Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Temperley.
Hi Amy, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. Before we ask about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
I have been passionate about working with older adults since my 20’s. An internship with Adult Protective Services sealed the deal, and 35 years later, I am still working with this end of the age spectrum. Most of my work was in the nonprofit sector, but 8 years ago, my husband Damien and I devised an idea to help older adults stay active and engaged in their world. That’s when Aging is Cool was born. Older adults today look a lot different than they did back in my grandparent’s day. At 53, I consider myself “older” as well, and like many others my age and older, we want a life filled with health, activity, purpose, meaning, and connections. We’ve been through several incarnations, but today, Aging is Cool provides activities for senior living communities in Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida. Along with our for-profit work, we also have a nonprofit fund that allows us to provide free classes to those who cannot access our programs in other ways. We have a fantastic team of instructors who are gifted in working with this population. In 2023, we provided over 3,000 classes!
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road, but we are blessed to be where we are today. It took some time to figure out our revenue model, and, of course, the pandemic derailed us for a couple of years as senior living communities closed their doors, and we could not provide our programs in person. Like many entrepreneurs, we have been challenged by trying to scale on a limited budget but are gradually finding our way through it. I wear a lot of hats, as does my husband, Damien, but staying close to the day-to-day operations helps us to maintain our Aging is Cool culture, which is a high touch for both our clients and our staff.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Aging is Cool?
Aging is Cool offers over 100 class types to senior living communities, adult daycare sites, and senior centers. We work with lifestyle and recreation directors to enhance activity programs and help their residents/clients stay strong, smart, and social. Classes include a full range of fitness options (cardio, strength, fall prevention, yoga, dance, tai chi, aqua), brain games, lifelong learning, arts and crafts, and health and wellness topics. We have also had a lot of fun in recent years by dabbling in virtual reality. We can bring VR experiences to senior living sites and teach some classes at Thrive Pavilion, a virtual senior center in Meta Horizons. The beauty of our classes lies not just in the activities themselves but in the camaraderie they foster. By engaging with peers with similar interests, older adults build meaningful connections that combat isolation and loneliness, issues with profound health implications. We work to develop social interaction and connection into our class offerings. We are incredibly proud of our culture and values. We are strongly anti-ageist, highly collaborative, community-focused, and committed to providing positive experiences for our clients and staff. We also love that our staff highly represents the people we serve, with over half of them 50+. In 2024, we aim to launch in-home 1:1 activities to reduce isolation for those at home.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
We come to all of our work with a genuine desire to be of service, and we adapt as needed. When we work with senior living communities or individual older adults, we approach them as partners. We want to learn about the needs of the recreation director, residents/clients, and the culture of the community as a whole. We take time to get to know people and create classes or experiences that best fit their needs. We realize that each site we serve has a unique vibe.
Pricing:
- $90 per class (Fitness/Lifelong Learning)
- $150 per class (Virtual Reality)
- $195 per class (Arts and Crafts for 12)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agingiscool.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agingiscool/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/agingiscool
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging-is-cool/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/agingiscool1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@agingiscool
Image Credits
Aging is Cool
