An Engaging Lifestyle in a Community of Peers

If you're a senior, you'll find that there are a host of benefits to living in a vibrant Erickson Senior Living community filled with your peers. 

The combination of opportunities to be socially active; eat healthy, delicious meals; and engage in a wide range of activities offers the ideal setting to optimize your health and well-being. 

We spoke with Dr. Matt Narrett, chief medical officer at Erickson Senior Living, to learn more about how an integrated approach to health and well-being provides residents with all the resources they need to enjoy an engaging retirement. 

Q: How do residents benefit from living within a community of their peers? 

A: The combination of opportunities to socialize with neighbors, participate in a wide range of activities, and care for your health--all right on site--make continuing care retirement communities an ideal setting to optimize your well-being in retirement. 

Social connection has long been associated with a reduction in loneliness, which is one of the most profound risk factors for poor health among seniors. Erickson Senior Living communities offer a variety of clubs and groups, making it easy to find shared interests to pursue. 

Q: What potential issues do seniors face when living in a house that no longer meets their needs?

A: Some seniors don't realize that the house they've lived in for so many years is actually holding them back from living their best life! 

Living in a single-family house and having to drive everywhere can become a major barrier to going out and strengthening or making new social connections. This only furthers loneliness and its associated health risks. 

In addition, single-family homes--many with two or more floors--often pose a significant increase in risk of falls. Poor lighting, loose rugs, or cluttered hallways can add to this risk. 

At Erickson Senior Living, our one-level residences are designed with seniors in mind to prevent falls. They are also just steps away from many amenities located right on campus. 

Q: How do Erickson Senior Living community residents stay connected to one another, and why does that matter?

A: Residents stay connected in every way you can imagine--and then some! Since we offer community living, socialization is naturally woven into every activity. 

For example, by simply visiting the fitness center, you're very likely to run into a friend or neighbor who might want to join you for a workout. It gives you a lift emotionally and is also good for your physical health.

Dining at the on-site restaurants, which serve a variety of nutritious, tasty meals, is another wonderful way to connect with neighbors. Attending art classes, practicing with a singing group, or joining a volunteer initiative further help you make connections and find meaning and purpose, which are such vital aspects of aging vibrantly. 

Q: Why is socialization such a crucial component of health and well-being at Erickson Senior Living communities?

A: Socialization is central to Erickson Senior Living's approach because it's essential to helping people live better lives. We all share a common thread--we experience better health and well-being when we are connected; when we are not isolated and lonely. 

Both extroverts and introverts do best when they have relationships that provide support and comfort. This was clearly demonstrated in the deeply researched Harvard Study of Adult Development, where social support consistently distinguished those who successfully aged from those who did not.

Social connections will improve your physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being, and this is why it is so very important to us! Moving to an Erickson Senior Living community offers a vibrant, worry-free lifestyle filled with amenities, activities, and interactions that help keep seniors engaged and fulfilled.

Find an Erickson Senior Living community near you to learn more about our commitment to residents' health and well-being.