Finding Community and Connection in Senior Housing: A Guide for Older Adults

Even though senior housing communities are supportive, enriching environments, many older adults hesitate to participate in the social scene when they first move into senior housing. 

If you feel uneasy about the social environment in your senior housing area, don’t worry. You are not alone. Follow this guide to improve your social life and connect with other residents. 

Reflect on the Past

Looking back on your younger years as you move into senior housing might seem odd. However, this can be useful for finding your tribe in your new community. 

You probably had to start your social life from scratch when you entered middle school, high school, college, or even new workplaces. Moving into senior housing is no different. You can apply some of the same strategies you used then to make new, long-lasting friendships now. 

Remember what you learned about people’s personalities and habits back then. Are there any personality traits you want to avoid? What stood out to you when you met different people throughout your life? 

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back and reflect on what you’ve learned. 

Have a “Yes” Mindset

Start saying “yes” more! 

Of course, there will be times when you have to say “no” to an activity, event, or gathering, but try to limit this as much as possible. Part of building a strong sense of community is trying new things while meeting new people. 

Even if you don’t enjoy everything you try, you can store this knowledge for future use. You never know what you might gain from the experience of trying something new.

Pay Attention to Community News

Most senior housing communities have bulletin boards and other central areas for current news and events. Senior housing communities often host various recreational activities to encourage team building and socialization. 

Pay attention to the upcoming activities in your community. These are great opportunities to connect with familiar and new people alike. You might meet your new best friends at the next art class or outdoor hike.

Keep an Open Mind

It can be difficult to adjust to a brand-new social scene, especially if you are used to your family or solo time. Keeping an open mind will help you break out of your shell and meet new friends. 

Try not to judge anyone you meet at first glance. Getting to know someone’s heart and personality takes time, so give everyone a fair chance.

Find Your Tribe in Senior Housing 

Follow these tips to improve your social life in senior housing. These tips work for almost any senior housing community in the country. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised by what — and who — you discover!

4 Helpful Coping Strategies for Seniors Moving to Assisted Living

Today’s assisted living communities are warm, welcoming environments that allow residents to explore their interests and bond with one another. However, finding senior housing can be a long process that brings up conflicting emotions. 

Many seniors feel reluctant to leave behind their routines and worry that assisted living facilities will be restrictive. Here are some tips to pass on to your loved one so they can cope with the move to assisted living. 

1. Spend Time with Family and Friends

Aging adults often worry that moving to assisted living will isolate them from their loved ones. To combat these fears and ease their minds, encourage them to spend lots of time socializing. 

Personal interactions, whether with family members or close friends, protect against senior health problems. Socializing and connecting more deeply can help your loved one cope with their upcoming move. 

2. Get to Know Your Senior Housing Community

You should inform your loved one of the amenities, benefits, and social events that come with their new senior housing community. 

If they know what to expect, they are less likely to stress over the move. Show your loved one the assisted living community’s website or arrange for additional in-person visits before the move. 

Many senior housing communities host welcoming gatherings to make new residents feel special and included. Check your assisted living facility’s website for more information. 

3. Make a List of the Positives 

Focusing on the positive aspects of moving to assisted living can get your loved one excited instead of worried. 

Encourage your loved one to make a list of all of the amenities and positive things that they will enjoy once they move. You can help by reminding them about the following:

• Swimming pools

• Group fitness classes

• Additional help around the house

• Senior-focused medical care 

• Improved social health

• Freedom and independence 

• Gorgeous scenery

These are just a few examples of what your loved one has to look forward to when they move into assisted living. 

It’s not always as simple as telling them to “think positively,” but if you encourage your loved one to hone in on the benefits, they are less likely to stress over the stigma. 

4. Practice Self-Care

Before your loved one moves into assisted living, help them arrange a self-care day. Engaging in self-care is one of the best coping strategies for any major life change. Seniors especially can benefit from taking time to care for their physical and emotional health. 

Make Moving More Exciting with These Coping Strategies

You can help your loved one thrive before they get to move-in day. Encourage them to try these coping strategies to make their move to assisted living less scary and more exciting.

The Link between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

According to the Medical News Today website, studies find hearing loss may contribute to social isolation, lower quality of life, disability, depression, and dementia. This can be especially problematic for people aged 80 years and older, who tend to have more advanced hearing losses. 

In 2015, researchers reported on a 25-year study, which focused on a link between hearing loss and dementia. At the start of the study, the 3,670 participants were 65 years or older and followed for over 25 years. Using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to measure cognitive decline, researchers say there appeared to be a correlation between self-reported hearing loss and cognitive decline. However, participants who used hearing aids did not show a significant cognitive decline, suggesting the use of hearing aids may offer a protective effect.

Experts say hearing loss may adversely impact a person’s ability to socialize as they miss out on vital verbal and emotional information that may directly impair brain structure and function. Or it could be that the person uses more energy to make sense of what they hear; and reduces the energy they have left for memory, language processing and attention.

It is recommended at age 60, all adults get a baseline hearing test and be rechecked every couple of years, regardless of whether they experience symptoms. John Hopkins Medicine reports one in 3 adults over age 65 has hearing loss, but due to a gradual change in their hearing, they may not be aware of it.  

Symptoms of age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, include the speech of others sounding muffled or slurred; high-pitched sounds, such as "s" or "th" being hard to distinguish; and having difficulty understanding conversation, especially if there is background noise. The person may notice men’s voices are easier to hear than women’s, because it is lower-pitched. 

If a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related disease, MorningStar of Happy Valley is ready to help. Our comprehensive memory care supports residents and their families with services, wellness programs and activities essential to quality of life. MorningStar’s holistic approach is encompassed under the expanse of possibilities we call “Lavender Sky,” and uses Montessori-based therapy techniques. As dementia care specialists, we feel it is our privilege – our calling – to walk alongside residents during this unexpected and challenging journey. Please visit our website for more information about exceptional assisted living and memory care in Happy Valley, OR.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living and memory care in Happy Valley, OR.

Source: hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/presbycusis

As You Age, Stretching Exercises Become More Important

Health professionals say it is important to incorporate stretching exercises into your routine, especially the older we get as our flexibility naturally decreases. As joints become stiff, and tendons and ligaments tighten up, we become more susceptible to injuries as well as chronic pain and poor posture. In fact, studies show men’s flexibility drops sharply at around 70 years of age. 

Stretching exercises are easy to learn, relatively easy to do, and should not take more than five to ten minutes. Urvashi Chogle, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, says the shoulders, hips, knees, and spine lose the most flexibility.  He explains, "This makes many everyday movements more difficult, such as reaching overhead, squatting, twisting, and bending over." 

Of course before you begin any new stretching exercises, you need to consult with your healthcare provider. He or she may have suggestions on how to safely get started or direct you to your local community senior center or other organizations for classes. Additionally, the Internet has a lot of information on how seniors can improve their flexibility with stretching exercises done in a chair, standing up, or if you can, on the floor. Regardless of your level of fitness, these exercises should help improve your range of motion, flexibility and joint stiffness.   

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, we offer seniors a carefree lifestyle to safely age in place with a range of care services, luxury amenities, wellness programs and activities. Our programs include a range of exercise classes to help keep you moving. Our community has 61 stylish assisted living suites with a choice of spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. In our Reflections Neighborhood, we have 27 memory care suites devoted to the individualized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please contact us or visit our website for more information about our beautiful senior living community.

MorningStar of Happy Valley’s mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide outstanding assisted living and memory care. 

Source: health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/a-plan-for-easy-stretching

Join the MorningStar of Happy Valley Family

MorningStar of Happy Valley’s goal is to provide the best assisted living in the area, and we are committed to the comfort, wellbeing, and safety of our remarkable residents.  To accomplish this lofty goal, our approach takes into account every aspect of senior living from the design of our gorgeous community to a broad range of care services, amenities, and wellness programs.  In fact, Ken Jaeger, MorningStar Senior Living’s Founder, had specific ideas on how to foster the ultimate environment for the wellbeing of seniors and it is the guiding spirit in which our community operates.

For assisted living residents, private suites are available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. Each suite has a handicap-accessible bathroom, wall-to-wall carpeting, and lots of natural lighting.  Suites also include a kitchenette with refrigerator, 24-hour emergency call system, and a private heating & air conditioning system.  Cable TV and utilities are included in your monthly fee as well as weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen services, and daily spot cleaning and trash removal. 

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, our assisted living offers five levels of care.  Your level of care will be determined after a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director and in agreement with you and your extended family.  Also, regardless of your level of care, we provide all residents with around-the-clock Care Managers to meet your needs and ensure your comfort and safety.       

As a resident of MorningStar, you will get three daily meals designed by our Executive Chef and prepared largely from scratch.  Each meal is nutritious as well as delicious and recipes are modified to address a number of different dietary restrictions including low sodium or low fat, sugar-free, no sugar, and vegetarian options.   In addition, residents will have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities and programs that are designed to promote physical, intellectual and spiritual wellness.   

Add to that, our dedicated team members who are the heartbeat of our community and the kind of people who come to work each day with a smile on their face.  They understand it is a privilege to serve and many come to know and treat our residents as they do their own moms and dads.  As a true home, we consider our residents, their families and team members to be part of the MorningStar family.  Please see our website for more information about our exceptional community.  

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about the finest assisted living and memory care in Happy Valley, OR.