5 Ways to Stay Active and Engaged in a Senior Living Community

Many seniors wonder how to stay healthy, active, and engaged as they get older. Senior living communities understand the importance of offering enriching social events and activities with plenty of ways for residents to connect with their community and neighbors and stay active, healthy, and happy.

1. Health and Wellness Opportunities

Health and wellness is about more than just eating the right things and exercising. It’s about addressing the whole person to improve quality of life. Senior living communities take a holistic approach to amenities and activities to address the well-being of the whole person. This means you’ll have easy access to delicious food, several options for physical fitness, walking trails, and more.

Many senior living communities have on-site physical therapy and occupational therapy services to help improve seniors’ well-being and ability to perform activities of daily living. If a community doesn’t have these services on-site, they’ll arrange transportation to get to these services off-site. Many communities also have on-site fitness centers with easy-to-use equipment and fitness classes that incorporate wellness, socialization, and fun. 

Many senior living communities are located in scenic, walkable areas where residents can take advantage of nature paths and walking trails to get their exercise in while enjoying nature. Along with walking paths, residents may also find dog parks because it’s becoming more and more common for senior living communities to be pet-friendly. 

Even as recently as 10 years ago, communities weren’t pet-friendly, but more communities are changing their policies, recognizing the benefits of pet ownership, including stress reduction and improved mood, and ensuring residents don’t have to say goodbye to their beloved furry family members. At Cedarhurst, we welcome pets and provide opportunities for residents and their pets to do fun activities together, such as exploring walking trails.

Another part of living well is eating well and enjoying delicious and healthy food options. At many of our Cedarhurst communities, we offer our Crafted by Cedarhurst℠ culinary program, which provides food designed to please nearly every palate and address several different dietary needs. Our dining venues feature attentive service that helps residents know they’re the stars, and mealtimes are often social events where they connect with neighbors.

2. Socialization Opportunities

Connection is incredibly important for mental health, but as we age, it’s natural for our social circles to become smaller. An empty social calendar can lead to feelings of social isolation and loneliness, but a robust social life in a senior living community can help combat these feelings.

Many people wonder how they can make new friends as their schedule changes or as they age. Senior living communities make meeting new people and starting friendships much easier and more convenient. These communities are designed around socialization, offering chances to get to know your neighbors and shared spaces that make it more natural to strike up a conversation.

For example, shared spaces, such as fitness centers, hobby or game rooms, and dining rooms, offer natural opportunities to meet new neighbors. Just by participating in things you love to do, such as an art class, a card game, a movie night, or a lecture, you’ll find it easy to meet other folks with similar interests.

Pets also bring chances to socialize, and pet-friendly communities aren’t just beneficial for residents with pets. People who don’t have a pet will likely start a conversation with those who do or visit the apartment of the pet owner to interact with them and their pet. 

3. Engaging Activities

One of the best parts about senior living is the access it provides to a variety of activities and amenities right outside your apartment door. Clubs, game nights, and movie nights are just a few of the ways you can stay active and engaged in the community.

Many communities offer opportunities to participate in creative outlets, such as painting or pottery. Creative endeavors such as these can spark creativity and enable people to express themselves and feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in their creations, whether it’s a sculpture, poem, or painting.

Residents can also get involved in clubs that speak to their passions, such as gardening, reading, or even playing games with friends. These activities help maintain cognitive function and get residents engaged in intellectual stimulation.

We strive to make your Cedarhurst environment just how you like it through our Living TRUE℠ program, which enables us to personalize the activity offering according to each resident’s preferences. This program is a part of delivering person-centered care, which ensures activities aren’t just fun but also meaningful for each person.

4. Volunteer Opportunities

Another meaningful and engaging activity you can get involved with that helps your larger community is volunteering. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and participation that enables people to give back and engage with others.

There are several benefits to volunteering beyond connecting with the larger community. It can also help reduce stress, improve physical and mental health, and increase self-esteem and satisfaction in life.

5. Lifelong Learning

Just because you’re not in school doesn’t mean you can’t continue to learn! Many senior living communities will enable you to expand your knowledge through classes and lectures within the community. For example, many communities offer technology classes that cover a variety of topics, from keeping up with social media to learning how to work a smartphone or laptop, enabling residents to stay connected and informed.

Classes expand beyond increasing knowledge, though. Some communities may also offer residents the opportunity to express themselves through music or dance classes. Research has shown that music can stimulate the brain, enhance memory, and have a positive effect on communication and mental health.

The Recipe for an Active and Engaged Lifestyle

The best way to stay active and engaged is by incorporating several different meaningful activities into your lifestyle. By tailoring these activities to resident preferences, senior living communities can help residents maintain a high quality of life. Learn how senior living communities ensure residents are staying connected in our free resource, Everything You Need to Know About Social Health in Senior Living.