After last year, we could all use a little less stress in our lives. Seniors who are getting ready to retire or who are looking to downsize may have a lot of things in their life that cause stress. Housework, for starters – who really enjoys fixing things like dangerous stairs, dealing with electrical problems and basic home maintenance? And what about things like taking care of the yard, cleaning the house, doing laundry and the million other things you need to do when you own your home? Your senior years are a time to say goodbye to as much additional stress as possible, and moving into a senior living community is a great way to start reducing stress for seniors, according to Barbara A. Keller, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Peter Becker Community.
“Senior living provides an independent lifestyle along with maintenance-free living, which is one great way to eliminate stress pretty much instantly,” she explains. “That’s just for starters, because senior living also has a lot of benefits that can add up to a stress-free lifestyle in your golden years.”
Moving into senior living before you “need” it – in other words, before you require additional assistance in order to live safely – helps you live out a stress-free lifestyle that much more quickly. “We’ve found that residents who move into our community early on in their seniorhood have a sense of excitement and control that really allows them to enjoy everything the community has to offer without any regrets,” she says. “They benefit from decreased stress now and in the future.”
Why Decreasing Stress Is a Good Thing
While there will always be some level of stress in our lives, the hope is that it isn’t constant and doesn’t become overwhelming. For seniors, it’s especially important to reduce the amount of stress in their lives because it can have some significant health impacts.
When you’re stressed, your brain releases cortisol and adrenaline, which are used in the short term to give you focus, energy and stamina in adverse situations. However, if these levels are kept fairly high for a long stretch of time, it can start impacting your physical health. It’s common knowledge that high levels of stress are linked to many health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease and a lowered immune system. Some studies have shown that cortisol can actually damage the part of your brain that’s responsible for storing and retrieving memories.
As we get older, we’re already more susceptible to problems like what we listed above. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the most common signs of stress in order to help protect your overall health and give you some relief. Here are the most common signs of stress to watch for:
- Mood swings, such as becoming depressed or overly irritated
- Having memory issues
- Unable to concentrate
- Showing poor judgement on a regular basis
- Difficulty sleeping (or sleeping too much)
- Withdrawing from activities and social interactions
- Worsening health
- Losing or gaining a lot of weight suddenly
Reducing Stress for Seniors with Senior Living
Since April is National Stress Awareness Month, we wanted to highlight why and how senior living can decrease stress in the lives of older adults. Here are some of the biggest ways senior living does that.
- No more chores or maintenance.
Owning your own home is a wonderful thing – until all the tasks, chores and everything else become too overwhelming. Perhaps you don’t have the energy to do everything anymore – or perhaps you simply don’t want to do it, and would rather spend your time pursuing new hobbies and having adventures instead of staying inside with a mop and broom. Senior living handles all those tedious tasks and provides you with maintenance-free living. You don’t even have to go grocery shopping or cook if you don’t want, as you’ll have a variety of different dining options right at your fingertips. After spending so many years caring for others and keeping up a house, senior living lets you sit back and let someone else handle all that for you. This is one of the biggest boons in reducing stress for seniors. - A great social network.
Did you know that loneliness can actually contribute to your overall stress? Humans are social beings, and by staying connected to friends and family, we’re better able to regulate stress, stay healthier and, of course, are simply happier. It can be hard when you’re older to make and maintain friendships when you live on your own. In senior living, though, you’re instantly surrounded by a large community of others who are your same age and are looking for the same enjoyable, carefree life as you. You can be as social as you want, which is great if you’re not currently as active as you’d like.
- Safety and security 24/7.
As we get older, we can worry about our safety. What happens if we tumble down the stairs? Or someone breaks into our house? What happens if we leave our home for an extended vacation? Senior living takes away that concern. Communities have on-site team members and security individuals as well as secure entrances and exits, 24-hour emergency systems, security cameras and much more.
- Everything you need to age gracefully and well.
Everyone wants to remain healthy as they age, which requires eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, finding wonder in the world around you and keeping your mind active. In senior living, the focus is on helping residents stay as active and as healthy as possible so they can enjoy their retirement to the fullest. From delicious, nutritious chef-prepared meals to high-energy fitness classes to interesting events and activities, senior living provides so many opportunities and ways to stay healthy.
- Peace of mind.
We know that as we age, we will more than likely need extra help and assistance. Senior living provides that peace of mind. You’ll be able to age in place in a home you know and love while also receiving the caring assistance you need. Your family members will have peace of mind, knowing that you’re safe and cared for, always. And you’ll have peace of mind, knowing you’ll always be able to live life to the fullest. And that’s a beautiful thing.
Your Moments Are at the Heart of What We Do
At Peter Becker Community, it’s our mission each day to celebrate your individuality, whether you reside here full-time or are here as a temporary resident of our Health Care Center. Our support and encouragement are always expressed one-on-one. As a Continuing Care Retirement Community, we provide an environment that empowers you to remain active and independent, while ensuring your future needs will always be met. As a not-for-profit community, we are focused exclusively on the well-being of our residents.
We offer a full range of services – from independent Residential Living, to Personal Care, to Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, to compassionate Memory Care in our secure Memory Care neighborhood. Life here is good – it’s enriched by the time, choices, connections and involvement you’ll discover at our Continuing Care Retirement Community.
With our spectrum of activities, amenities, dining options, maintenance-free living and so much more, you’ll discover you spend more time enjoying our lifestyle and less time worrying about the details of life. You’ll find choices to build a secure life, connections that build closeness, involvement in the world at large and time to explore it all.
For more information about the services provided at Peter Becker Community, or to schedule a personal visit to our Continuing Care Retirement Community in Montgomery county, please contact us at (215) 720-1087 to begin the conversation.