Jan Meyer Loves the Social Atmosphere and Abundant Activities at Tallgrass Creek

When Jan Meyer moved to Tallgrass Creek, an Erickson Senior Living community in Overland Park, Kans., she didn't waste any time getting involved on campus. Before unpacking her bags, she joined a fitness class. "The first thing I did when I got here was exercise classes because I wanted to maintain my level of fitness," she recalls. 

Six years later, Jan is more involved than ever--and loving every minute of it. 

"I like to be with people, and Tallgrass Creek fills that need! I'm out doing things," she says. 

Active and welcoming

Jan discovered Tallgrass Creek while living in Fairway, Kans., when her husband Gene, a reporter for the Kansas City Star at the time, covered its grand opening. 

"He was impressed. He came home and said we need to check it out," Jan recalls. "But with him being a reporter, we did our research."

The couple visited several other retirement communities, but in the end, Tallgrass Creek came out on top. "We enjoyed the active, welcoming environment from the moment you walk in," she notes. 

In fact, they were greeted by the hospitality committee, one of the first groups Jan joined upon moving in. "I figured that it would be a great way to meet other people," she says, adding that it has fulfilled that promise. 

'No typical days'

While Jan's weeks follow a general schedule, she's involved in so many things that, "There are no typical days," she says.   

Most days, she enjoys a light breakfast in their apartment home before taking a few back-to-back exercise classes at the on-campus fitness center. 

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, she takes Sweat Shop, Intermediate Fitness, and cardio. Tuesday and Thursday mornings, she keeps it light with only one fitness class. 

Before spending the afternoon attending various committee meetings, she'll either bring lunch home from Amelia's or Milo's--two of the six restaurants on campus--or make a home-cooked meal. "I'm a foodie and still cook quite a bit, but we eat in all of the venues here," she says. "We really like the variety."

Following lunch, she'll join committee meetings, attend Lifelong Learning presentations with friends, or walk dogs for neighbors out of town.

And at least once a week, she heads to her son's pizzeria, Third Coast Pizza, in Lenexa, Kans., where she bakes her signature cheesecakes in flavors like strawberry, caramel apple, and Snickers. 

She and Gene typically join friends for dinner on-campus at Champions, The Bistro, or Heartland--except Sundays, when they order pizza for themselves and any neighbors who opt in from Third Coast. 

Deeper conversations

On Thursdays at 9 a.m., Jan really gets to shine. She hosts a TV show called Talk With Me from the community's in-house TV studio.

"We talk about all the things you're not supposed to talk about--religion, politics! I like to have a deeper conversation that goes beyond what our grandkids are doing," she says. 

Then, she might head to the pizzeria to bake more cheesecakes. Or she'll join her fellow Tallgrass Creek Ambassadors to welcome visitors during a sales luncheon, tend to the plants on her balcony, or meet with the executive committee to share feedback from neighbors. 

"One of the things we really like here is that our executive director and dining director have an open-door policy, and I am through those doors quite often," she says, with a laugh. "We are very pleased here."

Over the last six years, she has participated in Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the dining and entertainment committees of the Resident Advisory Council as well. 

A vibrant lifestyle

Jan uses a fitness tracker to count her steps--getting to 10,000 is easy, thanks to her on-the-go schedule. "On busy days, I get in 18,000," she says.

While she acknowledges that not everyone wants to be quite that active, Jan notes that the Tallgrass Creek lifestyle means being as busy or as relaxed as you choose.

"Tallgrass Creek allows you to do what you want to do," she says. "It has allowed me to stay active and keep my mind active. I think that has kept me healthier. That and the fact that we have our own medical center here on campus."

She adds, "I'm glad there are so many opportunities for us!"

To learn more about the benefits of moving to a maintenance-free community, request more information today.