The Benefits of Independent Living Communities for Seniors

Some of the most attractive benefits of Independent Living at a senior living community (also as known as a retirement community) include the maintenance-free lifestyle, the sense of community, 24/7 safety and security, and an abundance of health and wellness programs. With all of these things in place, residents have more time and energy to focus on what truly matters.

Everyone’s ideal way of living means something different, so what matters most is personal. Whether you are interested in checking items off a “bucket list,” spending more time with family and friends, or exploring lifelong learning programs, an Independent Living community like Aberdeen Heights has everything covered, so residents can focus on living well.

What is Independent Living?

Independent Living is an ideal situation for older people who can still live independently, but who might also enjoy a little help when they need it. The Independent Living lifestyle at a place like Aberdeen Heights is for healthy seniors who want to enjoy more freedom — freedom from home maintenance, freedom from a to-do list, and freedom from housekeeping and cooking.

Today’s retirement communities have stepped up their game with more offerings and amenities than ever before. Fitness groups, guest speakers, book clubs, and social events are a sampling of what most communities have to offer. Plus, there’s peace of mind in knowing that security and a full range of health services are available onsite if residents ever need it.

Living the Low Maintenance Lifestyle

The low-maintenance lifestyle is key at a senior living community and might be one of the biggest benefits. Residents are able to replace the daily household chores and the mundane tasks of home ownership with more fun and rewarding pursuits. At Aberdeen Heights, home maintenance is included. With the Independent Living lifestyle, you can enjoy a flexible dining program and weekly housekeeping too.

With less housework and home maintenance, there’s more time to play. Residents attend birthday parties, holiday gatherings, happy hours and ice cream socials. There are groups and clubs for many interests. Independent Living residents at Aberdeen Heights can choose on-site activities that interest them including:

• International Series: Experience a country or region of the world through activities such as food and wine tastings, music, guest presentations, resident traveler presentations.
• Cultural Arts and Humanities Series: This series covers the work of professional artists, musicians and actors while you discover your own talents through our Art is Ageless® program.
• Sports Series: We showcase area teams and national events such as March Madness, the Kentucky Derby and Super Bowl with watch parties, tailgating and views from local sports columnists.
• Entertainment Series: You’ll see the curtain rise on great stage and screen performances.
• Culinary Series: From wine tastings and brewery tours to ethnic dinners and cooking tips from our executive chef, there’s something to satisfy every taste.
• Health and Wellness Series: Improve your health and happiness with a holistic program integrating 6 dimensions of wellness — physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, creative and service.
• The Gateway Series: Explore the past, present and future of the St. Louis region with guest speakers, special events, neighborhood tours and trips to iconic landmarks.

Gaining a Sense of Community

Another significant benefit to Independent Living is the opportunity to meet friends and create new and meaningful relationships. Friends are important at every age. With so many opportunities to participate in community events and group activities, making new social connections is easier than you might think.

Research has shown that staying socially connected helps people stay healthier for longer. In fact, studies show that spending time with friends and enjoying a strong social circle are crucial for healthy aging. Social isolation and feelings of loneliness can lead to increased risk of depression and anxiety, more rapid cognitive decline, increased risk of heart disease and even an increased risk of premature death.

When it comes to creating a social circle, sharing experiences, whether it’s a concert, a craft session, or a walk in the park can start the connection process between participants. At Independent Living communities, monthly calendars are full of interesting opportunities, clubs, and special events. Retirement communities like Aberdeen Heights make socialization a top priority for Independent Living residents — here’s a sample of what’s on the schedule this month!

Staying Safe and Secure at a Retirement Community

Security is very well thought out at communities like Aberdeen Heights. There are cameras to deter crime and monitor security. There are disaster and fire safety precautions all over campus including emergency call systems, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems and extinguishers. Residences have innovative, well-designed floor plans with modern and safe appliances. There’s also an Emergency Alert System and concierge services that can help with anything. The best senior living communities prioritize a sense of well-being, safety and security, so residents don’t have to worry about a thing in retirement.

Residents can also take advantage of many on-site preventative wellness programs and services like blood pressure checks and nutritional counseling.  During the pandemic, retirement communities practiced strategies to stop the spread of the virus including things like on-site vaccinations, protective equipment, and screening the visitors.

Enjoying overall Health and Wellness

Wellness means taking care of your physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. And this is easy to do at Aberdeen Heights. Building on residents’ input, we design entire programs around specific areas of interest. One of the best aspects is that it’s always evolving to reflect the current interests of our residents.

The dining experience is an important component of the culture at many retirement communities and one of the top benefits. At Aberdeen Heights, variety is the spice of life. Whether it’s in our formal dining room with linen tablecloths or our more casual café, our executive chef makes sure there’s always something delicious on the menu. Residents meet monthly with our executive chef and food and beverage director to give feedback and offer suggestions on menus and dining. They also submit favorite recipes, which our chef whips up for the community to try.

At Aberdeen Village Independent Living residents can enjoy mealtimes from continental breakfasts with fresh coffee and a spread of fruits, juices, cereals, fresh pastries and bagels to soups and salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and an array of tempting desserts for lunch, and to three-course dinners starting with a soup or salad of the day. Menus can also accommodate dietary restrictions such as diabetic, heart heath and gluten free. Mealtimes are very popular and for good reason.

Physical and spiritual wellness programs are also important for Independent Living residents, faith-based senior living communities like Aberdeen Heights provide an on-site chaplain, a chapel for residents to practice their faith, and the chance to join in Bible studies with other residents. Aberdeen Heights offers many opportunities for active participation for residents through worship services, prayer groups, holiday celebrations, and more.

Conclusion

For those who are looking forward to starting a new chapter, the benefits of independent living communities like Aberdeen Heights are hard to beat. The maintenance-free lifestyle, the sense of community, 24/7 safety and security, and an abundance of health and wellness programs gives residents more time and energy to focus on what truly matters in retirement.

If you have questions about the Independent Lifestyle at Aberdeen Heights, call 314-394-8943,  or schedule a tour by visiting the contact information page online.

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