Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside” Shines a Positive Light on Senior Living

Hollywood finally got it right.

To date, it mostly has fed the stereotypes of older adults living in a senior living community by reducing their lives to the butt of jokes, a burden, and insignificant. This is a disservice and disrespectful as it minimizes their lives and legacies and misrepresents the social and supportive setting more than 800,000 Americans call home. But in the latest Netflix comedy — “A Man on the Inside” — the world gets a peek into the value of a senior living community and those who benefit.

According to SeniorLiving.org, one in six Americans are over the age of 65, and many will move into a senior living community at some point during their retirement. Why are they making this choice?

For some, their home has become too much to maintain and they want to downsize to focus on more enjoyable activities. Or, it’s a future-planning decision to ensure they have the support available when needed. And for others, they may no longer be able to live independently and need daily assistance.

However, for many the underlying factor in choosing a senior living community is not necessarily a medical condition or compromised abilities. As Ted Danson’s character (Charles) quotes in the show: “For most seniors, the threat to their well-being isn’t accidents or health; it’s loneliness.” And loneliness is a reality senior living communities remedy every day.

In a National Institute of Aging report, adults who are lonely or socially isolated tend to be less healthy, have longer hospital stays, are readmitted to the hospital more often and are more likely to die earlier than those with meaningful and supportive social connections.

We are social beings and thrive in community. At Ecumenical Retirement Community, our co-workers create opportunities for connection and friendship. Between our Dynamic Living programming that brings residents together through activities and clubs based on the residents’ interests to intergenerational activities that bring school and scouting groups onto our campuses for quality interactions with our residents, we know first-hand that you can never be too young or old to make friends and impact someone’s life.

Thanks to “A Man on the Inside,” we see older adults treated with respect and dignity as they deserve. We become friends with the residents and empathize with their realities of aging. We experience the compassion and dedication of the staff who go above and beyond to make the residents feel seen and at home. We join them in outings, activities, events and happy hours. We walk alongside Charles on his personal journey to find purpose and fulfillment. And throughout this adventure, his life is positively transformed by the people he meets and the true friendships he makes — just like in many senior living communities.

So, thank you to the show’s creators and characters for dispelling fear of “the home” by portraying the intended benefits and meaningful engagement. Thanks for validating communities can be a source of life and new beginnings. And for exemplifying the saying, “Life is just as beautiful rising as it is setting.” Well done, Hollywood.

We invite you to see what senior living is really like in-person at our campus in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Contact us to schedule a personalized visit and tour.