim argues that social isolation has always been a problem for older people as one-third of older people live alone - and, at a time when community centers, churches and stores are closed, the problem of isolation has grown even more. Through Vitality Society, the entrepreneur built out a user-friendly platform of 16 wellness classes per week for those 60 and older for subscribers to learn, create and share with others.

“The issues that older people face, including isolation, are being exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. The need has never been greater or the time more urgent to keep older people connected and well,” Oppenheim said. “We tap into the vitality, creativity and
curiosity of members in the context of a community.”

Since its launch earlier this year, the platform has been referred to by members as “a lifeline,” “a portal of community and opportunity” and “a game-changer for physical and mental health.

Oppenheim sees Vitality Society tapping into many facets of different industries for seniors, from clothing to travel to shopping. But during the current pandemic, its founder reports that the core connectivity of the online community is working for its base of users.

“When I launched the platform, I thought virtual was the only answer because it was the most affordable way to start a business and tap into the brand and offer services to anybody," Oppenheim said.

“I know our members are so excited to get to know other members and coaches from all over NJ, the country and world at a time when they need to stay at or close to home."

One complimentary month of over 16 fitness, wellness and enrichment classes each week can be redeemed at vitality-society.com.