There are countless benefits to moving into a senior living community. You can get the support you need to complete activities of daily living. You can enjoy your own private quarters, chef-prepared meals, and on-campus amenities.
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of moving into an assisted living community is the opportunity to meet new people. Research shows that seniors in isolation are at an increased risk of certain physical and mental health problems.
How can you make the most of your transition to a senior living community in Cambridge and start meeting new people? Read on for our top tips.
There's a big difference between the types of senior living accommodations. For example, nursing homes are geared toward seniors who need round-the-clock medical care. Assisted living communities, on the other hand, offer basic day-to-day support for largely independent seniors.
Meeting new people starts with selecting retirement homes that prioritize active living. Start by learning about the amenities a community offers and look for activities like:
If possible, schedule a tour of the community you're interested in. This will allow you to evaluate factors like common areas and talk to current residents about their overall social satisfaction.
Once you've found your community, it's time to focus on building strong relationships in assisted living. The good news is that you don't have to wait for other residents to come knocking on your door.
Instead, look at the community calendar and select at least one activity per week that interests you. This may include things like:
It's often easier to break the ice with new people when you have a shared activity that brings you together. The more events you attend, the more likely it is that you'll discover neighbors with common interests.
Special events aren't the only things you can take advantage of in your senior living community. Retirement creates the perfect opportunity to pursue your interests or passions, and you don't have to pick up hobbies alone.
Talk to other residents about any clubs that exist in your community. If the type of club you're interested in doesn't exist, consider starting it yourself.
Whether you want to learn about native plants, talk about literature, or practice your sewing skills, you're bound to find others who want to take that journey with you.
Seniors with an active social life may experience improved cognitive function compared to isolated seniors. Research shows that you can take these benefits a step further by incorporating learning opportunities into your daily life.
In an active senior living community, this can be as simple as attending organized educational events. Examples include:
Once again, if the event you're looking for doesn't yet exist, you can use common areas to organize learning opportunities of your own. Take advantage of free resources like online tutorials and library books to help you and your neighbors learn something new.
Nutrition plays an active role in senior wellness, but many seniors aren't meeting the nutrition guidelines for adults aged 60 and up. Factors like diminished hunger signals, difficulty cooking, or lack of access to healthy food can all play a role in poor senior nutrition.
Many assisted living communities offer dining programs for residents. These often include three chef-prepared meals per day.
Not only do these dining programs boost senior nutrition, but they also create daily opportunities to socialize. While you can often opt to have meals delivered to your private quarters, we recommend dining in a communal setting for at least one meal per day.
Exercise is another key component of senior wellness. Increasing your physical activity is a great way to support your physical and mental health. Many assisted living communities offer wellness programs and group fitness classes for seniors to enjoy together.
Exercising with a group can make your workouts more pleasurable. In turn, this can help you stay on track to meet your fitness goals.
Plus, senior wellness programs offer the support seniors need to stay active in spite of changing physical abilities. From low-impact cardio classes to chair yoga, you're bound to find a class that meets your needs.
You've started to make friends in your senior living community, and now you want to branch out. With transportation services, seniors can spend time in Cambridge and enjoy local outings.
Once again, take a look at the local outings organized by your community staff. If you don't see what you're looking for, talk to the staff about the types of activities you'd love to engage with.
For example, maybe you'd love to try local Cambridge restaurants. With some advanced planning, you could start a dining club that tries different eateries a few times a month.
We know that it can feel daunting to move into a new community and make all new friends. That's why we encourage residents to get their existing friends and family involved.
Ask your community director about family-friendly activities. You may be able to ask loved ones to join you for a meal or attend an on-campus celebration.
Spending quality time with a wide variety of friends and family members is a great way to boost your quality of life, and there are plenty of opportunities to do so in a great senior living community.
If you're looking for a senior living community in Cambridge, don't underestimate the value of organized social events. Attending community activities or scheduling your own is a great way to make new friends and build lasting relationships.
At Cardinal Place in Cambridge, we build amenities around our active residents. This is the perfect community for seniors who may have retired but have no intention of slowing down. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a tour.