Is Wellness a Fad?

For more than a year, preventing Covid has been the focus of health care. But ​what does the future look like?

For most seniors, living well means much more than not being sick. ​

Older adults are living longer and are demanding to live better. Senior communities are evolving to meet these demands by moving away from a care first mindset, and moving towards a culture of wellness.

And there is a good reason to focus on a wellness lifestyle...

​Exercise can prevent or delay many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

​Additionally, exercise can stop or even reverse cognitive decline, prevent depression and social isolation, and encourage independence.

However, there is much more to wellness than physical health.

Total wellness looks at the whole person in seven areas: social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, vocational, environmental, and physical. *1
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 ​We break it down into three categories below. 

Physical Wellness

Seeing the value of addressing all of these facets of health, senior communities are reimagining their facilities, programming, and activities. Robust physical fitness programs with age-specific machines and classes are being combined with massage, meditation, and mindfulness practices.

​Therapy pools allow exercise in a pain-free and therapeutic environment. Outdoors, extensive walking paths and gardens give residents fresh air and interaction with nature.

​Nutritional Wellness

Dining in senior living is no longer just about eating. 
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​Today’s older adults want the option of high-end restaurant-style dining, casual bistro seating, or healthy grab and go options. Whatever the venue, the emphasis is on high quality, nutritious, and clean food, with more variety and more plant-based options.

In the post-Covid world, flexible dining spaces with movable partitions, enhanced in-unit dining options, and ample outdoor seating will become the norm.
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In addition to better dining, many senior communities are offering wellness education seminars, ranging from nutritional education and disease management to cooking classes.

Seniors take control of their own wellness while engaging in socially and intellectually stimulating activities.

Social Wellness and Beyond

Programming activities and outings are key to meeting other aspects of wellness.
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Planned social gatherings, volunteer opportunities, educational workshops, and worship spaces are all vital for maintaining a high quality of life. Expanding one’s knowledge and skills through stimulating mental activities improves memory function and slows cognitive decline.

​“An active social life is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes, greater immunity to infectious disease, less risk of depression, and a longer life." *2
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Religious and spiritual involvement, as well as meditation, also promote a greater sense of both physical and mental well being.

​Who Benefits?

Everyone. Wellness programs are working. 
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​Benefits include reduced falls, social isolation, and cognitive decline, and greater independence, emotional health and quality of life.

​An ICAA study found that 86% of wellness program participants report they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the quality of life. At independent living communities, that percentage jumped to 96”! *3 A Yale University study on aging found that seniors with a positive view of their lives lived an average of 7.5 years longer than those with more negative views.” *2
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While wellness programs greatly improve the quality of life for residents, they also lead to long-term financial benefits for the institutions. Seniors taking part in wellness programs stay healthy longer, live longer, and remain in the community longer. Other financial benefits include lower health care operations costs, lower use of health care centers and medications, and reduced emergency room visits, hospital readmissions, and falls. *4 ​​

​The Wellness Culture is Here to Stay

​Older adults are taking charge of their health and expect to live in environments that promote good health and happiness, provide social engagement, and offer activities that enhance their cognitive, spiritual, and physical well being.

Sources:
1  ICAA (International Council on Active Aging)
2  SeniorLifestyle;  “7 ways Senior Communities Promote health & Wellness “
3  ICAA Wellness Benchmark report
4  Health Sense: “6 ways one provider is redefining wellness in senior living”