One of the common refrains from residents in senior living is, “I wish I’d done this so much sooner.” From the social aspect, to the meal preparation, to the assistance with daily activities, there are so many reasons why people can thrive in senior living.
That ability to thrive also means better health, a fact that was documented in a report released earlier this year. According to NORC at the University of Chicago, “The research found that people who move into senior housing experience decreased vulnerability, receive more healthcare services at home, and have slightly increased longevity…”.
In this blog, we’ll explore five of the reasons that older adults can have better health outcomes in a senior living community.
On-Site Health Professionals
If someone is living at home alone, it can be easy to let their health lapse. However, in senior living, there are health services staff who can help residents with their day-to-day health needs.
That can include health services directors who develop and oversee resident care plans, registered nurses who can tend to day-to-day health needs, medication technicians who help residents keep up with their prescriptions every day, and other health professionals.
Those teams often work in tandem with residents’ physicians and providers to ensure they’re following care plans and reporting any changes they see.
Furthermore, communities will often have specialists come by for residents to get checked out or ask questions.
It’s a far greater continuum of care than someone will likely follow living at home alone, or being tended to by family who also have their own busy lives.
Spotting Issues As They Arise
Those health professionals in a senior living community can be valuable beyond their essential functions in tending to day-to-day health – being around residents every day, they might spot changes in health that residents can then discuss with their physicians.
Someone living alone might not visit the doctor often enough for those changes to be noticed, or they just might not see a doctor at all.
But as the health teams in communities get to know residents every day and can see up close how they’re doing, they can be a vital first point of contact in helping address a change in health.
That can even go for the mental health of residents, which is just as vital as physical health.
Full-Time Fitness
One of the key indicators of health and well-being in aging is fitness – and you can learn much more about fitness for older adults through our blog archives.
Many senior living communities have trained staff to lead residents through age and ability-appropriate exercise regimens that build strength, stamina and help reduce falls (more on that below).
At Prestige, our fitness programs help residents stay strong, active and independent. Each new resident undergoes a physical assessment upon moving in, and then joins fitness classes suited to their comfort and ability, where the exercises can be performed seated, standing, or a combination of both.
Many communities also have offering personal training for residents who are more comfortable away from a group setting, or have specific needs they want to work on.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that older adults get 150 minutes of exercise per week, combining cardiovascular, strength and balance exercises.
Ask yourself – is that something you or a loved one is currently doing at home?
Fall Prevention
If you or an older adult is living at home – have you done a walk-through to look at the fall risks around the home?
You can start with this checklist, and we highly recommend doing so, as falling is one of the most pressing health concerns facing older adults. According to the CDC, every year there are one millions hospitalizations that are a result of falls, which commonly cause hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and unfortunately, death.
However, there are a variety of ways that senior living communities help keep residents safe from falls, with just a few of those safety measures including:
- Emergency call buttons
- Grab bars in the bathrooms
- Non-slip mats in bathrooms
- Walk-in tubs/showers
- Elevators
- Walkways clear of tripping hazards
Nutrition
As we age, even with the best of intentions it can be hard to eat right. As mobility declines, it can be harder to get to the grocery store. In the kitchen, it might be more difficult to be up on your feet for the time it takes to prep a healthy meal. If a loved one is living alone, it may be hard to summon the motivation to cook for one.
The challenges that come with shopping and cooking exacerbate what can already be a challenge for seniors to eat healthy.
A senior living community alleviates those challenges by taking care of it for the residents. Meal planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning – that’s taken care of by the staff at the community, who prepare meals with the unique health needs of seniors in mind.
At Prestige, that means the Taste of Prestige dining program launched earlier in 2024, with a focus not just on nutrition, but the joy and community that comes from sharing meals together.
Prestige Is Here To Help
At Prestige Senior Living, our teams help residents stay healthy and vital with programming to meet all of the needs noted above.
Find the Prestige community nearest you to get in touch and schedule a tour, where you can learn more about health services, fitness, fall prevention and nutrition.
We pride ourselves on treating residents like family, and helping them thrive and celebrate life at every age.
