Living Well at Lantern Hill

Harriet Flashenberg and her husband, Mike Evers, enjoy having an active social life. That's why Lantern Hill, an Erickson Senior Living community in New Providence, N.J., was such a great fit for them.

"There is so much to do here. There is a club for everything!" says Harriet. "And everyone is so incredibly friendly and welcoming--both the staff and fellow residents."

At Lantern Hill, residents have plenty of opportunities to socialize through clubs, volunteer efforts, creative pursuits, and shared meals.

"Without the time-consuming responsibilities of home maintenance and repairs, residents are free to explore their interests and meet new people," says Resident Life Director Carla Brady. "When you're part of a vibrant, active community like Lantern Hill, you naturally feel and live better."

The right fit

When Harriet and Mike began exploring their senior living options, they were immediately drawn to Lantern Hill, as they were familiar with Brooksby Village, another Erickson Senior Living community in Peabody, Mass.--close to their former house.

Lantern Hill's proximity to family was a real plus. "We decided to move to Lantern Hill to be closer to our daughter and grandchildren. As you get older, it's important to be close to family," she says.

Harriet, who worked as a social worker in elder care for 30 years, emphasizes the importance of having support nearby. Knowing that they'd have family close by and a network of new friends within the community, they were ready to make the move.

They moved into their two-bedroom home with a den in May 2025 and, to no surprise, immediately started making friends.

"We have a great support system here!" says Harriet.

Making connections

In fact, one of Brady's goals is to ensure new residents can easily make connections.

"Before someone moves in, my team will ask them about their hobbies and interests and then connect them with a current resident who shares similar interests," she explains. "They can have a meal together or just chat on the phone."

She continues, "We also have a New Neighbors Club that meets monthly. We bring in different department heads to explain their role within the community, and then we have a social hour to talk about clubs and upcoming events. We also encourage new residents to suggest ideas on any new clubs we should have. We recently started a Baby Boomers Club based on feedback."

"Meeting people here is quite easy," says Harriet. "If you are willing to extend outside of your comfort zone, there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends."

Active and engaged

Since settling into their new home, Harriet and Mike have maintained a busy social calendar, and they couldn't be happier.

"I like to play mah-jongg, do line dancing, and work out in the fitness center. Never in a million years would I think that I would enjoy line dancing so much!" says Harriet, with a laugh. "Mike is in a writing group, serves on the movie committee, and also enjoys the fitness center."

"I love being able to walk down the hall and see a movie. When we lived in Massachusetts, we did not go to the movies as frequently as we do now," she says, pointing to the fact that all amenities can be easily accessed via climate-controlled walkways--no matter the season.

Brady notes that the community's happy hours are perfect for meeting neighbors.

"At our happy hours, people meet and find that they have similar interests or work experience," she explains. "Bell Labs is across the street, and a lot of our residents worked there. Now, there's a club for former employees to share memories and discuss projects they worked on."

Harriet and Mike find that Lantern Hill's restaurants are also great places to make connections.

"You have lots of options when it comes to dining, and the food here is wonderful," says Harriet. "We get dinner invitations often to eat with other residents."

Worry-free living

"With home maintenance and repairs handled by the expert General Services team, residents can live life on their terms," says Brady. "They have more free time to play bocce, attend lectures, play cards, have dinner or cocktails with friends, and go to special events. Or they can simply enjoy quiet time in their residences without stressing over yard work."

Approaching their one-year anniversary at Lantern Hill, Harriet and Mike are so glad they made the move and can enjoy the social, worry-free retirement lifestyle they've always dreamed of.

"We both agree that moving here was the right decision!" says Harriet.

To learn more about the ways you can explore senior living, request more information today.

By Gregory J. Alexander