Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of aging alone? Wondering if there’s a better way to enjoy your golden years? Research shows seniors living in retirement communities can expect to live seven whole years longer! In this article, we’ll explore the surprising reasons behind this benefit, putting your mind at ease and helping you discover a path to a longer, happier life.
Independent retirement community
According to various studies and research, older people that opt for retirement communities settings tend to live for about seven to ten years longer and healthier, unlike when they decide to live in their private home of residence. Independent retirement communities offer a variety of avenues to older people for the harnessing and improvements of their mental and physical health via wellness and exercise programs and socialization, respectively.
Furthermore, independent retirement communities possess all the essential amenities and medical facilities to harness several medical conditions, especially when there is an ad hoc situation that requires immediate attention. These incredible benefits that an independent retirement community provides make older people worry less without a vestige of pessimism in their thoughts.
Disadvantages of At-Home care for older adults
Living alone can be daunting for seniors. The risk of falls or sudden health emergencies going unnoticed is high, potentially leading to serious complications. Independent retirement communities provide a safety net, offering peace of mind. Optional features like daily wellness checks and readily available staff can minimize these risks. Residents can also access various medical services on-site, ensuring prompt attention if needed.
Social isolation, another significant concern for seniors living at home, can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and negatively impact mental health. Retirement communities, on the other hand, thrive on fostering a vibrant social environment. Residents can easily connect with others who share similar interests, participate in group activities, and build new friendships. This social interaction combats feelings of isolation and loneliness, contributing to a more positive mental outlook and overall well-being.
Hence, one can state the advantages of living in an independent retirement community from the preliminary explanation. The benefits of retirement community living include the following:
Preparation of nutritional meals: The stress of going to grocery stores to purchase what you wish to eat, cooking, and doing the dishes may be difficult for some older adults. A Retirement community will take away these stressful burdens from their backs by providing them with balanced diets that will provide them with enough nutrients to stay healthy.
Availability of easy transportation service: Studies have shown that older drivers are more susceptible to accidents than middle-aged drivers, primarily due to vision loss, hearing loss, and other medical conditions. Hence, an independent retirement community provides safe and easy transportation to older adults to nearby events, restaurants, and doctor appointments.
Enhance socialization: If you stay at home, your socialization level is limited to your relatives alone; in their absence, and may leave you with nothing to do but remaining lonely. Hence, socialization is one of the most significant factors that make older people opt for a retirement community, to meet several peers from their neighborhood through fun or learning groups or clubs such as book club, travel club, spiritual study club, and coffee meetups.
Ensures safety and security: This involves ad hoc events such as household injuries and falls that one may not be able to call for help if they stay at home with no present relatives. It is extremely dangerous and scary for those with chronic medical conditions, such as kidney disease and Parkinson’s disease. But if you opt for retirement community living, you will be guaranteed safety and security for mild to severe health issues via the support of a nurse or alert system in some cases that require immediate assistance.
Improves physical and mental health:- Wellness and fitness training is essential for the overall health of an older adult’s body and mental health. Studies show that regular exercise will help you forestall and harness health problems such as type two diabetes, arthritis, stroke, and high blood pressure. The retirement community provides older adults with several fitness programs and outdoor activities like yoga classes, group fitness classes, local hikes & greenbelt, and walking clubs.
Provide a comfortable lifestyle that requires low maintenance:- The obligation to maintain the structural integrity of the home by keeping it clean comes with staying at home. But If you opt for an independent retirement community living, you will not be worried about your home maintenance because they will do it for you.
These advantages of retirement community living guarantees older adults of a higher quality of life that will make them healthier and live longer than those who stay at home without fear of danger.
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