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Southgate at Shrewsbury

Retirement community near Shrewsbury and Worcester, MA

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1.800.492.8331

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independent living

What To Look For In a Retirement Community In 2021

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Congratulations! You’ve worked hard and have reached an exciting new phase of life wide open with possibilities—welcome to retirement!

So what now? How will you spend all that newfound free time? Where will you spend all that newfound free time?

You’ve decided to live in a retirement community, but with so many options, how do you begin to narrow it down?

Will The Community Fit Your Lifestyle?

You will want to make sure your retirement community offers easy access to the lifestyle you enjoy. Amenities and conveniences come in many shapes and sizes, so you should be able to make sure you have access to what you need to maximize the enjoyment of retirement.

Whether you’re more into physical activity, like to spend time outside or in the garden, enjoy pursuing more knowledge or simply gathering in social places, communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury have a wide variety of amenities and conveniences to ensure you not only adjust to life in retirement, but love it! With our on-site dining options, handicap-accessible garden, woodworking shop, gym and spa, extensive programming and so much more, Southgate is a great place for anyone to find what they are looking for in retirement. Check out our amenities here.

Convenience Is Key!

Convenience is Key
The pandemic has taught us all the true value of convenience and efficiency, and these are absolutely traits you should look for in a retirement community.

This applies not only to what they have on-site, but what is nearby. Do you have access to the healthcare you need or the shopping you desire? How about good food?

As we age, having access to great healthcare in an efficient manner becomes more important. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we not only have excellent on-site healthcare and wellness options, but are located near some of the most highly regarded hospitals and medical providers in the country.

In terms of shopping and conveniences, it is quite easy to make sure your favorite stores are nearby or that your favorite delivery services will ship to your community. Communities like Southgate even have convenience stores on site, along with other services like beauty salons and several different dining options.

Cleanliness & Friendliness

When looking for a place to spend your golden years, you certainly want to end up somewhere that is both clean and sanitary as well as friendly. A positive atmosphere goes a long way to ensuring you make the most of retirement.

When checking out independent living communities, be sure to inspect the common areas for organization and cleanliness. Does the staff seem to take pride in what they do? Do the residents take pride in their community? If the answer to both of those is “yes,” you will likely be greeted by a clean and organized facility.

Be sure to also check out the staff. Are they helpful and do they carry themselves with a positive demeanor? If you are to spend your golden years at a retirement community, the staff can be the thing that makes it extra special. This is a point of emphasis for all of us at Southgate at Shrewsbury. We both set the tone and encourage residents to be as involved as they want to be in helping to shape their community.

The Benefits of Living in a Retirement Community Right Now

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With social distancing and COVID-19 becoming a staple in our current everyday lives, living in a retirement community has a plethora of additional benefits that should be considered when looking at life after your career.

You’ve worked hard to get to this point—you should ensure you set yourself up to enjoy your retirement, pandemic or not! Residing at an independent living facility has its perks, regardless. The following are some extra benefits the pandemic has shown us an independent living community has.

A Built In Social Network

With a large, diverse group of residents, living in a retirement community contains a built-in social network to help you maintain a vibrant social life. During the pandemic, socially distanced activities can still be planned. At a facility like Southgate at Shrewsbury, our residents and support staff alike are active in making sure our residents have something to keep them engaged despite the challenges a pandemic can cause.

Safe & Enclosed Facility

During unusual circumstances like a pandemic, a retirement community functions as a walled-off safe zone, which further protects residents from the virus. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, our attentive staff ensures our campus remains free of unnecessary risk so our residents can enjoy a calmer lifestyle.

On-Site Support Services & Staff

If you’re considering a retirement community like Southgate, you’ll notice the many on-site services, amenities and conveniences that allow for less travel into the outside world. On top of that, the staff operating these facilities are always ready to assist residents.

At Southgate, you will find convenient medical care on campus, a convenience store, multiple dining options, a beauty salon, a health spa and much more. For your enjoyment, there is also a library, swimming pool, candlepin bowling alley, woodworking studio, handicap-accessible garden and more.

While the pandemic has brought with it many challenges, choosing to live in a retirement community can be a solution to many of them by providing you with a safe environment insulated from unnecessary risks. You will find an exciting social community, wonderful living facilities and enough conveniences, services and activities to keep you engaged throughout your golden years.

Unleash Your Inner Artist

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Get Creative as You Age

Ah, retirement. You’ve finally entered the golden years, when you’re supposed to kick back, relax, and enjoy the reprieve from work that you rightfully deserve. There’s just one problem—what are you supposed to do with all of this extra time? If you’re feeling a bit anxious about transitioning from the daily grind of a full-time job into the laidback retirement lifestyle, don’t fret. The answer is simple: pursue an artistic hobby! Participating in the arts is a great way to stay active and involved with your community, and it’s also been proven to boost your wellness and happiness.

So what’s your artistic dream? Would you like to write a novel, or a collection of poems? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn how to paint, play an instrument, dance, act, or even produce a film. No matter your dream, retirement is the perfect time to embark on a new artistic journey. In the words of the venerable C.S. Lewis, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

Creative, Healthy Aging

It’s no secret that wellness and the arts go hand in hand. Numerous studies have shown that when you tap into your creative side, you’re simultaneously enhancing your personal health. One famous study conducted by Dr. Gene D. Cohen, director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University, found that senior citizens who were involved in weekly arts programs scheduled fewer doctor visits, took less medicine, were in better physical health, and performed better on mental health measures than seniors who did not participate in weekly arts programs.

“Engaging in community-based arts programs has a significant positive impact” on the health of older adults, says Gay Hanna, executive director of the National Center for Creative Aging. “What we’re finding is that older adults [who participate in the arts] have better brain health. The brain, contrary to the popularly-held belief, can continue to grow new cells just by being creatively engaged.”

Similar statistics were found in a study performed by Don D. Coffman, a professor at the University of Iowa. Published in 2009 in the International Journal of Community Music, Coffman’s study analyzed survey responses from more than 1,000 musicians in the New Horizons International Music Association. On average, New Horizons musicians are 70 years old, played an instrument in high school, and currently play their instruments for an hour each day.

The survey asked New Horizons musicians about their health and happiness. Approximately 74 percent of the survey respondents cited emotional well-being benefits from playing their instruments. Another 24 percent reported physical well-being benefits; 21 percent reported cognitive stimulation; and 20 percent believed they received socialization benefits.

As Hanna points out, socialization through arts participation is crucial to maintaining health and independence as you age. “Engaging in the arts allows a person to continue to learn and expand their social network, and to leave a legacy for their family and community,” she says.

Finding Your Niche

Once you’ve decided to get involved in the arts, the trick is finding a program that works for you. There are many ways to engage in the arts, so you don’t have to be Picasso to have a good time.  Here at Southgate at Shrewsbury, we pride ourselves on being a sophisticated, arts appreciative community.  Donald Flanagan, founding partner of Southgate, recognized that social, recreational, and artistic pursuits were the basis of a fulfilling lifestyle for seniors.  From our “Art Matters” course to our painting classes to our theatre productions to our summer concert series, Southgate at Shrewsbury has something for everyone to keep those creative juices flowing.

8 Reasons Why Many Seniors Prefer Senior Living Communities To Living Alone

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1. The end of yard work and home maintenance

Keeping up a home is hard, especially for those of us who have developed physical ailments. Mowing the lawn, climbing a ladder to change light bulbs, shoveling snow, pulling weeds, vacuuming- these become things of the past. You can enjoy the beautiful New England seasons without having to rake a leaf or pick up a shovel. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, our dedicated staff is here to ensure those worries are a thing of the past.  But don’t worry green thumbs: residents are more than welcome to adopt a garden.

2. Vanquishing boredom

Residents need never be bored at a senior community. There’s something for everyone. All kinds of entertainment and activities are offered, both on-site and out in the local community. Entertainment can range from visiting musicians and performers, to day trips that might include local landmarks, forays into nature, or just an outing to the local art museum.  Southgate offers countless amenities to allow you to pursue your hobbies and explore new interests, including a health club and spa, indoor swimming pool, candlepin bowling alley, woodworking shop, arts and crafts studio, billiard and card rooms, fireplaced library, and much, much more!

3. Better family relationships

Older folks frequently become dependent on their grown children, or other close family members, for help of all kinds. Unnatural role reversals can strain relationships and foster unhealthy feelings of resentment, both by parents and their sons and daughters. Younger family members are liberated from the role of full-time caregivers, and are able to assure that time with their older loved one is meaningful and high-quality. Older residents are glad to return to the role of family matriarch or patriarch and often pleased that their grown children no longer have to “parent the parent”.

4. Better food

There are many residents at senior communities who used to live alone, and were not eating right. Some skipped meals, some were living on ice-cream alone, and one lady would put cat-litter in the coffee brewer. At Southgate, residents don’t have to worry about grocery shopping, meal preparation, or even coffee brewing, if they don’t want to. In addition to fully-equipped kitchens in every apartment, you can enjoy a fine dining experience every day of the week at the Fountain Cafe, the Atrium Dining Room, or the Saratoga Cocktail Lounge.  A full menu offers you a selection of entrees, as well as a variety of seasonally-inspired dishes to satisfy the pallet.  Alternative meals are almost always offered and special diet needs can be accommodated. It’s common for new residents, who had been eating poorly before they moved in, to experience breathtaking improvements in their health and well-being just from three square meals per day.

5. No more stressful driving

Driving can be a tense and stressful as we age, and our driving abilities may not be what they once were either. For these reasons, most residents prefer to take advantage of the free transportation that’s provided by Southgate at Shrewsbury. There’s no need to rely on a car any longer, although parking is available for residents who still drive.

6. Feeling like myself again

Living alone, we may not be able to participate in games and activities we enjoyed, that were both fun, and helped keep us sharp. But senior communities offer a wealth of opportunities to keep engaged. This can include favorite games like chess, bridge and poker, engaging reading groups and discussion groups, and fascinating classes and lectures on every conceivable topic.  Southgate at Shrewsbury offers a variety of activities like our summer concert series, lobster bakes in the park, and our legendary Southgate Olympics for all to enjoy.  In addition, our diverse program calendar includes oil painting, jewelry-making, bowling, bocci, woodworking, language arts & more.

7. Making new friends

Older adults who live alone often become isolated, which is unhealthy at any age. At senior communities we can make friends, share a meal, and enjoy festive occasions with one another. On the other hand, those of us who are more introverted appreciate that our privacy is respected, but are still glad to have folks around.

8. Finally feeling safe

Residents can rest easy knowing that they are secured from thieves, con-men and ne’er-do-wells. Furthermore, residents enjoy the peace of mind that comes from the emergency response systems that are in each apartment, or sometimes on the resident’s person as a pendant. This alleviates fears about falling and becoming trapped for hours or even days, a scenario that’s all too common for senior’s residing alone.  Southgate at Shrewsbury provides unparalleled 24-hour staff, security, and emergency response systems to each and every resident.

If you are interested in learning more about Southgate at Shrewsbury’s unsurpassed amenities or would like to schedule a tour, please call us toll-free at 1-800-492-8331.  It’s not too early to start living your ideal retirement lifestyle!