Bringing the world to Morning Pointe for Lumsdaine, all residents
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Monika Lumsdaine - Photos submitted
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Morning Pointe of Knoxville resident Monika Lumsdaine won a trophy for an Olympic-themed activity during last year’s virtual travel experience at her senior living community. - Photos submitted
KNOXVILLE — Morning Pointe Senior Living of Knoxville resident Monika Lumsdaine is traveling “virtually” on a computer while getting active at the 9649 Westland Drive senior living community.
Lumsdaine said she enjoys the program, which calls for more than sitting at a computer.
“The goal is to keep active, to be involved,” she said, adding the program gets people together to share experiences during trivia sessions, for example.
“There are so many interesting things to do,” Lumsdaine said. “We have excursions, picnics, line dancing, art classes.
“We try out different things,” Lumsdaine added. “It’s nice to learn something new … I like a challenge.”
The year before, the community did an Olympics-themed tour, where residents competed and won trophies.
The West Knoxville location is one of the Morning Pointe communities offering the creative virtual travel programs.
“For 2025 Morning Pointe Senior Living is taking a sonorous spin on its virtual travel program as communities throughout the Southeast will feature programming around the settings of 12 famous musicals,” said Heido Pino, communication specialist for Morning Pointe Senior Living.
Residents will be visiting Hollywood, California, with a “Singing in the Rain” theme in January; Maine with the
“Carousel” theme in February; Oklahoma with the hit musical “Oklahoma!” theme in March; France with “Beauty and the Beast” in April; Kauai, Hawaii, with “South Pacific” in May; Africa with “The Lion King” in June; Chicago, Illinois, with “Grease” in July; London with “Mary Poppins” in August; Greece with “Mamma Mia” in September; Iowa with “The Music Man” in October; Austria with “The Sound of Music” in November; and New York with “Newsies” in December.
Lumsdaine said she is looking forward to November and the “Sound of Music” theme, as she is of Swiss heritage.
“Each month features a different location as a theme that interweaves with multiple activities during the month,” Pino said. “There’s sometimes a video, sometimes trivia, art or even food centered on that location.
“So, it’s not always exactly a ‘virtual tour’ as you might think — they’re not necessarily on something like Google Earth checking out the local scenes and not always watching an educational video.”
The travel program started during COVID-19, “when residents were quarantined and we needed innovative ways to keep spirits high,” said Amanda Yelenick, vice president for life enrichment at Morning Pointe. “The program became a creative solution to engage our residents, challenge their minds and bring a sense of adventure and fun during an otherwise isolating time.
“It was such a hit, among both the residents and the life enrichment directors, that we’ve continued it ever since,” she added. “Through these journeys, we’ve been able to celebrate cultural traditions and tie our travels to meaningful themes, such as exploring Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day
or visiting iconic U.S. cities during major events like
Augusta, Georgia, during the U.S. Masters.
Each year “we build on the program’s success with fresh and exciting themes,” Yelenick said. “In 2024, we honored the Olympic spirit by visiting cities around the world that have hosted the games.
“This program entertains residents and also fosters social connections, learning and a shared sense of adventure,” she added. “One of our goals in this is to bring the world to our residents’ doorstep.”
