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Ah, retirement! It’s the highly anticipated life transition meant to reward you for all those years of hard work. Now that you have more free time, how will you spend it? Perhaps you want to travel, try new things, or take time to learn a new skill. But, bringing your plans to fruition may be challenging. How can you ensure that you’re making the most of your golden years? If this is a question you ask yourself, you’re not alone. You may want to consider moving into an independent retirement community in Edmonton to support you in this new stage. Let’s discuss how this move to independent senior living can help you pursue your best life. 

Ways to Create a Good Life

When planning for retirement, there are various things to consider to ensure a you continue care for yourself and experience meaningful opportunities. Understanding what they are and finding the best variations and combinations for your unique needs can help you determine your next steps.

Social Connectivity

Feeling connected to others can elevate your happiness at any point in your life, especially during retirement. Spending time with family, catching up with a friend, or meeting new people can foster a feeling of closeness, making you feel purposeful with a sense of belonging.

Active Mind and Body

Physical activity can increase endorphins and elevate your energy. However, staying active goes beyond walking and daily exercise. It’s also essential to engage in mind-stimulating activities for your well-being and happiness. You can do this by attending a class, solving a puzzle, or trying a new hobby.

Access to Care

Care encompasses a broad spectrum. Depending on your stage of life, you may prioritize particular needs over others. Access to care includes medical and personal, but it can also involve assistance in any area of your day-to-day routine, from getting help with chores to using services for more convenience. 

How Can Independent Retirement Communities Enhance Your Life?

Your living situation in retirement can significantly affect how you pursue the areas discussed above. When you’re still self-sufficient but looking for ways to make life easier, an independent retirement community in Edmonton can help you find the right balance between slowing down and reaching for new opportunities. 

Convenience

One of the main benefits of living in an independent senior community is that life becomes more convenient, so you can spend more time doing what you love most. It’s time to leave the days of home maintenance behind you! You will no longer have to worry about mowing the lawn, shovelling snow or dealing with leaky pipes. 

You can also access various in-house amenities and services to make your life easier. These include shuttle and busing options, on-site hair salons, diverse dining choices, and planned activities to keep your mind and body engaged.

Freedom

Independent senior living allows you to live your best life the way you want. You can create your own schedule, visit with whomever you wish, and come and go as you please. Freedom like this can give you a sense of self-sufficiency and boost your self-esteem.

Social Life

Having others in a similar life stage within the same vicinity provides an excellent opportunity to create new connections. This community closeness makes it easy to meet for dinner, a walk, or an outing whenever is most suitable for you.

Life at The Waterford of Summerlea

At The Waterford of Summerlea, we want to help you make the most out of the question “What should I do next?” with our independent retirement community in Edmonton. We foster a carefree environment for you to flourish in new ways while providing you with the facilities, amenities, and services you desire to remain happy and healthy.
From 24-hour support to classes, social activities, and excellent dining options, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Contact us today to learn more about what our space offers.

Last updated December 2022

 

Though the idea of retirement can seem exciting initially, as our parents or senior loved ones reach this stage of life, it can often become lonely and isolating – especially if they are a widow. That’s why living in a senior community is such a benefit for our aging parents. It provides them with many exciting opportunities that can help improve and maintain their physical, mental, and emotional health. They can socialize with others, partake in games, outings and activities, and above all, enjoy a community where they can belong and feel cared for. Read on to learn more about the benefits of living in a senior community.

 

Last updated December 2022

Downsizing can be a time of excitement. However, when you’re faced with the prospect of packing up your home and moving into a smaller space, it can be overwhelming. Furthermore, if you are a senior or if your parents have reached a certain stage in their lives, this can be a necessity for yourself or them. 

Thankfully, relocating into a new space doesn’t need to be stressful or time consuming. Whether you're downsizing because you want to be closer to family members or prefer to live in a retirement home, these tips can help ease the transition and creating a stress-free move for the summer.

Last updated December 2022

 

For centuries, humans have been exploring different ways to achieve the best state of well-being. Most theories, practices, and definitions across time generally understand that wellness is holistic. According to the Global Wellness Institute, dimensions of modern holistic wellness include physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental health. As you age, these different aspects of wellness can be nurtured through various practices to improve your overall state of being. Let’s explore four health and wellness tips for seniors to help you feel happy and fulfilled as you get older.

 

Engage in Daily Exercise

 

You didn’t need to be a star athlete in your youth to engage in meaningful physical activity as an older adult. Different activities like swimming, walking, stretching, yoga, or dancing can have physical benefits: regular movement promotes better sleep, mobility, and healthy body functioning. There are also various emotional advantages, like increased self-esteem and reduced stress, depression, and anxiety. 

 

Stimulate Your Mind

 

Just as our bodies need exercise, so do our brains. Activities like puzzles, riddles, or reading can stimulate your mind and keep you sharp as you age. Perhaps you can learn something new, like a musical instrument or knitting. You can also delve into unfamiliar topics. Even as we get older, learning remains a lifelong process, so exploring new ideas and perspectives can bring you the excitement of new curiosity and a sense of accomplishment. 

 

Stay Socially Connected

 

Maintaining social connections will help you feel supported and less alone, especially amidst the increased isolation experienced by many seniors. Catching up with a friend, spending time with your family, or volunteering with others can be effective ways to bring more meaning to your life. While face-to-face interactions are ideal, making a phone call or video chatting can also create feelings of closeness.

 

Practice Mindfulness 

 

Mindfulness is your ability to be fully present and aware of your internal environment. The challenges of aging, especially in a rapidly evolving world, can cause stress. It can be hard to deal with your anxious thoughts, emotions, and feelings. And that’s okay. 

 

One way to practice mindfulness is through gratitude. It can be easy to forget what you have and focus on everything you lack. For example, as you age, you may fixate on all the things you no longer have the ability to do. You can practice gratitude by identifying all the capabilities you still have. Share your thoughts with someone, or jot your ideas in a journal daily. Keeping a journal for appreciation and any other thoughts you may have is an effective way to promote self-awareness and improve your wellness. Writing down your ideas provides a safe space to release your emotions. 

 

When you intentionally think about what you are thankful for, you remind yourself that even in the worst of times, shimmers of light are around every corner. Other ways to be mindful include meditation and breathing practice. These techniques regulate your nervous system and centre your thoughts, helping you focus on what matters.

 

Wellness and Where You Live 

When taken together, these health and wellness tips for seniors can help you improve your overall happiness. As you try these ideas, you may find that all areas of your life will improve, from your mood and sleep to your energy and stress levels. We at The Waterford of Summerlea know that prioritizing your health and happiness can be challenging as you age. Get in touch with us so we can help you in your wellness journey with independent living that offers various activities to support your goals.

There might come a time when moving to a senior living community is the next step in life. If this transition scares you, you’re not alone. Sometimes, these fears and anxieties can cause relocation stress syndrome for older adults. Whether you experience mild or acute worries around this type of change, there are some things you can do to make yourself feel more comfortable in your new home. Let’s explore relocation stress syndrome and four tips to help you through this new chapter.

What is Relocation Stress Syndrome?

Relocation stress syndrome (RSS) in the elderly is the experience of anxiety, hopelessness, and loneliness due to moving, often from private residences to senior living facilities.

Moving at any point in your life is stressful. But, at older ages, relocation can be more difficult when you factor in stressors like medical needs, loss of spouses, friends, or siblings, and the trauma that might come from uprooting yourself from a home you may have lived in for decades. You may be more prone to RSS if you:

• Struggle with anxiety, depression, pain, or PTSD

• Experienced a traumatic event like the death of a loved one or a severe medical diagnosis

• Have dementia

• View moving as a stressful event

Specific signs can indicate RSS. These symptoms typically show during the initial stages of moving, as you settle in, and over time:

 

• Anger or apprehension

• Anxiety or depression

• Withdrawal

• Confusion 

• Loneliness

• Body aches

• Difficulty sleeping

Four Tips for Smoother Transition to Senior Living

If you experience stress and anxiety around moving, that’s perfectly normal. As a senior, it’s good to know about relocation stress syndrome to prepare for an easier transition. Here are our top tips for how you can make the most of relocating:

Advocate for Your Needs

Part of the anxiety around moving might come from giving up the home you’ve lived in for a long time and feeling like things are out of your control. When you move into independent living, write down your needs and ensure they are met. Review your prospective new home and its amenities to see if it has everything you desire and more so you can feel confident about your decision.

Acknowledge Your Fears and Validate Your Feelings

Sometimes you don’t want to admit that you’re scared. One of the most empowering things you can do at a time like this is to acknowledge that feeling emotional is okay. Your sentiments are well-founded whether you’re anxious, sad, confused, or lonely. Self-acknowledgment and validation of these feelings can make you feel more in control of your internal thoughts, which can help ease you into this transition.

Recreate Your Old Home

The unfamiliarity of a new living situation can make anyone feel unsettled. Try to make your new home just like your old one by rearranging the furniture, displaying valuable keepsakes, and sticking to a similar routine. Recreating these consistencies can help you feel more at ease.

Get Involved in Your New Community

One of the best remedies for RSS-related symptoms is surrounding yourself with people. In an independent living community, connecting with new faces is more accessible because everyone lives in the same vicinity. Once you open the door to conversation, this can lead to new adventures, like starting a hobby with your friends or looking forward to regular outings. 

Independent Living Made for Smooth Transitions

At The Waterford of Summerlea, our independent senior living community in Edmonton is designed to empower you. We know that moving can be difficult, so that’s why we offer many amenities and services to fulfill your unique needs. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can support you in this new chapter!

 

Last updated December 2022

 

The season of spring is a time when the leaves are changing, flowers are blooming and, for your senior loved ones, a sign of new beginnings. With the weather becoming warmer and not a snowflake in sight, it’s possible to enjoy outdoor activities together, plus there are more hours of daylight. With this, spring is also a time for reinvention, such as redecorating a retirement home apartment for Mom, Dad, or even yourself. 

 

Below, we have provided tips on how you and your loved ones can decorate a senior living space for spring.