Benefits of Community Based Living

Every day it seems as though the world moves faster and faster; like the world is passing us by. In a society that often overlooks our elders, independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities are uniquely poised to usher in empathy, serenity, and vibrancy at an incredibly pivotal time in a person’s life. While individual needs vary from person to person, the desire we all have to thrive in a compassionate environment during our silver years is a common thread that connects us to one another.

Exploring the mental and physical challenges that senior adults face.

According to the CDC, older adults have an increased risk of experiencing depression. This can often go unnoticed or untreated as healthcare professionals and individuals alike can mistake the symptoms of depression as a natural reaction to the changes that accompany life as we begin to age.*

In 2023, the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), released data regarding trends of loneliness among older adults from 2018-2023. While feelings of isolation were significantly heightened in 2020-2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implications of isolation for senior adults continue to be higher than they were pre-pandemic.**

Both sets of data make the correlation that the physical health of senior adults is intrinsically connected to their mental wellness, and vice versa. The risks of depression and isolation for older adults continues to increase for those who have other health conditions such as cancer, dementia, or heart disease.

How empathy can move us forward.

Communal living is incredibly beneficial to combatting the feelings of isolation and depression that can accompany aging. Choosing a community to call home for the next stage of life can be tough, especially if you’re not quite sure what to look for. A good place to begin is this: find a community that puts its people first. A community that cares is one which designs its packages and amenities around one central theme, and that theme is you.

At The Residence at Oak Grove, we believe in putting our residents and their loved ones first. We design our programs and individualized care plans with you in mind. One of our core values is to respect and preserve our residents’ sense of autonomy and independence. We believe that quality of life improves when social and emotional needs are met.

We personally understand the weight of decision making that comes along with senior living options, and we are here to help. Here’s what we know:

1. Social engagement combats feelings of isolation and can restore a sense of purpose. Community-wide activity offerings are regular and diverse. It matters to us that our residents have fun and invigorating options to look forward to, as well as options that align with their interests. Whether it’s a field trip, book club, a walking group, or a community cook-out, we place great importance on accessible and frequent activity offerings.

2. A restored sense of purpose cultivates a sense of belonging. It matters to us that our residents feel that their contributions matter to our society, because they do. Our Class Act program seeks to build an intergenerational bridge which benefits young people and older adults, both as givers and receivers. Through mentorship, reading programs, supply drives, art exhibitions and more, we are changing the narrative around intergenerational relationships: we all have something of value to share; we all deserve to receive; we all belong.

3. A sense of belonging can lessen feelings of depression. We understand that taking the first step toward something different is difficult all on its own. When depression is at play, that first step can feel impossible. That’s why we prioritize creating new and frequent opportunities to get involved in community life and encourage our residents to participate regularly. Community involvement has a special way of reminding our residents that they are not alone.
The risks of isolation and depression for senior adults are serious. Our holistic approach to communal living emphasizes that our residents thrive when we place value on their emotional, mental, physical, and social wellbeing.
If you are looking for a senior living community to call home, contact us today!

Sources:
*Center for Disease Control. “Depression and Aging.” Www.cdc.gov, 30 June 2023, www.cdc.gov/aging/olderadultsandhealthyaging/depression-and-aging.html.
**Malani, P, et al. “Trends in Loneliness among Older Adults from 2018-2023 | National Poll on Healthy Aging.” Www.healthyagingpoll.org, 13 Mar. 2023, www.healthyagingpoll.org/reports-more/report/trends-loneliness-among-older-adults-2018-2023.

Written by Jordie DiFernando