The Importance of Self-Care in Senior Living

Up until the retirement phase of your life, you may have dedicated much of your time to caring for others. Maybe you poured your physical and emotional energy into raising and providing for your children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. The career you retired from was one that may have put you in stressful, high-pressure situations that required you to sacrifice “me time.”

Wouldn’t it be nice to prioritize self-care in your retirement years?

At Ridge Creek, we are working to build a senior living community that puts self-care at the forefront of how our members spend their golden years. To us, that means creating an environment that offers amenities and resources to strengthen the physical, mental and emotional well-being of everyone who will join the newest campus of Heritage Community of Kalamazoo.

Self-care is easier said than done for those of us who are natural caregivers. It may feel unnatural or selfish to dedicate time focusing on yourself, but self-care is especially important as you age. You shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed to put yourself first. Making sure you’re tending to your physical, mental and emotional needs can help improve many facets of your life.

Read on to learn about how Ridge Creek’s forward-facing approach to retirement living plans to help you do just that.

Take Care of Your Body Each Day

So much of self-care is making sure that you’re feeling healthy enough to do the things that make you thrive day-to-day. We understand that everyone who joins the Ridge Creek community will have a unique set of healthcare needs and medical resource requirements, which is why we’ve made sure members will have access to the care they need both now and potentially later in life.

We will offer a full continuum of care services if, and when, they’re needed that includes Heritage Homecare, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and rehabilitation services available on the Heritage Community campus. For residents of Ridge Creek, those services will be included under the terms of your Life Plan agreement.

Self-care also means making sure you have options for health and wellness activities that fall outside medical care. Take a fitness class to help promote strength, cardiovascular stimulation and mobility, or try something a little off the beaten path like a Tai Chi or Cardio Drumming class. It feels incredible to remind yourself of what your body is capable of. It feels even better when you’re motivated by a community of neighbors who are also working toward fitness goals of their own.

The foods you consume play such a huge role in how your body feels and functions each day. Ridge Creek will have a chef trained at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America who is committed to locally sourced foods, and will supervise the creativity and nutritional quality of every dish you’re served.

This 360-approach to your physical health strives to make sure all the pieces are there to help you feel your best each and every day.

Find Your Daily Moment of Zen

A wonderful benefit of moving to a senior living community is the immense amount of stress that is removed from your daily life when the burdens of homeownership get removed from the equation. There is no more worrying about tracking a monthly budget or dealing with home repairs. As you settle into your new community, it’s important to keep looking for opportunities that continue to remove unnecessary stressors and inspire you to keep your brain active.

Finding a moment of peace looks different for everyone. It could be a trip to the Seasons Salon & Spa to indulge in a day of pampering, or taking in the South Haven sunset. You won’t even have to leave the Ridge Creek community to unwind with the natural beauty of the panoramic views. Have a seat and enjoy cocktail hour in front of the fieldstone fireplace after a long day.

Build Up a Rich Social Network

So much of your mental and emotional well-being as a senior, has to do with maintaining a social network later in life. Studies show that seniors who have strong connections and relationships not only live longer, but cope better with health conditions and experience depression less than those who do not. There are many ways in a senior living community to connect with other members and keep social connectedness top-of-mind.

Tap into events organized each month by the community like art classes, choir, knitting circles, board game night, family-style potlucks and continuing education opportunities to keep your mind engaged. No one should ever stop learning. Challenge yourself to try out a new hobby or use the added time that comes in your retirement years to get involved in a local volunteer group. You never know –– your golden years may bring with them the discovery of a brand new passion you’ll be inspired to immerse yourself in.

A welcoming outdoor terrace and indoor gathering space at Ridge Creek make hosting friends and family simple and stress-free. Don’t be shy about putting yourself out there to introduce yourself to the new faces you’ll be meeting. Everyone growing into this community will be bringing their unique outlooks and talents to Ridge Creek, giving everyone the opportunity to be a teacher and share their interests with the larger group. Talk with a Life Enrichment Coordinator about a community trip you’d like to go on or an event you’d like to see happen so that you can continue doing what you love with new people!

Don’t be afraid to reach out if you’re interested in learning more about the community being built at Ridge Creek. We’d love to talk about the vision for the next community coming to Heritage Community of Kalamazoo. Call us at anytime or make a personal appointment to learn about the opportunities ahead.