Set Your Goals with Our Senior Wellness Program

Any older adult interested in pursuing their goals in retirement would do well to participate in a senior wellness program. Quality health and wellness programs for seniors are designed to focus on much more than just a senior’s physical health; they also emphasize emotional, intellectual and social health. 

These things all matter because they contribute to a senior’s overall quality of life and help them thrive at every age. And while many older adults want to improve their mobility and muscle strength as they age, they also want to maintain their cognitive health and social connections. 

A quality senior wellness program can definitely help older adults with those goals. In fact, one of the features that can often set a senior living community apart from others is the robustness of its wellness offerings. 

Here are some of the major advantages of having access to a well-rounded senior living wellness program.

Four Benefits of a Senior Living Wellness Program

Regular physical activity. This one might seem a bit too obvious. But the not-so-obvious key here is “regular.” 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people over 65 need at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity every week, such as brisk walking or bicycling. That comes out to a little over 20 minutes every day. They also need activities that strengthen muscles at least two days a week and activities that improve balance at least three times weekly.

You could find exercises on your own and create your own physical regimen. Or you could choose a program that can help ensure you get those vital 150 minutes every week, with the right mix of balance and strength exercises, all tailored to your personal needs, interests, and abilities.

Frequent social opportunities. It may surprise you to learn loneliness and isolation are hazards to an older adult’s health. Recent research has linked loneliness and social isolation to higher risks for obesity, heart disease, depression, cognitive decline, and a weakened immune system. One study found they could increase your mortality risk by 50%.

Getting engaged with a wellness program at a senior living community gives you almost instant exposure to other people. Check out a senior living community’s activities calendar — you’re sure to find at least a handful of events that interest you. Other seniors are enjoying book clubs, wine socials, card games, shopping trips, committees, outings and other activities. These pursuits are prime examples of ways to stay socially and intellectually engaged.

Ample spiritual support. We already discussed the toll loneliness and isolation can take on an older adult’s health. One benefit of a wellness program for seniors is the spiritual support you can find. It’s often part of a community’s holistic approach to caring for residents in mind, body and soul. 

Some older adults may wish to strengthen their faith; others may want to get back in touch with their faith. Still others may choose a different spiritual path altogether. Senior living wellness programs may include regular nondenominational church services, offer meditation classes, or invite speakers in to talk about other faiths.

Access to medical support. The cornerstone of a well-designed senior wellness program is providing support for every need. That includes providing preventive benefits like sponsoring blood pressure clinics and providing annual vaccines on-site.

Some communities may provide advanced practice nurses on campus, which is a nurse who’s fully capable of seeing patients on their own and have the authority to coordinate an entire healthcare team to plan and evaluate a resident’s care. Still, other communities provide on-site physical therapy and occupational therapy, aquatics and massage therapy. Still other senior living communities’ physical location may be minutes from major medical centers, so residents have access to exceptional services and healthcare providers. 

Discover Senior Wellness Programs at Riverside Senior Life Communities

Riverside Senior Life Communities offer a comprehensive wellness program that can help you make the most of every day. Our senior living options include Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation. Contact us to learn more about our approach to wellness at Riverside Senior Life.