BENEFITS OF MOVING INTO A RETIREMENT VILLAGE

We look at some of the health benefits of moving into a retirement village.

1. Social connections

Living in a retirement community provides endless opportunities to develop close social connections and friendships. This becomes increasingly important as we get older and face a variety of life events that could trigger loneliness and isolation. The variety of social activities at retirement communities also plays a large role in mental stimulation. Informal games are readily available and fun activities and events like movie-nights, yoga lessons, weekly socials, and more are at the reach of seniors.

2. The end of home maintenance and repair

Freedom from home maintenance and repair becomes more and more attractive during senior years. The idea of fixing unanticipated, and often costly, problems that occur in a home can carry a lot of stress. By making the move to an independent senior living community, the cost associated with home problems is eliminated. Often, most repair and maintenance is included in your living arrangement.
The cost of moving into a retirement community can also prove to be more economical. Downsizing from your current home will allow you to reign in your monthly expenses and remove the responsibility of maintaining your home. Using a cost calculator can help you estimate how much you may save. Moving into a retirement community can also offer an opportunity to determine which of your possessions are important to you, rather than leaving this task to others.

3. Ensured safety and proper nutrition 

There are many residents living with us in our independent senior living communities who used to be alone, and who were not eating properly. Residents do not need to worry about meal preparation or even grocery shopping. Another benefit—the food is delicious, and chef-prepared! So not only are seniors enjoying mealtime more, but they also tend to notice improvements in their health by eating three quality meals each day. From pleasant housekeepers, to attentive servers at mealtime, and helpful maintenance technicians who are there when you need those, Holiday Retirement communities are the new extension of your family. We're here to make your life easier in any way we can. 

4. May help you live longer

A Swedish study found that following a healthy lifestyle - being sociable, physically active and participating in leisure activities - could add up to five years to women's lives and six years to men's. "Encouraging favourable lifestyle behaviours even at advanced ages may enhance life expectancy, probably by reducing morbidity," concluded the authors.
Which is great news as all Bupa retirement villages offer a range of daily activities and communal areas where residents can be social and physically active.

5. Help you be healthier

Retirement villages offer a range of activities from movie screenings, bingo games, gardening programs and regular outings. Which may be good news for your health. According to research conducted at Rush University Medical Center, higher levels of social activity are associated with a decreased risk of becoming disabled. It was found that a person who reported a high level of social activity was about twice as likely to remain free of a disability.

6. Hobbies can help make you healthy

When you move in to a retirement village, we go to great lengths to encourage and support you to continue on with your hobbies or start a new one which may be beneficial to your health. A study by Columbia University, New York, found that engaging in hobbies such as arts and crafts, music and reading could help reduce the effects of stress-related diseases and slow down cognitive decline.

7. Ready made friends

A retirement village can provide you with a ready-made circle of friends. Studies have found that as we get older it's important for our overall health to maintain and make friendships. Not only can it help you live longer, but if you do fall ill, it can help you recover quicker.

8. Onsite support

Knowing that a health professional is nearby can help put your and your family’s mind at ease, especially as we get older and are more susceptible for falls or becoming ill. Retirement village living is a positive way to help you stay happy and healthy during your later years.