Activity, a sense of community and just the right amount of help are key elements of an independent lifestyle for older adults. Read more to learn how assisted living can help you find fulfillment, feel safe and continue to improve your physical and cognitive health.
1. Keep active and engaged to help maintain a sharp mind and a fit body
Exercise lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, and improves strength and balance to help avoid falls. Your mood gets a lift, too, when you’re active. At Our Lady of the Valley, a retirement community in Roanoke, your days are filled with purpose and opportunities to engage. “Residents enrich their daily lives in ways that cannot be offered when they’re sitting home alone,” said Erin McKeon, director of marketing and admissions at Our Lady of the Valley, pictured above gardening with residents. Daily options may include a scenic bus ride, a shopping trip, a dance or yoga class, playing a trivia game, watching a favorite film in the on-site movie theater, enjoying an ice cream social and more. “Our quality caregivers provide mental, physical and spiritual support that helps keep people independent,” McKeon said.
2. Stay safe
A hospital stay or multiple trips to the emergency room often signal that an older adult is no longer safe at home. Our Lady of the Valley offers continuing care that includes assisted living, long-term nursing care, skilled rehabilitation services with new private rooms, and a state-of-the art memory care program. Families have peace of mind knowing help is available 24/7, McKeon said. The layers of security include frequent staff checks on residents, emergency pull cords in every room, a necklace alert device option in assisted living, and nurse call bells in the skilled nursing facility. “As you plan for the future, be proactive when considering safety needs,” McKeon said. “Don’t wait for a crisis to start thinking about assisted living.”
3. Avoid loneliness and make new friends
“We know that isolation is detrimental to seniors, and that socialization improves many aspects of overall wellbeing, from physical condition to cognitive abilities, mood and more,” McKeon said. At Our Lady of the Valley, residents forge new friendships and become part of a community where people care about each other. As McKeon described, “It is like a close-knit neighborhood! You see and greet people you know every day, and our staff takes care of and loves our residents like their own family.”
4. Refresh your skills or learn new ones
Cultivating a new talent or renewing a rusty skill can simulate the mind and improve decision-making capacity. Our Lady of the Valley residents often take up a craft or hobby they once enjoyed but hadn’t practiced recently. One resident’s family member recently remarked to McKeon with joy, “Mom hasn’t painted in years!” You can also dive into a new activity you may have always wanted to try but never had time for, such as singing in a choir, gardening, or playing guitar or piano. “We want our residents to do the things they love,” McKeon said.
5. Enjoy more, fret less
Assisted living removes the worry about who’s going to mow the lawn, fix a flickering light or stop a leaky faucet. Instead of relying on family or friends for caregiving, repairs, or transportation, you can concentrate on spending quality time with loved ones. Gather in your own apartment, in the sunroom, by the fireplace or in the cafe-style bistro at Our Lady of the Valley and make new treasured memories.
Located in the scenic Roanoke Valley, Our Lady of the Valley retirement community offers a full range of care, from assisted living options and skilled rehabilitation services to long-term nursing care and a dedicated memory care program. For more information, call 540.345.5111 or visit ourladyofthevalley.com.
