'There's a misconception that you lose your independence'
By |
Beth Saulnier
,
Cornellians
As a child in suburban New Jersey, Meredith Oppenheim ’95 was close to her grandparents. “Their longevity and vitality became a priority of mine,” she recalls. “When my girlfriends volunteered as candy stripers and took care of the sick, I baked healthy desserts that I thought my grandparents would enjoy, and that would align with better nutrition and a higher quality of life for them.”
Oppenheim’s healthy baking eventually expanded beyond her own family, to include cooking classes at senior centers and even a cookbook to help seniors eat better and improve their health.
By the time she matriculated on the Hill, her efforts had earned her a U.S. Congressional Award.
Improving the lives of older adults has continued to be a focus for the Arts & Sciences alum, who has spent decades in various roles in the senior housing industry—a sector she calls “at the intersection of hospitality, healthcare, and real estate.”
