For Josh Lamere, wellness has never been just about exercise.

As a Wellness Specialist at St. John’s Meadows and Brickstone by St. John’s, Lamere believes that improving residents’ quality of life means focusing on physical, emotional, mental, and social wellness. Whether he is leading an exercise class, organizing a cornhole tournament, or developing new programs with resident input, his goal is always the same: helping people stay engaged, confident, and connected.

“What I’m here to do is improve quality of life,” Lamere says. “We’re only going to live so long. But while we’re here, why not make the quality of life better?”

Lamere’s path to St. John’s was anything but traditional. After joining the U.S. Army immediately following high school, he served for 11 years before a back injury led to a medical retirement. During his military service, he became a certified personal trainer to help fellow soldiers meet physical fitness and height and weight requirements so they could continue their careers.

Following his time in the Army, Lamere worked as a project manager before opening his own personal training business. Although he successfully rebuilt the business after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, he eventually realized he missed being part of a team and decided to look for a job.

“I wasn’t just going to take anything,” he says. “When I found this opportunity and interviewed here, I thought, ‘Yep, this is it.'”

Now nearly a year into his role at St. John’s, Lamere has already introduced several new wellness opportunities, including volleyball, croquet, resident-led hiking groups, and a community-wide cornhole tournament. He also established a resident wellness committee to gather feedback and help shape future programming.

“At the end of the day, it’s not mine,” Lamere says of the wellness program. “It’s their program. So, I’ve got to do it the way they want to.”

It is Lamere’s philosophy that wellness extends far beyond exercise classes. He continually looks for ways to encourage residents to socialize, build confidence, and stay active in ways that are meaningful to them.

“It’s not just the exercise classes that I’m worried about,” he says. “It’s emotional health, mental health, environmental health, and social wellness.”

Many of the changes Lamere has made stem from listening to residents and observing their needs. He modified class formats to accommodate different ability levels, incorporated standing activities whenever possible, and added video-based options such as Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates, so residents have opportunities to stay active throughout the week.

He also meets individually with residents to answer questions about fitness equipment, develop personalized exercise plans, and help them transition from physical therapy into independent exercise.

“I’ll never stop looking for ways to improve,” Lamere says. “I want St. John’s to be that pillar of wellness. When people think about wellness in a senior living community, I want St. John’s to be what comes to mind.”

One of Lamere’s biggest priorities is helping residents regain confidence, especially after experiencing falls or physical setbacks. “A lot of them are scared to stand up or walk on their own again,” he says. “If they can get the confidence that they can still do it, then I’ve done my job.”

That focus on confidence also extends to creating opportunities for residents to connect with one another. Lamere hopes to launch an intergenerational program that pairs students with residents for several weeks, allowing each generation to learn from the other while building meaningful relationships.

Lamere also plans to continue expanding programs that bring residents together across the continuum of St. John’s Meadows and Brickstone by St. John’s communities.

For Lamere, every new program serves a larger purpose.

“Fitness should be fun,” he says. “Social wellness shouldn’t be stressful. It should be fun. You should be out socializing, connecting with your friends, meeting your neighbors, and making new friends.”

Working at St. John’s has also had a personal impact. Lamere says the sense of purpose he found as a member of the Social Recreation Team has strengthened both his mental health and his outlook.

“Here, there is a mission and a purpose,” he says. “It has improved my mental health, my happiness, and my confidence.”

He credits the residents as much as they credit him. “People say the ‘wellness specialist’ gives them a lot,” Lamere says. “But they give me a lot, too.”

When asked what he hopes people remember about him, Lamere does not mention awards or accomplishments. Instead, he hopes residents remember the experiences they shared together.

“The fun we had in classes, what I was able to teach them so they can keep going on their own, and the changes we have made to this wellness program,” he says. “That is the legacy I want to leave.”

Explore more about Josh Lamere’s initiatives:

St. John’s Wellness Programs Featured to Start the New Year – St. John’s

Social Recreation Engages and Empowers Residents – St. John’s

St. John’s Senior Living hosts indoor exercise to beat winter blues