Seniors want to age gracefully. When they focus on holistic living, they can thrive. Their entire being is addressed, from physical to mental to emotional and spiritual. How can assisted living help them live a holistic lifestyle?
The Importance of Holistic Wellness for Seniors
Seniors must nurture every aspect of their beings to live life to the fullest. Sadly, they often focus on only one or two factors, such as their physical and mental health. They completely ignore the other elements. Assisted living communities understand the importance of focusing on the entire person rather than specific parts. An assisted living resident will benefit significantly from this approach.
The World Health Organization reports older individuals with vibrant social, mental, and physical engagement are less likely to experience cognitive decline. They can better manage age-related challenges and regularly find new growth opportunities. They find their lives are fulfilling.
The Benefits of Holistic Wellness
A holistic approach prioritizes the mental health of seniors, which is critical. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 6.5 million seniors struggle with depression. Activities that challenge the mind, such as puzzles, can reduce dementia risk by as much as 50 percent, the Alzheimer’s Association reports.
Seniors also need to manage their stress; social connections help them accomplish this. Assisted living communities play activities to keep residents intellectually stimulated.
Physical health cannot be ignored either. Assisted living communities provide seniors with opportunities to stay active and agile. Exercise can significantly lower a person’s risk of falls, heart disease, and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Eating nutritional foods is essential for good health, and seniors must undergo regular health screenings to catch problems early when they are easier to treat.
Spiritual wellness is often overlooked when discussing the health of seniors. However, it also plays a significant role in their lives. Engaging in spiritual activities lowers a person’s mortality rate. Spiritual activities give seniors peace, improve their mental health, and extend their lifespans. They are connected to a higher being.
Lifelong learning keeps the mind sharp and lowers the risk of cognitive impairment. Seniors may attend lectures, join online classes, or try new hobbies. Embracing technology is also beneficial to seniors. Approximately 70 percent of seniors use digital platforms, often turning to health apps and telemedicine. Doing so improves their health outcomes because they have increased access to medical care.
Living Environment
The senior’s living environment is also essential to their health. It must be designed to keep them safe, as over 25 percent of seniors fall each year, and hundreds of thousands of patients end up in the hospital after a fall.
Assisted living communities have measures to reduce fall risks, such as grab bars and improved lighting. Families must talk with each community to learn which safety measures are in place.
The community is one of the most significant benefits of moving to assisted living. Seniors are surrounded by others in similar life situations. They have an enhanced social network, giving them a sense of purpose and belonging. The community will have clubs and groups they can join, and staff members plan outings and events for variety. When the residents engage in these activities, they make new friends and enrich their experiences. All combine to provide the seniors with a holistic experience that will allow them to thrive.
