HELPING MOM AND DAD STAY ACTIVE
By Joan Smith, Engage Life Director at Atria Valley Manor
Staying physically and mentally active in retirement years and beyond is important and offers several benefits. Research has shown that seniors who exercise on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, as well as anxiety and depression.Adult children who care for older parents may find themselves struggling to keep Mom and Dad active and engaged while still living at home. And between all the daily activities adult children may have to help with – managing finances, preparing meals, providing transportation – keeping parents active can be difficult. One solution for adult children to consider is a community living setting that can help senior loved ones maximize their activity levels and lead healthier lifestyles.
Engaging Life in a Community Setting
While many older Americans prefer to age in the comfort of their own home, reduced mobility can prevent them from doing daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, paying bills and socializing. Not only can this lead to feelings of isolation, but the lack of activity can lead to poor health and reduced mental capacity. When this situation arises, adult children may feel helpless. Instead, they should consider a community living setting for Mom and Dad that would provide them with the support of daily activities and ensure that they are staying active.Independent and assisted living communities provide a balance of support and independence. In most cases, these communities offer a robust social calendar that helps keep residents both mentally and physically active. Activities that may be found in community living settings include:
· Exercise classes that contribute to increased mobility, flexibility, strength and overall health. These may also include special classes that are specifically designed for residents with arthritis.
· Ongoing social interaction activities that encourage residents to strengthen old friendships and build new ones.
· Continuing education classes that focus on residents’ areas of interest and provide ongoing learning opportunities.
· Outreach programs that help residents continue to engage the outside community through volunteer work and fundraising activities that can often include other generations.
· Field trips to help seniors enjoy arts, entertainment and culture.
The Future of Active Aging
As the baby boomer generation begins to reach retirement, they continue to redefine what it means to age. Focused on leading healthy lives and staying active well into their later years, baby boomers will shape what future senior living communities will offer to ensure that older Americans are remaining active and engaged.Already the senior living community industry is seeing an increase in demand for technology that helps seniors stay in touch with distant family members and keeps them active. Computer rooms with internet access are becoming more popular while video games, especially the Wii®, have seen an increase in usage among seniors in independent and assisted living communities, providing benefits of staying active and healthy.In addition, communities are putting a greater emphasis on overall wellness. As baby boomers become residents in independent and assisted living communities they will look for spas and health classes that go beyond the basic exercise routines. Senior living communities are at different stages of implementing these services so it’s important to visit several communities when making a decision.Staying active, both physically and mentally, through one’s later years in life will continue to be important as our country sees the senior population grow. Senior living community settings may be the right choice for some, providing the necessary balance of support with daily activities and remaining active.
Joan Smith is Director, Engage Life at Atria Valley Manor. Atria Senior Living Group is the nation’s fourth largest assisted living owner-operator of independent- and assisted-living communities, which provides respectful, quality care to more than 13,000 older people.