Community plays a big role in successful ageing
Rowe & Kahn’s 1997 [1] study on successful ageing finds a strong correlation between better health and community engagement. Being engaged and having high levels of physical and cognitive function is what they consider successful ageing.
“Living well” and “being well” go hand in hand. But what does it mean to live well?
How we age is greatly influenced by the social and physical environment we live in. There’s no doubt that where you live shapes what you can do there, and in that way, influences your health.
Your choice of community is actually more important than you think.
Social participation is seen to be a significant factor for maintaining overall health and well-being. Community engagement and social participation are associated with better health in old age and lower mortality rates. How significant is this association? Just as significant as well-established risk factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, exercising and eating well (Holt-Lunstad, Smith & Layton, 2010 [2]).
“Social relationships, or the relative lack thereof, constitute a major risk factor for health—rivalling the effect of well-established health risk factors such as cigarette smoking, blood pressure, blood lipids, obesity and physical activity”
—House, Landis, and Umberson; Science 1988 [3]
A review of five large prospective studies three decades ago suggested that social relationships predict mortality [3]. Immediately after this provocative review was published, studies of mortality that measured social relationships skyrocketed.
148 independent studies found that social relationships significantly predict mortality. How big was the increase in survival odds? Incredibly, the research showed that social relationships increase survival odds by 50%.
But how can a retirement community support social relationships?
In our community, we focus on three key ways to support social relationships. We refer to these as themes.
Vitality
Vitality is one of the five key strengths most strongly associated with happiness and well-being. Curiosity, optimism, gratitude, and the ability to love and be loved are the other four strengths.
Via, which means life in Latin, is the root word of the word vitality. Physically, it means feeling strong, capable, and healthy. Psychologically, it gives meaning and purpose to life. Our residents enjoy a variety of activities to stay active, mentally sharp, and socially engaged. Whether it’s table tennis, tai chi, or a social event, our community is full of activities to keep you energised. All of our activities are designed to provide our residents with joy and excitement. Our variety of activities stimulates curiosity and fosters connections.
Learn more about how we foster vitality >>
Support
Our supportive community is made up of caring people who are committed to making your retirement living experience enjoyable and safe. We offer a wide range of wrap-around support services, from 24/7 on-site medical support to housekeeping services, so you can focus on enjoying your retirement.
Friendship
Study after study has found that health and psychological well-being improve for seniors when they:
1. Like and care about other people
2. Have fun together
3. Feel comfortable confiding in each other
4. Remind each other to stay healthy (Blieszner & Adams, 1992). To put it another way – when they have good friends!
From birth, we are wired to connect with others. Our lives are shaped by our relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. A sense of belonging, emotional support, and companionship are all provided by social ties. In late adulthood, friendships can be even more important. As we age, our social circles can shrink. Our children move away, we retire from work, and our loved ones pass away. This may lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. We don’t want that for our residents. The effects of social isolation on older adults’ health, both physically and psychologically, are well known.
Our village is designed to support social interaction
It is for this reason that Fairview Lifestyle Village has designed its facility in a way that encourages social interaction. We offer a variety of activities, amenities and common spaces that help residents connect.
It is a great honour for us to support our residents during their senior years. We commit a lot of time and energy to making our community the best it can be for our residents.
But don’t just take our word for it.
Experience it for yourself. You will see, hear and feel the difference. We invite you to visit our beautiful resort-like facilities, to see the activities we provide, and to hear what it is like to live here from our residents.
References
- Rowe J, Khan R, Successful Ageing, The Gerontologist, Volume 37, Issue 4, August 1997, Pages 433–440, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/37.4.433
- Holt-Lunstad j, Smith T B, Layton JB, Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. 2010 Jul; 7(7): e1000316.PLoS Med.
- House JS, Landis KR, Umberson D. Social relationships and health. Science. 1988;241:540–545. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Blieszner, R., & Ogletree, A M., & Adams, R G (2019). Friendship in Later Life: A Research Agenda, Innov Aging. 2019 Jan; 3(1): igz005.
