Health and wellness mean more as we age
Health and wellness are more than getting regular exercise and keeping up with doctor’s appointments. True wellness is a combination of many factors, including personal fulfillment, a sense of purpose, meaningful connections with other people and the world around us, physical health, and happiness.
Seniors need genuine mind-body-spirit well-being, which can be achieved by focusing on various elements of wellness: Social, physical, intellectual, emotional, vocational, spiritual, environmental and health.
Whether it be events, classes, outings, performances, parties, games or volunteering, seniors should focus on finding opportunities that cultivate and boost one or more of these facets of wellness.
Social
Connecting with others and enjoying a sense of belonging is a fundamental part of human happiness. Social isolation can be devastating to physical health, too. Our welcoming community offers opportunities for residents to build and maintain strong relationships every day. The community has both a card and game room, library and bar/lounge. Activities include club meetings, regularly scheduled games of all sorts, arts and crafts and frequent parties.
Physical
Participating in physical activity regularly is easy — and fun. In Independent Living, we offer traditional workout classes in our pool and fully equipped fitness center, plus Pilates, cardio drumming, Qigong, and water aerobics. In Assisted Living, we offer modified classes, such as chair yoga, in addition to physical and occupational therapy.
Intellectual
Lifelong learning is a key component of brain health and personal fulfillment. We regularly host presentations from experts about a wide variety of interesting topics. As well as special monthly excursions, documentaries, and movies. We also are home to a several book clubs, brain and meditation fitness classes.
Emotional
Emotional wellness is nurtured at The Oaks of Bartlett through the community’s many activities that bring people together or promote personal happiness. In addition, The Oaks offers specific support groups, including groups for caregivers, people experiencing grief, and women. Residents from Assisted Living benefit from frequent visits from therapy animals, and both Independent Living and Care Center residents enjoy regularly scheduled musical performances from professional artists.
Vocational
Remaining engaged in the greater community by tapping into existing knowledge, discovering new interests, or refining forgotten skills is important for personal fulfillment. Opportunities include volunteering for community projects (we love to volunteer here!), exploring creativity in our art and crafts studio, computer lab and community gardens.
Spiritual
In addition to weekday and weekend mass in our Sacred Heart chapel, there are a variety of prayer groups, Bible studies, and nondenominational services and activities. The Oaks incorporates other kinds of spiritual activities into the mix, including yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation.
Environmental
Connecting with nature and breathing fresh air is a boon of personal wellness. Our most obvious environmental wellness offering is our beautiful, sprawling green campus, with its many paths and benches. We also offer frequent trips to local parks and other natural settings.
Health
The Oaks takes a proactive approach to resident health. We have found it is essential for disease prevention and detection, as well as residents’ peace-of-mind and independence. Medical screenings and regular exams, which can be done right on campus, along with the proper management and organization of health care needs, can lead to longer, healthier, happier lives for residents. We offer on-site clinical lab, medication management, rehabilitation, hospice, and physician services.
Everyone is unique, with different passions and life experiences. Identify interests, choose hobbies, and set goals, then you can create customized plans to help encourage a well-rounded and engaging life. If independence as you age is a goal, the best way to do that is by living well.
To learn more, visit theoaksatbartlett.com.