Short answer: yes.
“For many years, older adults wanted to live in their homes for as long as possible,” says Lynda Marino, Marketing Director at Canterbury Woods Gates Circle. “However, this meant that many of them didn’t get to take full advantage of the benefits – emotional, physical and mental – that community life could provide.”
Lynda says that as the Baby Boomer generation has entered their senior years, they’ve been radically changing how “senior” looks, sounds and feels. This is leading to a philosophy shift as they realize that community life at a senior living community can actually be happier, healthier and overall a better choice than living by themselves in their own homes.
“Living in a community, particularly a Life Care Community like Canterbury Woods Gates Circle, allows seniors to have a higher quality of life now and in the future,” Lynda explains. “Studies have shown that seniors who live in Life Care end up living longer, healthier and happier lives than those who choose to remain in their own home.”
In fact, according to research, seniors who move into a community (particularly a Life Care Community) end up living seven to 10 years stronger (not just longer) than counterparts who choose to live in their private homes. What’s the reason? Well, it’s suggested that community life presents less stress because of the all-inclusive, maintenance-free lifestyle. There are more socialization opportunities, which boosts mental and emotional health. Since life is designed around wellness at any age, there are plenty of opportunities for exercise, healthy eating and other wellness programs. Finally, Life Care Communities provide peace of mind for residents by providing a full suite of services on site so that they will always have help available, whenever and if ever it’s needed.
“Our goal is to make the golden years of our residents as enjoyable, stress-free and healthy as possible,” Lynda says.
Here are some of the ways community life – specifically, life in a Life Care Community – does that.
Instant friendships and nearby neighbors.
Loneliness is a big problem for seniors, particularly if they have difficulty getting out because of mobility issues (or other issues). Social connectedness is an essential part of healthy aging, so if you’re not social enough, overall health can decline. In a community, there are so many ways to get to know other residents and make friends. You don’t have to worry about scheduling a gathering or getting ready/cleaning up afterward. Also, you’re free to enjoy all sorts of opportunities like clubs, activities, social outings, games and all sorts of other things that make life interesting and enjoyable. And you’ll be able to make friends quickly since everyone in the community is in the same stage of life and has similar interests to you.
So much to do.
As we hinted at above, living in a Life Care Community means you have so many opportunities to pique your interest, broaden your mind, improve your physical health and so much more. For example, Canterbury Woods Gates Circle has a full-time activities coordinator on staff whose job is to make sure the social and events calendar is jam-packed with all sorts of interesting, invigorating and exciting opportunities. We encourage our residents to get involved as much as they want, and we also want to hear what they specifically might like to do or experience – we’re here to make this the best possible experience ever.
Easy-to-access transportation.
One of the reasons why seniors may become more withdrawn and less active is because getting around – like driving – becomes more difficult. Community life makes transportation easily accessible and readily available. Senior living communities typically offer transportation services designed to shuttle seniors anywhere from community events to local shopping centers, making entertainment and socialization that much more accessible.
A focus on independence.
At first blush, it can seem that senior living and independence are two distinctly opposing things. However, they’re not. In fact, senior living, especially at a Life Care Community, can increase a person’s independence and maintain it for as long as possible. Individuals who’ve arrived at a community needing additional help – if they’ve been living alone, not eating a nutritionally healthy diet and are socially isolated – many times end up gaining back abilities they’ve lost and end up being healthier and happier than ever before.
This is primarily because Life Care Communities like Canterbury Woods Gates Circle focus on independence at any level while providing caring assistance when it’s needed. “We know that as we age it will become more difficult to do the tasks of daily life,” says Lynda. “However, we still have things we can do on our own, as well as goals and desires to achieve. By providing the assistance for the things that are needed while giving our residents the freedom and independence to pursue the things they want, we end up creating an atmosphere of independence that boosts self-worth and personal enjoyment.”
It Takes a Village
There is a philosophy in elder care that’s called the “village mentality.” The idea comes from the old adage that it takes a village to raise a child. In a similar way, it takes a village to provide a high-quality, secure and fulfilling lifestyle for our elders. In many ways, community life at a Life Care Community provides that village lifestyle. Seniors have access to a variety of benefits including comprehensive care, social opportunities, interesting activities and so much more.
“In the end, it’s all about choice with a strong support system,” says Lynda. “While living in a Life Care Community, seniors enjoy comprehensive wellness programs that stimulate their minds and help maintain their strength. They also have more choices than they would if they were living in their private homes. Having access to options combined with a focus on wellness, social interaction and peace of mind help to contribute to the overall health and wellness of our residents.”
An Invigorating Plan for Today’s Senior
For seniors who want to have the best possible lifestyle and experiences for their golden years, Canterbury Woods Gates Circle is a Life Care Community like none that you have seen. Urban, contemporary and close to everything, we provide a communal link to the city you love plus the services you want and deserve. Canterbury Woods Gates Circle offers the charm and livability of the Elmwood neighborhood, plus the financial strength, impeccable reputation and reciprocal access to its sister community, Canterbury Woods – a touchstone of senior living in the area. It’s truly the best of both worlds, providing the lifestyle you want now and the care to help you live happier, healthier … and longer.
Continuum of Care
As a Life Care Community, Canterbury Woods Communities provide a comfortable environment and first-rate services to support every level of need. Assisted living apartments allow Gates Circle residents to benefit from additional support while maintaining their independent lifestyle, but if additional support is not needed, independent living is also offered at our Life Care Community. If skilled nursing, rehabilitation or memory care is ever needed, residents can experience the support they require at our sister community in Williamsville.
Contact us today to discover more about Canterbury Woods Gates Circle! (716) 427-6678
