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Southgate at Shrewsbury

Retirement community near Shrewsbury and Worcester, MA

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senior living

The Wondrous Effects of Music on the Mind

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You’re cooking a nice meal in your kitchen and the radio is on, playing your favorite song. You’re humming, tapping your foot along to the beat, maybe even mimicking the drums with your hands on the countertop as you flutter about …

You’re relaxing after dinner, listening to the music softly over the speakers in your living room. You’re thinking about nothing in particular, until suddenly THAT song comes on. Instantly, your memory begins to play before you …

It’s been a rough day! You’re stressed out and driving home—the other motorists are infuriating! Suddenly, what seems like just the right song begins to play through your speakers. You turn it up, hum and sing along …
“Wait, what just happened?”
Suddenly, you’re smiling.

Doesn’t it seem like a song can sway your mood? Make the mundane tasks seem exciting? Help us hold on to memories from years past?

That’s because it can! The audio cues our brain receives from music stimulate our cognitive functions in exciting ways and possess the power to help us more powerfully retain our memory and function as we age. Simply hearing the right rhythm, chord or song can drum a memory up you haven’t recalled in many years.

The phenomenal, almost unbelievable ways our mind responds to music has been a focus of study in recent years, and the results are very encouraging!

Think Fast! Background Music Improves Cognitive Speed and Memory

According to a study completed for the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, background music played while performing any other activity displayed a positive correlation between cognitive speed and memory in older adults. Specifically, upbeat music improved both processing speed and memory while downbeat music displayed little-to-no improvement regarding processing speed but the same improvements regarding memory function.

A 2019 study conducted for the same publication backs up the claims that both creating music and listening to music provides cognitive benefits as we age that, not only help us stave off neurological decline, but continue to bolster our overall neurological function.

“Forget Your Troubles and Just Get Happy!”

Judy Garland first sang the hit “Get Happy” for MGM’s Summer Stock in 1950, long before a study for The Journal of Positive Psychology conducted in 2012 found that music can help you actually do just that! If you are actively engaged in trying to improve your mood and play what you would define as ‘happy’ or ‘positive’ music, you’re much more likely to become actually happy.

Another study conducted one year later for PLoS One by researchers from Brandeis University in Massachusetts and clinical psychologists in Switzerland and Germany found that listening to music before and after stressful events reduced the amount of response from the typical stress indicators within the nervous system.

So when you’re feeling down, music can help you chase those blues away!

Music as Therapy for Neurological and Fibromyalgia Patients

Amazingly enough, music helps us unlock the cognitive power to help treat a wide range of symptoms and disorders. A study conducted for the Pain Management Nursing journal in 2013 used music as a therapy component for patients with fibromyalgia. All participants subjected to music as a part of their therapy reported significant reduction in both pain and depression.

Patients dealing with a variety of neurological disorders ranging from dementia and Alzheimer’s to stroke and multiple sclerosis have also shown to benefit from using music as part of their therapy, as a study conducted for the World Journal of Psychiatry concluded. Lessening depression and anxiety, as well as improvements in social interactions occurred more often in patients with added music therapy than without.

A study updated in 2017 for the Cochrane Library further cemented the importance of music for our neurological health by finding that symptoms of overall depression and anxiety can also be greatly aided by music.

Music for Improved Physical Performance

It’s not just our minds that are positively affected by music, but our bodies, as well. Whereas much of the mental benefits of music focus on the overall tone, the physical benefits are largely predicated on rhythm.

To demonstrate, without music, start tapping your hand or foot to an imaginary song or beat. Notice that, by and large, there is an even amount of time between taps. We are naturally a rhythmic species, which has led researchers to study the links between the rhythms of music and our physical performance as far back as 1911, when Leonard Ayres discovered cyclists pedaled faster when a band played.

In 2018, researchers for the American Psychological Association conducted a wide study related to self-selected music and exercise performance. They found improvements in motivation, actual performance related to both strength and stamina, and even perception of performance with the presence music. Next time you’re exercising, be it a walk, run, weight session or cycling excursion, be sure to tune in.

No matter our age, there are numerous benefits to incorporating music into various aspects of life, although it can play an even more imperative role as we get older. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we ensure residence have easy access to award-winning music acts both on our campus and in the form of off-site trips. Many of our residents play music and love to share their gifts with the community. Whether you play or not, there are always ways to inject more music into your life. Now, fire up those speakers or grab that instrument and spread some good health along with the smooth melodies!

*This blog was written to the smooth tones of Miles Davis.

Meeting New People and Making New Friends Within a Retirement Community

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Building a Social Network is Important for Health and Happiness

First of all, congratulations on reaching the point of retirement! You’ve surely worked hard to get to this point and have had many visions of what your retirement may entail. Now it’s time to make those visions your new reality, and live your best life during your golden years,

Second, though, are certain hurdles that need to be cleared in order to thoroughly enjoying life in retirement. When you’re selecting a retirement community, be sure to inspect the social atmosphere to gauge whether you see yourself making new friends and forging bonds with people in the same way you have throughout the other phases of your life. Human connection is vital to happiness and health in an independent living facility, where feelings of isolation and loneliness take hold if you have difficulties fitting in.

Although it may be one of the more daunting aspects of retiring, communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury have vibrant social communities. Our campus is chock-full of friendly and unique residents, as well as staff that are supportive and engaged. There are a variety of ways to facilitate meeting people within your new community and things to make sure you look for—this blog will go over a few to help you get your social life in retirement off to a good start.

Things to Look For

When looking into independent living facilities, be sure to visit and observe the common areas across the campus. Communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury have a diverse and wide variety of facilities for resident use. Be sure to stop by the heath club and make sure the facilities will work for you, as you maintain your physical health in retirement. In addition to a traditional health club, you will find a variety of other spaces in which to meet other residents and gather.

Our facilities include an on-site four-lane bowling alley, a library with a cozy fireplace, billiard and card rooms, a nondenominational chapel and more. Be sure you take a thorough tour and assess the options against your lifestyle. Ask about the existence of groups and clubs you may be interested in, as well as opportunities to connect with the nearby community. If your independent living facility checks these boxes, you will be setting yourself up for happiness in retirement.

In addition to things you should look for, there are things you can do that will enhance your ability to make friends and build a true community within your independent living facility.

Start a Group or Club

You’ve made it to retirement, so it’s safe to assume you’ve built up a fair number of interests and hobbies over the course of your life, so far. Whether you’re an avid reader of a specific genre of literature, a film and television buff or enjoy cooking new dishes from around the world, an independent living facility provides you with a large pool of residents that might have similar interests.

Starting a group or club is great way to introduce yourself to your new neighbors and make new friends. Pick an interest or hobby and think about how you’d introduce it to others at your first meeting. After that, you can put

together announcements to print and post in common areas. Examples of great areas to post at a facility such as Southgate at Shrewsbury would be dining facilities and the cocktail lounge, the health club and spa, the on-campus park and the library.

If you’d like to start a club or group but are short of ideas, this list of 100 hobbies and activities will surely help light the spark.

Get Involved in the Greater Community

Perhaps you are passionate about helping children or the disadvantaged, or you enjoy teaching and mentoring others in the field you used to work in. Maybe you are driven by a specific cause, or you love spending time with animals. If any of those describe you, be sure to find a place for your some of your time within the greater community and spread the word so others can join you on a journey beyond the walls of your independent living facility.

We’ve discussed ways to find mentorship opportunities, in a previous blog post. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities and do not have an organization or cause in mind, try visiting volunteermatch.org and searching in your area. You’ll be surprised at the amount of interesting opportunities exist! Getting together with some of your new neighbors to venture forth and do good things in the world will surely bring good feelings and lead to forging friendships that will be such an integral part of your life in retirement.

It is impossible to understate the importance of developing a healthy social life in retirement, just as it has been in every other phase of your life. Without a career taking up at least eight hours every day, there is more time to fill with whatever you’d like to fill it with. Be sure you fill that time with engaging and stimulating activities that will keep you from feeling left out and feeling lonely. When you enter a retirement community, the possibilities for friendship are numerous and will only enhance this exciting and final phase of your life you’ve worked so hard to get to.

Three Keys to Remaining Happily Healthy in Retirement

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Understanding Senior Depression

In order to optimize happiness in retirement and avoid senior depression, it’s important to understand the unique difficulties the elderly community faces. As we get older, we are more likely to live alone and feel isolated. Friends, family and neighbors have moved, and the landscapes around us have changed. We are also more likely to deal with physical and mental ailments.

Depending on the study, it’s estimated that up to almost 25% of seniors deal with or have dealt with senior depression. It can often be difficult to identify because the symptoms can be conflated with other mental and physical issues associated with aging.

Because depression can be left undiagnosed, it behooves seniors to combat depression proactively. It is also key to understand the difference between grief (which lasts for a limited time and is linked to a jarring event such as death or a move) and chronic depression. The following tactics will help you maintain a fulfilling life in retirement.

Make New Friends

As we get older, it is inevitable our social landscape will change. A recent study conducted at Michigan State University highlights how valuing friendships later in life correlated to overall improved mental and physical function even more than family. This is not to say family is not important, it is meant to highlight the truly powerful value of quality friendship.

As we grow older, our interests and abilities may change, but our need for a fulfilling social life does not. If you’re looking to make new friends in retirement, try taking a class, volunteering, joining a group or getting a part-time job. Keep yourself in environments where you’re stimulated and meeting new people—depression will have a harder time creeping in and affecting your mental and physical state.

Watch Your Nutrition and Be Active

Proper nutrition and physical activity are important at any age, but as we grow older, the problems associated with having poor nutrition and lackadaisical exercise habits can be significantly more hampering. Poor nutrition and low activity levels not only lead to a myriad of physical health issues like high blood pressure, brittle bones and increased risk of diabetes, they also increase the likelihood depression will take hold.

While you’re physically active, endorphins are released into the brain’s opioid receptors, causing you to feel euphoric. When you’re exercising effectively, you also stave off physical ailments that can lead to time away from activity and lead to more feelings of isolation.

Ensuring quality nutrition habits will not only help stave off illnesses such as diabetes and various forms of cancer, it will keep your brain functioning more powerfully and help regulate mood. This 2017 study found people with depression that adopted a better nutrition plan felt their symptoms improve. Check out this WebMD article to help you with your nutrition, but also …

Talk to Your Doctor

As we age, it becomes more important that we have regular check-ups with our doctors. Always keep your doctor in the loop! If you have a broken arm, you will obviously tell your doctor, so why not do the same for your brain? Your doctor will be able to assist you in gathering the resources you need to best take care of yourself, whether it be the right medication, the right diet or the right medical professional.

All in all, remain engaged with the world around you and you will be much less likely to suffer from senior depression. This can be difficult as your world changes, which is why independent living communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury provide residents with a bevy of activities and events to keep them engaged, active and happy. If you’re concerned about depression as you enter retirement, an independent living community might be the best option for you.

Online Courses for the Continued Knowledge and Enrichment of the Mind

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Our brain may not be our largest organ—that distinction belongs to our skin—but it is one of our most vital. Many of us have not been in school for quite some time and have found other ways to continue to sharpen our minds, but what would you do if you could access a plethora of courses across a wide variety of interests—some of them free—in the safety of your home and at the convenience of your own time?

While you’re filling personal time in new ways during this pandemic, try out one of the following course options! Many courses are available through top universities, and some come with accreditations and certificates if you’re looking to further your professional standing and are not yet retired.

 

Coursera

Coursera collaborates with over 200 universities and companies to provide one of the largest course catalogs available online. Whether you want to take a free course or get a full-fledged degree online, Coursera likely has what you are looking for.

Their freebie courses are no joke, either! You can take The Science of Well-Being course from Yale University, learn about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies from Princeton University, or even learn beginner Chinese from Peking University.

 

Udemy

Udemy has put together an impressive list of courses and certificate programs ranging from professional & personal development to arts & crafts to photography, music and so much more. Courses on Udemy range in pricing from as low as $9.99.

Udemy is also looking for instructors. If you have a particular knack or knowledge you would like to pass on, you can also inquire about teaching. While Coursera is more focused on industry and university partnerships, Udemy focuses on partnerships with individual instructors, essentially building out their own digital institution of higher learning.

 

Udacity

Udacity is focused on career and certificate training, mostly in technology and such as data science, programming and artificial intelligence. If you’re looking to build skills and possibly start a new career or part-time job in retirement, Udacity is a great place to start. These are full courses and programs that typically require five–ten hours/week.
 

Free Courses from the Top Universities

Amazingly, there are also many top universities offering free, accredited courses online on their own. The following list are some universities offering free courses:

  • Harvard University currently offers 80 free courses from a variety of areas of study. You can learn to code or explore the history of navigation.
  • Stanford University currently offers free courses in health & medicine, education, engineering and arts & humanities.
  • Georgia Tech offers free courses in business, computing, engineering, management and more.
  • École Polytechnique in France offers 29 free online courses—10 of which are in English.
  • The University of Hong Kong offers a large variety of free courses from sciences & technology to the humanities & the arts. You can complete a variety of courses from studying dinosaur ecosystems to learning about Hong Kong cinema through a global lens.
  • University College London currently offers 122 open enrollment online courses, many of which are free.
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology started MITOpenCourseware to provide great STEM courses accessible for anyone with the ability to access the internet.
  • CalArts offers several free courses for open learning that include poetry, graphic & web design, music theory and more.

The knowledge is always out there for us to find, so keep your mind sharp, go forth and soak it in! Think of your brain like a fine wine; if you treat it right, it will get better with age.