John Erickson is convinced that America needs to change how it views the aging process. With unmatched understanding and dedication to retired people, the privately held company that John founded, Erickson Retirement Communities, is the fastest-growing developer and manager of full-service, campus-style communities in the country. Headquartered near Baltimore, Md., Erickson built an innovative network of 20 communities that combine a maintenance-free active lifestyle with an ever-expanding host of amenities, social activities, and wellness and medical centers, proven to improve both physical and mental health, all at prices that are affordable for middle-income Americans as they enter the second phase of their retirement—when access to services becomes more important than recreation. People who live in communities developed and managed by Erickson have access to:
• Erickson Advantage®, a first-of-its-kind supplemental health insurance plan approved by Medicare and aimed at serving beneficiaries living in continuing care retirement communities under the government’s Medicare Advantage program.
• Erickson HealthSM, the nation's largest private health and wellness system for people over age 70, which has costs that are 50 percent lower than what the government pays. In addition, the health system has demonstrated 50 percent lower acute care utilization than what the government typically experiences.
The Erickson network currently comprises 20 communities in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, which together are home to more than 22,000 people and employ more than 12,000. Erickson was named one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2009 and 2008.
In addition to founding Erickson Retirement Communities, John established what is perhaps the first health-and-wellness-oriented research institution to evolve from the U.S. retirement housing industry. Under his direction, The Erickson Foundation has invested millions in research to improve the lives of people around the world. Active aging research is one area that receives strong support. In addition, the Foundation works to develop inner city children into leaders. The Foundation’s NorthBay camp, located on the Chesapeake Bay, is a unique educational retreat with a state-of-the-art environmental education center, focused on teaching and experiencing real environmental science in the field. Serving more than 12,000 students each school year in a five-day, four-night experience, the $33-million learning, living, and group activity center was designed to minimize impact on the land and enhance the existing features of the property.
In April 2004, John helped establish the Erickson School—Aging, Management and Policy, which is located at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County (UMBC). The goal of the school is to become the preeminent resource for education, research, and policy on services for the mid-life and older populations. With an explicit focus on preparing leaders for the twenty-first century within aging services, housing, and care, the Erickson School offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, professional certificate programs, professional and executive development, as well as cutting-edge policy and applied research.
John’s efforts are also expanding into the world of media with the credo “Inform • Inspire • InvolveSM.” Retirement Living TV (RLTV) launched in October 2006 as the new voice of a generation largely ignored by the television industry. RLTV aims to not only change the way you watch TV but also change the way you perceive retired life. In addition, The Erickson Tribune is a rapidly growing monthly newspaper read by more than six million people throughout the country. The Erickson Tribune and its website combine inspiring stories, cutting-edge medical news, and in-depth coverage on topics of value to readers trying to make the most of their retirement years.
