Retirement isn’t about doing less: It’s about doing what you love. At The Glenridge, our members are leaders, board members and philanthropists. They’re volunteering for good causes. They’re still working for fun. And above all, they’re living with purpose – in our community and beyond.
As we see what 2026 has in store, we’re highlighting all the ways our members flourish in our new blog series: In Pursuit of Purpose! If you haven’t yet, you can check out previous entries in the series here and here.
One thing you can always count on to brighten someone’s day is spending time with a four-legged friend. Just as Linda Poulin and her toy poodle Teddy, who have been volunteering as a therapy-dog-and-handler duo around Sarasota.
“Teddy just loves it!” Linda says. “When I put his blue bandana on, he knows he’s going to go on a visit somewhere, and he gets so excited.”
Since earning their Humane Society certification the summer before last, the pair have been regular visitors to hospitals, museums, and schools. It’s been a welcome way to spread positivity – whether they’re stopping by a memory care center of visiting the local library, where kids read books to therapy dogs.
The benefits of volunteering go both ways, experts say. In 2020, a Campbell Systematic Review analyzed more than two dozen different studies – involving over 47,000 volunteers across six countries – and found that donating time to a good cause “improves the physical and mental health of older volunteers” across a number of metrics. The most notable outcome? A marked increase in longevity.
Part of the reason is neurological: When you do something nice for others, you’re likely to feel happier than when you do something nice for yourself – which, in turn, can help alleviate stress and lower blood pressure. Volunteering can also help you stay more active and move more, which may be why volunteers have better markers for heart health, including improved cholesterol levels and lower blood glucose.
But volunteering isn’t the only way Linda stays active. Back at The Glenridge, she and her husband Gerald part in Academy classes, card-playing groups, and fitness programs like Zumba and Tri-Fit. “It’s just so lively here,” Linda says. “Before moving in, I had no idea how many choices there were … there’s so much to do, and you can do as much or as little as you want.”
In addition to all that, there’s one more factor that sets The Glenridge apart: the people. “I couldn’t believe how friendly and positive everyone was,” she says. “You’re never lonely here. And that’s so important as you get older – you want to stay connected as much as you can.”
If you’re ready to flourish in 2026, there’s no better time to explore all the best The Glenridge has to offer. Schedule your personal tour today: Send us a message or give our Life Planning Team a call at 941-552-5369.
Or, to learn more about what life is like at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch – once again named the best senior living community in Sarasota (for the 16th year in a row!) – visit our other blog posts or find us on Facebook.