Socialization the Key to Longevity, Happiness
October 8, 2015
Not ready yet? For seniors who think that staying in their homes makes more sense than moving into a senior living community such as Brightmore of South Charlotte, I would like to suggest they reconsider. Unaware of the negative impacts of isolation, many seniors choose to remain in their home and live alone. An unfortunate side effect of this phenomenon is that many lose the motivation to maintain an active social life, which can be critical to a person’s mental and physical well-being.
It may seem obvious to say that we need people around to engage with us socially as well as intellectually to ensure that our brains don’t turn to mush, but I found an interesting article recently on SeniorCare.com that takes the idea a step further. According to some new research in the article, isolation and a lack of socialization is as bad for an individual’s physical well-being as it is to be a habitual smoker or a heavy drinker.
After a moment of reflection it definitely makes sense. Taking into account the widespread belief that a baby left unattended and without human affection will experience a wide range of severe emotional consequences, why is it hard to understand that seniors in an isolated situation would also experience a negative impact on their health?
An important aspect of the wellness program here is focused on building a sense of community, so we offer a variety of programs and events–all aimed at providing our residents with the chance to get together and enjoy each other’s company, as well as expand their intellect with stimulating educational programs. Our goal is to help the residents get the most out of their retirement and embrace life through programs such as the Brightmore University Events.
A few of the highlights from just the past few months include a Wine and Design ladies night, attending a Charlotte Symphony Orchestra concert in the park, and an area Classic Car show.