February 24, 2023
No matter our age, building relationships with others is fundamental in enriching our lives. Research has shown that people who enjoy healthy relationships, live longer and happier lives. Maintaining relationships as we age has numerous health benefits such as increasing our physical and mental health, increasing mental acuity, promoting laughter and more!
At Hudson Grande Senior Living, I, as the Resident Services Director, play a pivotal role in helping to create opportunities for our residents to build relationships with their peers as well as helping to maintain these relationships through daily events. Oftentimes, aging adults are afraid of senior living settings. They see it as an end to their independence. Most fear being isolated from family and friends. One of the stigmas associated with senior living is, “I’m too young and active to be in senior living.” Therefore, many avoid it as an option all together. Unfortunately, this means they also lose out on the abundant opportunities to create new friendships and memories that this setting provides.
In our community, we have a group of residents who are professionals at welcoming new residents and helping them to feel at home as they settle in. We also ensure that new residents are invited to join all events, based on their preferences. Once our residents take advantage of these events, they often find themselves meeting new people or even connecting with old friends or neighbors. Through our daily events and programs, we often see close friendships form that continue. Residents begin having meals together or even take trips out of the community for shopping and family get-togethers.
It is my goal to help build and foster these relationships and break the stigmas associated with senior living communities. Giving residents a variety of different events allows them to pick things that are of interest. That, in turn, allows residents to socialize with other residents that have similar interests. I think once a resident finds his or her “group” they get a feeling of belonging, which helps them feel more at home.
Seeing is believing. We can tell stories about how residents are still busy and active, but it isn’t until older adults come in to see what is really happening that they understand. Residents go on outings to the store, lunch, to the aquarium, and zoo. They always enjoy happy hour every Friday. Events like that show people senior living residents can still live their lives to the fullest while living in a community like ours!
Sources: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316
https://www.eddyseniorliving.com/latest-news/the-importance-of-senior-friendships-for-healthy-aging/
Welcome to University Senior Living, conveniently located near the prestigious University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Our vibrant senior living community offers both Assisted Living and Memory Care options, with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Amenities include restaurant dining, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. In addition, our community expands beyond our campus as it is close to retail shops, and cultural hubs, and the University of Michigan campus ensures residents have easy access to a variety of adventures and opportunities for engagement inside and outside of the community. Come experience the enriching lifestyle and compassionate care that University Senior Living has to offer. Schedule a tour today and discover why our community is the perfect choice for your retirement journey.
