As adults enter their senior years, embracing a healthier lifestyle becomes more important. This way, they could make the best of their golden years and do something that makes them happy and healthy. At the same time, they can spend more time with the people they care about. But how can one accomplish that goal?
According to studies, leading a healthy lifestyle is the key to achieving longevity, vitality, and happiness. Sure, genetics may play a role in aging, but your lifestyle greatly impacts your life’s longevity. For instance, common aging diseases like diabetes, stroke, and heart attack can all be prevented by choosing healthier foods and stopping their vices.
One way to help your senior loved one(s) live healthier is by moving them to a senior living wellness community. Keep reading to learn more about how these wellness communities promote vitality and longevity for seniors.
- They have the facilities and amenities to cater to the needs of seniors
The primary goal of these wellness communities for seniors is to improve their quality of life. Thus, they offer a series of well-rounded health and wellness programs and a number of amenities, such as:
- Salon services
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool (with individual or group training sessions)
- Wellness therapy
- Programming and events (e.g., movies, concerts, festivals, etc.)
These amenities are designed to help seniors socialize, build relationships, and enhance their overall health, promoting vitality and longevity.
- They offer better opportunities for social activities
Researchers have explained the connection between socialization and health. According to them, seniors with broader social interaction were more likely to have greater positive moods, higher levels of physical activity, and fewer negative feelings. Regular socialization also reduces their risk of experiencing isolation which can cause anxiety, high blood pressure, and depression.
That said, some wellness communities provide their residents with numerous opportunities for social activities, which may include:
- Birthday parties
- Reading groups
- Coffee chats
- Church services
- Sports events
- Concerts
- Pet walking
These activities are made available to encourage friendships and socialization within the senior community. With these options, seniors will also have the freedom to select which activity they’re most comfortable with and decide how often or little they want to interact with others.
- They guarantee proper nutrition
For some seniors, eating healthy foods and maintaining good eating habits can be a struggle, especially when living alone. As a result, their bodies may suffer from malnutrition due to poor diet. Furthermore, seniors are at a greater risk of having chronic diseases and certain health conditions related to changes in their bone mass and muscles (e.g., osteoporosis). Without a proper and healthy diet, their immune system will slow down, increasing their risk of getting sick.
That said, healthcare professionals and nutrition advisors recommend seniors adults increase their nutrition intake to support their declining health. Living in a senior living wellness community can guarantee all residents get the proper nutrition. Wellness communities also have culinary experts to help them accommodate senior residents with special dietary needs, restrictions, and limitations.
Best of all, living in a wellness community allows older adults to socialize with others over a meal or snack. They can share meals with the other residents, talk, and have fun while encouraging healthy eating habits.
- They offer exercise and fitness programs
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) states that seniors who are physically inactive or living a sedentary lifestyle have a higher risk of experiencing chronic diseases and premature death. On the other hand, regular physical activity can help reduce their risk of health issues, including obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
This makes moving your senior loved ones to a wellness community an option worth exploring since it can give them numerous opportunities to be physically active. Such facilities have exercise and fitness programs that seniors can sign up for. What’s good about these programs is seniors can exercise with other residents, which helps promote healthy social interactions.
Seniors are also given a lot of options regarding what exercise classes or activities they’d like to try so they can stay physically active in the setting they prefer. For instance, they can do yoga, boxing, weight training, or a mix of everything.
- They provide rehabilitation services
If your senior loved one has suffered from a severe health condition, surgery, or injury, they must go to a rehab facility to speed up their recovery and improve their overall mobility and strength. Moving them to a senior wellness community that provides rehabilitation services can help make it easier for them to stick to their scheduled therapies, promoting longevity and vitality.
Since the rehab center is already within the community, your senior loved ones no longer have to travel every week or month for their therapy. Furthermore, senior communities usually collaborate with their residents’ physicians to help with medication management and other care needs.
- They offer learning courses and opportunities
Learning is a lifelong process, and seniors must continue seeking it, especially as they age. According to studies, staying mentally active through learning courses and studies can reduce seniors’ risk of experiencing memory loss and cognitive disorders (e.g., dementia).
Senior wellness communities can offer plenty of learning courses and opportunities for their residents. These courses may include studying history, literature, art, and creative writing. Some also have book clubs and offer fun mind games to exercise their brain, such as chess and jigsaw puzzles.
Learning daily can help keep seniors engaged, improving their mood and memory skills, which goes a long way in enhancing their quality of life.
Key Takeaway
Living in wellness communities for seniors can be the best choice for older adults who wish to make the best of their retirement and achieve a longer, healthier, and happier life. With the evidence showing the connection between longevity and a healthy lifestyle, senior wellness communities may be the key to helping your senior loved ones maintain a healthy and holistic lifestyle.
So, help your senior loved ones today by finding the best wellness community suitable for their needs.
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