Creating Bonds in Senior Living

As we age, isolation and loneliness increasingly become concerns for the well-being of older adults.

It’s a vital consideration for older adults and their loved ones, because a significant fact-or in one’s mental health is the strength of their relationships.

For over 80 years, Harvard University has been collecting data and conducting a study on the topic, and according to their findings, “people with strong connections to family, friends and their communities are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than people who are less well connected."

But with age, it can be more and more difficult to maintain those connections at a time when they’re more important than ever.

Spouses, friends and family members may pass away, and deterioration in health can make it more difficult to get out.

So what to do when it becomes harder to build, and maintain, those social bonds?

Senior Living Can Be the Answer

For older adults and their loved ones, senior living can help provide the sense of community that brings joy and meaning to life.

Finding a community with like-minded people, and where the staff is dedicated to hosting social events and forging those relationships among residents can provide someone with the network they need to remain happy and fulfilled at every stage of life.

Quite often, people equate senior living with a loss of independence, however, build-ing relationships with friends and neighbors can bring a sense of fulfillment that may be missing when someone lives alone and struggles to get out.

Relationships in Memory Care

For families with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, finding those opportunities for socializing can be challenging.

Many families struggle with the challenge of helping a loved one build relationships when that person might keep bringing up people from their long ago past.

In that case, it is important to find a community with staff well-versed in redirection techniques and the latest research to create meaningful moments for residents, with events that have a particular focus on engaging with those living with cognitive decline.

This article is courtesy of Prestige Assisted Living at Visalia. To learn more about their wellness programming or community, or to book a tour, visit prestigecare.com/Visalia or call (559) 735-0828.