5 Warning Signs It Might Be Time for Senior Living  

December 20, 2022
| Vitality Living

When it comes to healthy aging, quite honestly, there’s a lot to do. You’re supposed to make sure to keep your body active and your brain engaged all while maintaining your social connections as well. Sure, the benefits to your overall well-being are worth the effort, but retirement is supposed to be a time with less responsibility on your plate, right? Well, it turns out that in senior living you can have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. Here’s how programs like our Vivid Life make keeping active, engaged, and connected easy and fun!

Benefits of Healthy Aging

Good things happen when you focus on healthy aging. In addition to feeling better overall, which in and of itself is a win, other benefits of keeping active, engaged, and connected include:

Improved ability to do everyday things
Reduced impact of illness and chronic disease
Enhanced mobility, flexibility, and balance
Improved sleep
Increased energy level
Reduced feelings of depression and stress
Increased feelings of happiness and self-confidence
Reduced risk of cognitive decline
Increased mental adaptability and cognitive reserve
Improved memory recall and problem-solving skills
Improved concentration and attention to detail

How Senior Living Can Help

At home, particularly when living alone, it can be hard to stay as active, engaged, and connected as you’d like. From lack of opportunity to lack of motivation to lack of transportation to mobility challenges, and more, it’s tough, we get it! That’s why we created the Vivid Life program in our senior living communities. It’s composed of three parts: Vibrant Body, Vibrant Brain, and Vibrant Connections. Here’s what each entails:

Vibrant Body – We offer amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, a pool, walking trails, gardening opportunities, and even a dog park to help you stay active. A sample of activities includes:

Walking club – Daily walks at different outdoor locations using pedometers to measure steps.
Yoga – At least once per week for gentle yoga, and once per week for mindful breathing.
Fitness classes – At least two times per week using a variety of hand weights, resistance bands, and circuit-type exercises.
Tai Chi – At least once per week with a live instructor.
Non-traditional exercise – Dancing, gardening, etc. at least two times per week.
Physical games and sports – Golf, putting, bowling, croquet, bocce, and ping pong available daily with organized events one to two times per week.

Vibrant Brain – We offer monthly calendars filled with classes, events, creative arts, and enrichment opportunities to help keep you engaged. A sample of activities includes:

Visiting lecture series – Twice per month with topics such as cultural, historical, local interest, career-oriented, etc.
Creative art series – At least one per week with a theme that runs 3-6 weeks, such as poetry writing, storytelling, painting, digital photography, etc.
Learning series – At least three times per month with an emphasis on learning something new such as foreign language, sign language, technology, hobbies, etc.
Games – At least one time per week and may include poker, bridge, Scrabble, etc.
Mindfulness – A meditation class once per week and gratitude discussion group twice monthly.
Church service – At least once a week through visits by local churches.
Stress reduction – At least once per month class that offers deep breathing exercises, nature walks, music appreciation, spa-type treatments, etc.

Vibrant Connections – We offer resident-led clubs, social events, outings and volunteer opportunities for any interest to help you stay connected. A sample of activities includes:

Outings – At least twice per month and may include going to concerts, art shows, museum visits, theatre productions, etc.
Intergenerational programming – At least once per month and focuses on building relationships between young adults/children and residents.
New resident welcome party – At least once per month to formally introduce all new residents, and includes ice breakers, social games, etc. to encourage connection.
Philanthropic program – At least once per month provide residents the opportunity to give back to the community, such as volunteering for a local food bank or pet shelter.
Resident-led clubs – May include game clubs, professional clubs, common interests, etc. that meet at least monthly.

What’s more, it’s all right outside your door (or transportation is provided offsite) and all in a supportive environment with home maintenance, housekeeping, and restaurant-style dining freeing your time to make it even easier to stay active, engaged, and connected.

Learn more about Vitality Living’s Vivid Life programs. Or find a Vitality Living community near you today to schedule a tour.

You’re noticing that a loved one is having more difficulty living alone. And you’re concerned about their health and safety.

But you’re unsure how to navigate long-term care or if it’s the right choice or time.

Deciding if a senior living community is suitable for yourself or a loved one is an emotional and challenging choice.

But how do you know if it’s the best decision? Here are five warning signs that it might be time for senior living.

1. Frequent Falls or Injuries

A loved one who is frequently experiencing injuries due to falling is a significant concern.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury and death for adults aged 65 or older. Hip fractures, broken bones, and head injuries are among the most common and deadly results of falling among older adults.

Although one or two falls may not be a reason to consider senior living, frequent falling should be taken seriously.

Senior living communities have safety features such as ramps, grab bars, fall detection technology, and walk-in showers to minimize falls and injuries.

2. Safety Concerns

If a loved one is wandering, leaving doors unlocked, forgetting to take food off the stove, leaving the stove on, or has experienced a burglary. It’s time to have a serious conversation concerning senior living.

Keeping your loved one safe is critical. If moving in with family or in-home care isn’t an option, a senior living community can help.

Download this Family Decision Guide from the experts at Vitality Living, it’s packed with information to help you understand senior living.

3. Increasing Difficulty Maintaining Hygiene

If your once flawless parent is struggling with hygiene — body odor, unwashed hair, or dirty clothes — this should be cause for concern.

Lack of hygiene is a clear sign that your loved one needs help.

4. Isolation and Loneliness

Family commitments, jobs, and day-to-day responsibilities often make it difficult for even the most well-meaning family and friends to visit a loved one.

The inability to drive, mobility issues, and chronic illnesses make it difficult for older adults to run errands, attend social events, and meet up with long-term friends.

Isolation and loneliness lead to health risks, such as depression, heart disease, obesity, cognitive decline, and even death.

Senior living communities such as Vitality Living are full of vibrant, active seniors who are enjoying life traveling, socializing with peers, and discovering new hobbies and interests.

5. Increasing Health Concerns

Chronic health conditions that are deteriorating, serious injuries, or health concerns that are difficult to manage are warning signs that it might be time for senior living.

In addition, forgetting to take crucial medications and frequently missing doctor appointments are problematic and detrimental to the health of older adults.

Senior living communities will help with medication management and transportation to doctor appointments.

Senior living residents can also receive rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational therapy, to get them back to living an active and fulfilling life.

Wrap-up and Next Steps

Recognizing the warning signs that it might be time for senior living doesn’t have to be complicated.

Download this Family Decision Guide from the experts at Vitality Living, it’s packed with information to help you understand senior living.

Making A Decision

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