Over 30,000 senior living communities are operating in the US currently, but only a fraction of them are deserving of your loved one's residence.
Choosing an assisted living community for a loved one is no small feat. You must find a place that can satisfy their day-to-day and medical needs while providing them with a high quality of life. For an assisted living community to work, it must truly emphasize the community aspect.
Socialization plays an important role in senior community living. Senior living community social clubs are the best way to facilitate social interactions. In the rest of today's post, we'll tell you 7 ways senior living social clubs enhance community life.
Whether it's a gardening club or aerobics classes, keep reading and find out how your loved one can improve their quality of life alongside their fellow senior living residents.
One of the biggest problems among American seniors is social isolation. Nearly a quarter of all Americans over the age of 65 can be considered to be socially isolated, according to research. Feeling lonely can quickly lead to social anxiety and depression.
With social activities for elderly residents, your loved one can avoid social isolation and live a socially active life. They'll be surrounded by like-minded people who may become great friends. Social activity will become something they look forward to every day, which can give seniors a greater sense of purpose.
Humans are meant to be around other humans. Even if the group is a book club, just having meaningful conversations with other people is enough to boost your loved one's happiness.
Many of the social clubs in assisted living center around physical activity. They include yoga classes, aerobics, walking groups, and a variety of light sports. When your loved one starts engaging with one of these clubs, they'll greatly improve their physical health.
It's recommended that seniors get at least 150 minutes per week of light-to-moderate aerobic exercise. This can include something as low-impact as walking or something a bit more intensive, like tennis. Their fellow club members will push them to take their health more seriously.
By getting the proper amount of exercise, your loved one will stave off a variety of physical health issues. The biggest issues that arise from being non-active are heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Exercise burns energy and builds muscle strength, which also helps to avoid falls.
The result of your loved one getting more physical and social activity is a reduced risk of cognitive decline. There's a strong link between social isolation and a variety of cognitive issues. Alzheimer's and dementia are huge issues in our senior population, affecting nearly 7 million Americans over 65.
Many other factors determine whether someone will experience cognitive issues as they age. That said, being part of a social group and doing any activity that engages the brain can help improve memory and cognitive function.
Social clubs in assisted living can be geared toward cognitive health. For example, a storytelling circle can give seniors a chance to exercise their memories by sharing anecdotes from their lives. Other clubs might include a brain teaser group or talking about the news.
Being part of social clubs can help your loved one try out new activities. As we age, it's so important to keep learning new things, but so many seniors hit a wall and get stuck in their ways.
Learning exercises the brain, which as we've just learned, is crucial to reducing cognitive decline. Whether it involves trying out yoga for the first time or trying a new game with people in your social circle, the simple act of doing something new can broaden your loved one's horizons.
The activity calendar in assisted living communities is full of diverse things that can push residents' boundaries. When your loved one tries something new, it'll give them more confidence that they can keep adapting in old age.
One of the biggest benefits of senior clubs is the chance for seniors to be around people their age. Having family present is important, but it's just as important to continue building meaningful friendships.
The transition into senior living can be difficult, no matter how great the community is. Social clubs give those who are less inclined to strike up a conversation a way to befriend their fellow residents. They'll broaden their social horizons, which is how residents can get the most out of senior living.
We live in a fast-paced world that tends to leave seniors behind. This makes it tough for them to operate with the confidence that they should. When seniors are surrounded by their peers, they'll be able to build confidence in themselves to tackle any activity.
When your loved one has self-confidence, they'll be more keen to socialize with others. Community engagement for seniors can improve their self-esteem, which can lead to better personal hygiene, happiness, and the ability to be independent.
Some seniors rely entirely on their families for social interaction. Not only is this bad for them and their ability to be happy and healthy, but it can be hard on family members as well.
If you're feeling that your loved one isn't getting what they need socially, talk to them about senior group activities. Once they transition into this lifestyle, they'll quickly find out that there's a better, more social side to life that they're missing.
When you see how fulfilled your loved one is, it'll put your mind at ease. You'll know that they're living the life they should, so you no longer have to worry about them being alone.
These are just a few of the countless benefits of senior living community social clubs. Social clubs are about enhancing senior community life. The best senior living communities help facilitate that with clubs and special programming to help connect community members.
Addington Place of Edwardsville is one such senior living community. We pride ourselves on giving our residents everything they need to be happy, which includes our amazing activity calendar. Contact us today to find out more about our social clubs and other amazing senior living amenities.