Your pathway to good “senior care” as you grow older begins with wellness. The Wellness Program has been a hallmark of our active senior living community since 1998. In 2004, the state-of-the-art 6,000 square foot MJ Wicks Family Wellness Center opened with wild success. Free to our residents and available to community seniors (age 55 and better) for a small monthly fee, wellness participants have nothing but rave reviews for the exercise classes, free personal training, state of the art amenities and experienced and attentive staff that we offer. The staff at our retirement community in Tacoma, Washington have the magical ability to make exercise fun and special!
People of all shapes, sizes and ability levels can join us for yoga, dance, aerobics and much more at our active adult community. The newest exciting additions to the class schedule is Meditation and Chair Yoga which have been very popular.
Active Senior Living Community
If exercise classes aren’t your cup of tea, our active adult community is stocked with commercial strength training equipment, low-impact equipment, elliptical cross training machines and treadmills are top-notch. Instructors are on hand to assist, provide guidance or set up a personalized training routine for you. Informative educational wellness programs are also scheduled throughout the year. Every year we celebrate senior health with a Senior Wellness Walk and Health Fair open to the community.
Recent studies indicate that older adults who are active and socially engaged maintain their independence, improve physical and mental functioning, stay healthier and live happier, more complete lives. Based upon these ideas, Franke Tobey Jones active retirement community offers a holistic, preventative Wellness Program that improves quality of life. We pride ourselves on being one of the best active adult communities in Tacoma, Washington allowing all seniors in the area to participate and improve their health.
Please click here for our current Wellness Calendar.
Franke Tobey Jones also offers Wellness classes in the community, including the Pt. Defiance~Ruston Senior Center.
Please call (253) 752-6621 and ask for our Wellness Director for more detailed information and up-to-date class offerings.
Wellness/Fitness Team Members
Colin Deck – Wellness Program Supervisor
Colin Deck, born and raised in Olympia, Washington, spent most of his life in the area, with a brief stint in Tacoma. His career began at The Firs, an independent living community in East Olympia, where he worked as a busser in high school. This early experience shaped his path in senior living, similar to Franke Tobey Jones, offering housekeeping and dining but no nursing staff.
After high school, Colin pursued an associate’s degree at a local community college while continuing at The Firs. He initially studied social work at UW Tacoma but soon realized it wasn’t the right fit. Taking a break from education, Colin sought a full-time job, and The Firs was happy to oblige. He worked his way up from dining room supervisor to office manager, then interim director. When the director position became permanent, Colin reluctantly accepted and managed it for a year. He soon recognized that the role, particularly the responsibility of hiring and firing, wasn’t for him.
Encouraged by his girlfriend (now wife) to change careers, Colin decided to pursue his passion for exercise. He enrolled in the exercise science program at Seattle Pacific University, his mother’s alma mater, and earned his degree in three years. As a new father, Colin needed a job that could better support his family, so he transitioned from a YMCA internship to a part-time position.
Colin then interviewed at Franke Tobey Jones, and after a successful interview, was offered the role of Wellness Program Supervisor. Nearly ten years later, he still thrives in the position, saying, “I love my team and what I do. If I could just ‘beam me up, Scotty,’ it would be perfect.”
Outside of work, Colin spends time with his family, including his son and his nine-year-old daughter. He also helps his wife with their small farm, raising animals and growing vegetables. Colin jokes that he’s there for manual labor, as his wife runs the farm. A dedicated family man, Colin treasures every moment with his loved ones.
And should an apocalypse hit, their farm will be the place to be!
Sarah Doerner – Holistic Wellness Coordinator
Sarah Doerner was born in the United States but grew up in Thailand, where she was immersed in humanitarian work from a young age. Her family founded an orphanage in Chiang Mai, transforming a small bamboo shack into a refuge for children, many of whom were undocumented refugees. Her parents worked tirelessly with the Thai government to obtain legal documentation for the children, enabling them to attend school, graduate, and pursue careers. The orphanage’s success even garnered a visit from the Queen of Thailand.
Sarah’s upbringing shaped her adventurous spirit. Her parents enrolled her in a local Thai school in Southern Thailand, ensuring she was fully immersed in the culture. Every few years, her family visited the United States, traveling cross-country to national parks and historic landmarks. She has visited every U.S. state except Alaska.
Thai is Sarah’s first language, and she didn’t begin learning English until attending an ESL program at an International High School. She recalls the puzzled looks she received, a reminder never to judge a book by its cover.
After high school, Sarah faced a pivotal decision: attend a Thai university, a U.S. university, or take a gap year. She was accepted into every school she applied to, including one offering a full-ride scholarship in New York. Ultimately, she chose the University of San Francisco, drawn by its diversity and her humanitarian uncle in San Mateo, who built a school to help immigrants learn English and navigate legalities.
Post-graduation, Sarah moved to Colorado, became a licensed massage therapist, and discovered her passion for hands-on healing. Eight years ago, she and her partner relocated to Washington, drawn by the region’s vast waterscapes that fuel her creativity. Now, they have a three-year-old daughter, a natural-born traveler who recently handled a 26-hour flight to Thailand like a pro.
When asked for Thai restaurant recommendations, Sarah smiles and says, “My kitchen.” She invites everyone to experience authentic Thai cuisine through her Cultural Cuisine classes at Franke Tobey Jones, part of the Holistic Wellness program she built from the ground up.
Andre Anthony – Wellness Instructor
Andre Anthony was born on a military base while his father was deployed. Growing up, he lived in Japan, Korea, and Germany before settling in Tacoma when his father was stationed at Fort Lewis.
Andre considered enlisting in the military but pursued football instead, playing in high school, college, and eventually for a professional team. After his football career, Andre worked as a business consultant while coaching football and basketball in Lakewood for ten years. Dedicated to helping youth, he never cut a child from his program for lack of skill.
One memorable moment changed his life: while watching a college football game, he saw a former student score a touchdown for the Washington Huskies. That player later joined the Seattle Seahawks. Inspired, Andre realized his impact and became a personal trainer.
Starting as a janitor at LA Fitness, Andre quickly advanced when asked to fill in as a trainer. He thrived in that role for nine years before moving to MetroParks Tacoma, where he taught various fitness classes and founded the popular Ninja Camp. This weeklong martial arts and life skills program sold out annually and concluded with a demonstration by participants. Andre’s martial arts system combines techniques passed down from Bruce Lee’s lineage with his own philosophy.
Now at Franke Tobey Jones (FTJ), Andre finds fulfillment working with residents. Since joining FTJ over a year ago, he’s gained confidence in his programming and received an Employee Scholarship to pursue re-certification as a personal trainer.
In his free time, Andre is a professional dart player, with competition wins in Hawaii and Las Vegas. He also enjoys fishing and crabbing. His disciplined lifestyle includes early morning gym sessions, which set a positive tone for his day.
When asked what he loves most about FTJ, Andre said, “the residents,” praising their inspiring stories and supportive nature. For Andre, each day he spends working at FTJ feels like a win.
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