Seniors Who Socialize are Happier and Healthier

By Eric Eichhorst, Applewood in Freehold

Things are bustling even more than usual here at Applewood--

The holiday season brings friends and family from near and far, parties and festivities can be found around every corner, there is music in the air, and our seniors are in the middle of it all.

“One of the deciding factors in seniors and their families choosing a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) is the ease and availability of social activities which help to offset isolation,” says Keith Grady, executive director at Applewood. “Time and again, science has proven that seniors who do not socialize regularly face more health problems, including depression, heart disease and chronic disease risk."

In fact, parts of the brain will atrophy if they’re not used consistently. Ironically, when older Americans need more cognitive stimulation, they often get less, since they're no longer in the workplace and friends and family members have moved far away or passed away.

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Seniors Living Single

The number of retired people living solo is expected to reach one in four of the 76 million baby boomers, meaning as many as 19 million seniors could become socially isolated. That number includes older adults who have out-of-state family, limited connections in retirement--and simple issues of mobility.

But if you have a single or widowed senior parent or loved one, you already know how challenging it can be to nudge them into ‘getting out there’ and being social.

“CCRC living is perfectly suited to single seniors because you live with a group of peers who come from the same era and can relate to the issues which are important to you,” says Wanda Garrin, Applewood’s Engaged Living™ lifestyle coordinator.

“You will also meet interesting and diverse people here who have lived in different parts of the U.S. and the rest of the world.”

Wanda adds that residents at Applewood have the freedom to choose the level of engagement that is right for them.

"Some seniors are busy from dawn to dusk, every day," Wanda explains. "Others feel more comfortable participating in a few clubs and attending our monthly cocktail party."

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Stepping Up to Help Out

“Feeling valued and helpful to others is part of our human makeup,” says Joan Cinque, manager of resident services. “That’s one of the reasons we have so many community services projects in place, making it easy for residents to get involved."

Joan says Applewood transports residents to and from community outreach efforts, including the Tools-4-Schools project where residents help out in local school classrooms each week.

Enjoying Retirement in Relaxed Elegance

Living retirement life well at Applewood means a safe and comfortable community that offers a wealth of mind, body and spirited-focused activities and special events to nurture a rich senior experience.

From enlightening cultural excursions on dark winter days to invigorating treks to the Jersey Shore during the balmy days of summer, we make senior living easy, exciting and uplifting.

We’d love to tell you more. Follow us on Facebook and call us at (732) 303-7416 to make plans to tour our community, model apartments and cottage home.

At Applewood, we believe that retirement is the most exciting time of life.