Senior living communities bring a robust social life to residents

In most senior living communities, residents have plenty of free time on their hands. At communities run by management services that are focused on maintaining the independence and lifestyle of the residents, that time is easily filled.

"At Liberty Senior Living, we have all sorts of things. We have classes and cooking demonstrations, outings and social groups, concerts or movies, and lifelong learning opportunities, like Spanish classes, book clubs, women clubs and walking clubs," said Haley Norris, the regional wellness and enrichment director for Liberty Senior Living. "We have offerings that are resident-led, so maybe those are hobbies that someone has a passion for, and they want to keep teaching people. During the pandemic, the communities have really stepped up their games and provided a lot of in-house opportunities for residents that some people were lacking."

In the role as the wellness and enrichment director, Norris works with all of Liberty's independent living communities across North and South Carolina. For Norris, the social lives provided in these communities play a crucial role in the mental health and wellbeing of the residents. When choosing a senior living community for yourself or your loved one, Norris recommends looking for a community that offers an active social calendar.

"One thing that senior living communities can do, and Liberty does a great job of, is celebrating the different holidays and different events. They keep up with what's going on in the world, then they bring it to their community and have events to match, whether it's an Easter egg hunt or a Christmas or New Year's Eve party," said Ann Janvier, a residency counselor at Hayes Barton Place. "Communities can have big events for residents to dress up and participate in. There are lots of different things going on to keep everybody moving."

Aside from an active social calendar, keeping residents occupied also helps to reduce mental health issues spurred on by boredom or loneliness.

"A big concern for the older adult population in general is the idea of isolation, which can also lead to a lot of different health concerns. Having a community that's dedicated to creating a sense of welcoming and community and fellowship can help mitigate some of those concerns," said Norris. "Community's really important, as well as finding somewhere where you can be yourself and continue on with your hobbies and teach others. Mental health can be improved with an active social life by decreasing depression and anxiety and isolation. Older generations tend to have a more difficult time discussing mental health, but it's even more important to discuss it with them and talk about how it can be improved."

For senior adults, it's not just mental health that plays a role in overall wellbeing. While their mobility may not be on the same level as it used to, there are still plenty of ways seniors can stay active.

Finding a senior living community that focuses on the health of both the mind and body is key.

"One nice thing about Liberty Senior Living is they have a whole person wellness program that is designed to help each individual resident meet their optimum level of health," said Donna McCaskill, a senior residency counselor for Hayes Barton Place. "The way that they describe it is that wellness is more than an absence of disease — rather, it's an overall sense of wellbeing in every dimension, including physical, nutritional, spiritual, social and intellectual."

While not all senior living communities offer programs on the same level as Liberty, it's important for individuals to look into physical wellness programs offered by communities, in addition to social programming. That way, they can ensure their loved one has a holistic experience.

Oftentimes, amenities can help round out the experience.

"All communities offer some type of common area or clubhouse space. In these spaces, you can find things such as a pool, hot tub and exercise room or arts center. Dining space is also important with some communities offering multiple venues for people to pick and choose from " said McCaskill. "It's that common space that can make a big difference for residents where they can interact, stay active and engage in lifelong learning."

Inside the wellness center, residents can participate in fitness classes like water aerobics and yoga, and even classes specialized for people with certain conditions.

Some senior living communities — like those operated by Liberty — even offer in-house spas, where residents can get their nails and hair done without leaving their neighborhood. In offering these activities and amenities, senior living communities help residents maintain as much independence and autonomy as possible.

"Life plan communities are designed for bringing people in to live independently and enhancing their independence, not taking anything away, but enhancing that independence and making it more vibrant," said McCaskill. "They don't have any worries — they don't have to worry about their yard. They don't have to worry about the utilities. Now, all they have to do is sit back and enjoy life. And we have even found, in some instances, that our residents get stronger and flourish more in the active environment that we offer in our communities."

There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing a senior living community, and it all comes down to what you or your loved one are most comfortable with.

For Norris, one of the best ways to ensure that comfort is by searching for a place that prioritizes the input of residents.

"We really work to create relationships one-on-one with our residents and establish that relationship and build upon it. Right when you move in, all the departments come and meet you on a one-on-one basis and ensure you understand their departments and what there is to offer, then we'll also establish a baseline of where they are physically and where they want to see themselves in one year's time," said Norris. "By getting to know them, we can be a liaison to create friendships between people with similar interests, then also cater programming to match some of those interests."

"It allows residents to maintain their autonomy, but also to be accompanied by friends and neighbors who are experiencing similar life changes. Their friends push them to do new things and try new things that maybe they haven't done in 15 years," she continued. "Seeing someone being comfortable in a setting where they didn't think they would, then for that to provide benefits for their mental health, their physical health, their emotional health, and all aspects of wellness — it's wonderful."