There’s a reason why there are over 30,600 senior living communities in the United States. Millions of seniors rely on these communities to enjoy their retirement years and get the care they need as they age.
Unfortunately, there can often be some misconceptions about senior living communities. And that’s a shame because there are plenty of benefits that come when you find the perfect senior living community in Jacksonville.
So what are some of these benefits? And where can you find the best community in the Jacksonville area? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can decide if this type of community is right for you.
Opportunities for Connection
It’s estimated that nearly a quarter of all seniors are considered socially isolated. There are a lot of reasons for this. Often, friends and family will move away or pass on.
Or, more commonly, an individual will lose a spouse. Making friends outside a senior living community can be challenging. However, once you join one, it’s effortless.
One of the biggest advantages of senior living is being near other people your age.
But the real reason it’s easy to make friends is because of all the opportunities for connection. Many communities offer daily social events, like:
- Book clubs
- Sports
- Ice cream socials
- Crafts
- Movie nights
These allow you to meet people who might have interests similar to yours. And, even if you don’t go to events, you can still make connections.
You might just be enjoying coffee while watching the news when you strike up a conversation with someone nearby.
Low Maintenance Lifestyles
Once easy things can start taking a lot of time and effort when you’re older. This is especially prevalent when it comes to things like maintenance. Doing the dishes, putting away laundry, and cleaning the house can often take seniors all day.
And that’s not even counting maintenance tasks like changing lights or yard work that could potentially injure a senior.
In the senior living community, all maintenance tasks are handled by staff. No more spending hours taking care of your property thanks to these assisted living advantages. Instead, you get to enjoy your entire day.
Diverse Living Options
The needs of seniors change as they age. Many start off being completely independent. They enter an independent living community of fellow seniors with access to all the amenities of a retirement community.
Now, if you’re still fairly independent, this will be a great option for you. However, sooner or later, you likely will need some help with certain aspects of daily living.
Whether it’s washing, cleaning, dressing, or medication management, you’ll need a professional to assist you during certain times of the day. The good news is that main senior living communities offer a wide variety of living options.
If you don’t require any help at all, you can be left entirely on your own. Or, if you need assistance with only certain things, they can help.
In many cases, they might even be able to provide living options for people with memory conditions, like dementia. Just make sure you ask about how they’ll be able to accommodate your future needs for elder care in Jacksonville.
Delicious Meals
Say goodbye to processed, frozen foods. Quality senior living communities will offer their residents a delicious daily menu to choose from. Not only are these meals delicious, but they’re well-rounded nutritionally, which is vital for staying healthier longer.
Of course, if you still like to cook, you can cook out of your apartment. But having the option for a delicious meal if you don’t feel like cooking is a major benefit for a lot of seniors.
Access to Fitness Plans
The importance of physical activity cannot be overstated as you age. As this resource notes, regular physical activity for adults over the age of sixty-five has both immediate and long-term health benefits. These include things like:
- Better sleep quality
- Less anxiety
- Reduced blood pressure
- Improved brain health
- Improved heart health
- Cancer prevention
- Improved bone health
- Better balance and coordination
All of these things combine to allow you to live independently for longer. Unfortunately, many seniors don’t have access to gyms or exercise classes.
This might be because they’re too far away, or they don’t have a vehicle or valid driver’s license. In senior living communities, they offer fitness plans with gym equipment on site.
That way, all you have to do is wake up and walk to an exercise class to get your physical activity in for the day. Plus, making workout friends can provide an incentive for staying active if you have trouble with motivation.
Stimulating Activities
Many people make the mistake of thinking that all residents of senior living communities just sit around all day. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially if you pick a community with an exceptional activities and events program.
Regular trips into the community allow you to visit museums, dine at local restaurants, and shop at popular destinations. And there’s always something to do during the day. That might include book clubs, movie nights, or live performances.
Are you craving some mental stimulation? Attend a lecture on United States history. Or feel like having some fun with friends? Gather some people together to play Wii bowling.
The point is, if you’re at the right senior living community you can be sure that you’ll have a full schedule every day (if you want one).
Of course, for those who want a more leisurely day or week, there’s nothing wrong with relaxing on your own with a good book. You choose your senior lifestyle in Jacksonville.
Want the Best Senior Living Community in Jacksonville?
We hope this guide helped you learn more about the retirement community benefits that come when you find a senior living community in Jacksonville. Here at Discovery Village At Deerwood, we firmly believe in maximizing the quality of life of all our residents.
And, since we live in the beautiful Florida area, it’s not hard to make our community feel like a vacation resort 24/7. So if you want to see why we’re one of the best retirement communities in the area, schedule a visit with us today.
