At Meth-Wick, wellness is more than programming—it’s a philosophy that supports residents as whole people.
As Director of Wellness and Recreation, Eryn Cronbaugh has helped lead that evolution across campus.
Here, Eryn shares her perspective on her role, her vision for wellness, and what’s changing in the world of active aging.
Q: Can you share an overview of your education, professional background, and what first brought you to Meth-Wick?
I graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation. I completed an internship in my hometown, Cedar Falls, at what was then The Cedar Falls Lutheran Home. It was that experience that confirmed for me that I wanted to work with older adults. I served as the Activity Director at Pleasantview Home in Kalona before joining Meth-Wick in 2001.
Q: What made Meth-Wick the right professional fit for you?
When I applied, I was impressed by the senior leadership team and board’s forward-thinking approach to seeking a degreed candidate for the position and their desire to lean into whole-person wellness beyond a traditional medical model of care. The administrator at the time told me there would be amazing opportunities for growth at Meth-Wick—both professionally and for the organization —and that sold me. And it’s been absolutely true.
My first role was as the Recreation Therapist at The Woodlands, Meth-Wick’s skilled nursing center. At that time, another staff member provided programming for independent living residents. As I continued in my role, we saw a need for additional staff to expand programming at The Woodlands and to grow offerings in our assisted living areas.
About six years into my career at Meth-Wick, the staff member supporting independent living residents retired. With the support of the board and senior leadership, we reorganized into a single, campus-wide Wellness and Recreation department. I joined Senior Staff shortly after, and we evolved to offer a more comprehensive wellness and recreation program across all levels of care. We also added a team of fitness professionals, and eventually our chaplains came under the Wellness and Recreation umbrella, allowing us to serve residents through a more holistic, whole-person approach.
Q: As Director of Wellness and Recreation, you oversee programs that support residents’ physical, social, and emotional well-being. How would you describe the scope of your role?
The scope of my role is to maintain an organizational focus on residents’ whole-person wellness throughout our campus. Our goal is to facilitate individual and group wellness opportunities throughout the continuum of care, so that residents are given opportunities in their day-to-day life to continue their routines and interests as much as possible, as well as pursue new interests to enhance their lives and well-being.
Q: How would you describe Meth-Wick’s overall approach to wellness and active living?
Our approach is to meet residents where they are, with whatever unique needs and interests they have. This may not mean that we are providing all the programming opportunities on campus, but we are connecting residents with resources as much as possible as well. We want to be forward-thinking, providing opportunities to meet future and current resident needs, while staying true to our mission and stewarding resources responsibly.
Q: What kinds of programs tend to resonate most with residents?
Large social events with music and food are almost always well attended. However, one of my philosophies is that attendance does not equal value. We may have a program with a small number of attendees that is highly impactful and meaningful to the residents who participate.
In addition, ongoing programs, like our fitness classes, create opportunities for deeper relationships to develop and are highly impactful from both a social and physical standpoint.
Our hope is that wellness and recreation programs contribute to resident wellness by offering connection, retained skills and knowledge, development of new skills, and opportunities to learn and grow here at Meth-Wick or in the community, with support as needed.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you, and how do you stay connected to residents across the community?
A typical day for me is contacting potential performers, lecturers, facilitators, and speakers to set up programming opportunities, supporting residents and staff members, organizing communication, scheduling, administrative tasks, and working on long-term planning.
Staying connected to the residents is central to everything we do at Meth-Wick. We have an open-door policy, which makes connecting easy in many instances. Residents receive regular communication from me via email and our “Life at Meth-Wick” newsletter, and I encourage their participation in shaping our programming and in sharing ideas as much as possible. We also have a variety of assessments we use in all areas of our campus to better understand resident interests and desires.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?
It sounds cliché, but I enjoy getting to know so many people in so many walks of life. I particularly enjoy providing opportunities for residents who didn’t think they could do things anymore, and showing them that they can, perhaps with some modifications, still do things and have meaningful lives. I also enjoy exposing residents to things they didn’t know existed and advocating for their psychosocial needs.
It’s rewarding to see people open up in a non-threatening, adaptive environment to express themselves through the variety of programming we offer. It’s a privilege to work with people and learn about their whole lives before coming to Meth-Wick, and to play a small role in their lives, recognizing their unique needs.
Q: What trends are you seeing in wellness, recreation, or active aging—and how has the approach evolved in recent years?
For a long time, senior wellness was seen as a nice amenity, with communities primarily focused on providing health care. Over the years, that perspective has shifted toward a more integrated, holistic approach, with a growing expectation to see residents as whole people rather than wellness being just an added offering.
At the same time, more residents are embracing wellness as an opportunity for continued purpose, growth, and fulfillment throughout aging—not simply a period of decline. Within senior living, there’s a clear shift away from “activities” designed to entertain or pass the time, and toward meaningful programming and wellness opportunities that allow residents to continue their interests and live fulfilling lives.
Meth-Wick committed to this philosophy in the early 2000s, and the board and senior leadership have continued to support its evolution as a critical part of meeting residents’ expectations and needs. While there is still progress to be made societally, the mindset is clearly changing among today’s residents, which is exciting.
Q: What does it mean to you personally to be part of the Meth-Wick community?
I have been extremely blessed throughout my career to be part of Meth-Wick. In life, not a lot of people are able to say they work for an ethical company, with people they like, doing things they love, and with a sense of shared experience and support as well as autonomy. It’s a privilege to be able to say that.
As a stand-alone not-for-profit retirement community, it affords us such an opportunity to be able to provide what’s really best for OUR residents by being able to make decisions right here within our campus, and to always be able to put the residents and their needs first, not a shareholder.
I have an incredible, talented team of passionate, creative, caring, dedicated, and skilled employees. This is certainly a team effort.
Q: Outside of work, how do you like to relax or recharge?
I really enjoy spending time with my husband, traveling, reading, relaxing in nature, enjoying friends and family, and local art and music.
Shaping the Future of Wellness at Meth-Wick
From expanding programs to rethinking what wellness truly means, Eryn’s work reflects a broader shift happening across senior living. At Meth-Wick, that shift continues to shape how residents experience daily life—creating more opportunities for connection, purpose, and growth at every level of care.