Sixty years ago, residents of an independent living community wouldn’t likely associate the word “lifestyle” with their surroundings. Today, however, some senior living communities practically resemble resorts in their appearance, location, service, social atmosphere and amenities.
So, what are some of the lifestyle elements senior adults should look for when choosing where and how they want to live after deciding to move from their current homes?
Life at Senior Living Communities
At many senior living communities, including those at Bethesda Health Group in St. Louis, there are plenty of opportunities for residents to bond and share experiences through participating in activities, including:
- Crafts
- Exercise classes
- Games
- Music sessions
- Movie nights
- Painting classes
- Celebrations
- Trips to local sites and attractions
- Day-trip tours
- Shopping trips
- Special events
And when Robyn Duffey Rogers, Bethesda’s Director of Sales for Senior Living, talks about independent living in one of Bethesda’s communities, she often uses the word “opportunity.”
“Along with opportunities to actively explore and enjoy life with others, the community offers numerous services and resources for senior adults,” she says.
And when it comes to providing an elegant and comfortable lifestyle, modern senior living communities are hard to beat. Many, including the ones at Bethesda, will feature at least some if not all of the following:
- Gardens and walking paths
- Outdoor pool and patio
- Lounges
- Private dining
- Libraries
- Guest suites
- Theater and multipurpose rooms
These amenities provide residents the opportunity to make connections. “Residents not only acquire new friends, they often reconnect with former neighbors or colleagues they didn’t realize already lived there,” Robyn says.
Culture
You can have amazing amenities and beautiful surroundings, but what really differentiates one senior living community from another is the people living and working in it.
This includes independent living resident Jim Thielker, and his wife, Judy, who live at Bethesda Terrace. When they moved in, Judy made it her mission to memorize the first name of everyone she met, and Jim employed his musical talents by purchasing an electric keyboard and rolling it into the activity center to play hymns, show tunes, and Big Band songs.
The most important and invaluable difference that separates one independent living community from another is the connections that form between everyone there.
Contact us today to schedule a tour of any of our beautiful senior independent living communities across the St. Louis area.
