Aging well. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? It’s a goal everyone wants to achieve. And these days, it’s even easier than ever, because there are so many great senior living environments designed especially to help older adults stay healthier, feel better, and live longer. It all comes down to supporting physical, emotional and mental health—finding ways to make sure aging doesn’t stop you from living the life you want. Aging well. Living well!
May is Older Americans Month, and for 2022, the theme is Age My Way, with a focus on aging in place – how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and live independently in their communities for as long as possible.
Aging Well In Action: What Smart Seniors are Discovering.
It’s an exciting thought: defying your own expectations and living a life of vitality, connection, fulfillment and fun long past the numerical age someone else decided is the limit. Quite frankly, with all the choices seniors have today, there are no limits. Today’s modern senior living communities have evolved into hospitality-based, vacation-minded lifestyles that both welcome and inspire. Wellness is the focus and fun is always on the calendar.
At Senior Star senior living, we see ourselves as innovators, dedicated to continuously seeking new ways to make a difference in the lives of our residents. We believe every person should experience purpose each day. We believe each day should offer something new. Now that’s aging well!
What Are The Keys to Aging Well?
It’s human nature to think you can’t control how you age…but in reality, you have a great deal of control over it. For sure, you can’t control your age. Family history. Or existing medical conditions. But you can control your behavior, your environment, and your lifestyle. (In fact, according to the World Health Organization, only about 25% of your longevity is dependent on genetics.)
Consider these suggestions for how senior living can help enhance your physical, emotional, and mental health—all keys to aging well.
Mental health. Stress can really do a number on you. Consider this statement from a Yale study about what stress does to your brain: “Even quite mild acute uncontrollable stress can cause a rapid and dramatic loss of prefrontal cognitive abilities, and more prolonged stress exposure causes architectural changes in prefrontal dendrites.” It’s enough to raise the hair on the back of your neck just reading it! But there’s a world of wisdom there.
Stress makes it hard to think, steals your memory, fires up the wrong emotions. Stress is not good for your brain.
Senior living can be great for your brain, because in senior living, you aren’t stressed about home upkeep or maintenance. You aren’t washing the dishes. Driving at night or in bad weather. Sitting at home alone with leftovers and no company. Instead, you are engaged and connected with interesting people. Typically there’s a Lifestyle Director dedicated to creating a full calendar of options for healthy socializing. It’s easy to make friends and be engaged, which is so important for mental health. It’s easy to have time for familiar passions or new pursuits.
And then there’s all the lifelong learning opportunities, which are fun and interesting and benefit the brain by creating new neural pathways (very important for aging well). Before you know it, you—and your prefontal lobe—are feeling sharp and involved.
Emotional health. Finding a purpose in life is a big part of aging well. Research suggests that having a sense of purpose can help you live longer, reduce stress, lower blood pressure and decrease depression. A senior living community offers numerous ways to plug in and feel a sense of purpose. Many link with organizations or schools in the local area for volunteering projects and fundraising events. You also might rub shoulders with someone who would benefit from your wisdom and experience; mentoring is a wonderful way to feel a sense of purpose and key for aging well.
If you’re looking for a completely new purpose, think about what inspires you…what have you always wanted to accomplish…what would you like to pass on to others? In the carefree lifestyle you’ll find in senior living, you’ll have time to really mull over your dreams.
Aging well is knowing you play an important role in the world—and in a senior living community like Senior Star, you do! We make sure residents in our communities have the opportunity to take advantage of everything life has to offer, including fulfilling their goals.
Physical health. You’ve heard the sayings. Move it or lose it. Get moving. Get up and go. It’s true: seniors who exercise appear to live longer and have a lower risk of disability. And you don’t have to have been a sports nut your whole life. Even those who begin exercising between the ages of 70 and 85 see these benefits.
In senior living, it’s much easier to get the exercise you need for aging well. From yoga, to water aerobics, to chair exercise, to Zumba, to walking clubs, to strength training—chances are there’s a class in your senior living community or you can start one.
And don’t forget while you’re working out that eating right is another key factor of aging well. At home, mealtimes can be lonely and boring. In senior living, they can be a delightful treat—appetizing selections, healthy ingredients, variety, favorite dishes and unexpected temptations, and the company of wonderful friends. With no clean-up duty!
Aging Well in Senior Living: One Step at a Time.
Remember, the key to lifelong wellness is not to attempt too much too quickly. Give yourself mini-goals, achieve them, feel good, and keep going. In senior living at Senior Star, you’re on the right path to aging well. Keep it up!
Schedule a virtual or in-person tour to meet our team and learn more about life in our community.
It will be our pleasure to share the amenities, programs, and activities that our residents enjoy in a typical day. Learn more about how a move to a senior living community can give you the lifestyle you deserve, download our Successful Transitions guide. Questions about senior living? Contact us to learn more.
