When shaping your retirement lifestyle, there are many things to consider that will impact your decision. Your current health, your social life, interests and hobbies are likely on your mind, and you’d like to figure out how to best set yourself up to enjoy your golden years. How can you maximize your health and your time in retirement? The answer—find a quality retirement community.
The Value of a Retirement Community
While retirement communities offer a relaxed pace of life, they aren’t just someplace where people go to slow down. They are vibrant communities that cater to a wide variety of interests and lifestyles for seniors across the entire age spectrum. Retirement communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury foster social development with a wide range of activities such as yoga, arts and crafts and coordinated community outings to local attractions and points of interest.
Health Benefits
Just as it has been through every major phase of your life, having a strong social foundation is important to living happily and healthily. The National Institute of Healthfinds that social group memberships in retirement are associated with having a lower risk of premature death. Living at a retirement community surrounds you with other individuals in the same stage of life you’re in, and a quality facility promotes engaging social activities that help residents more seamlessly adapt to post-career life.
Social Benefits
Although having a strong social life will certainly aid your health in retirement, we are simply more susceptible to physical ailments and disabilities as we age. The World Health Organizationfinds that regular physical activity leads to increased longevity and a happier lifestyle. A quality retirement community will foster active lifestyles for adults based on their varied interests. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we have an on-site health club, a beautiful garden where you can grow your own fresh vegetables, a swimming pool and a bowling alley, among other amenities that promote an active lifestyle. Our community members are also involved in various clubs and groups of their own organizing. With all this available, you’re bound to find a group that fits your social and activity needs.
Access to Health Care
When it comes to your health, it is important to recognize the need for access to quality care as we age. According to a study commissioned by the National Council on Aging, 80% of older adults have at least one chronic disease, while 77% have at least two. Furthermore, falls contribute to an alarming amount of serious injuries and deaths among seniors. Independent living communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury contain easy access to medical care on the campus as well as chauffeured transportation options.
Staying Connected to Your Community
Now that you are no longer beholden to a traditional work schedule, you have a considerable amount of time on your hands. It’s important to be aware that becoming too bored and/or lonely in retirement can impact both your physical and emotional health. In 2013, the National Academy of Sciencesconcluded that social isolation and loneliness lead to an increased mortality rates in older men and women. The National Institute of Health also found correlations between loneliness and increased blood pressure, reduced cognitive performance, and the propensity to engage in more risky behaviors.
Ultimately, the vibrancy of a diverse senior living residence like Southgate at Shrewsbury can mitigate a lot of the worries that are associated with retirement. Being surrounded by fellow seniors in various stages of retirement with various interests provides a unique support system as you encounter new challenges. Living at a retirement community truly gives you the ability continue learning and growing throughout your retirement years.