The Boulevard Senior Living – St. Charles Understands the Importance of Socialization and Building & Maintaining Relationships

No matter our age, building relationships with others is fundamental in enriching our lives. Research has shown that people who enjoy healthy relationships, live longer and happier lives. Maintaining relationships as we age has numerous health benefits such as increasing our physical and mental health, increasing mental acuity, promoting laughter and more!

At The Boulevard Senior Living – St. Charles, I, as the Resident Services Director, play a pivotal role in helping to create opportunities for our residents to build relationships with their peers as well as helping to maintain these relationships through daily events. Oftentimes, aging adults are afraid of senior living settings. They see it as an end to their independence. Most fear being isolated from family and friends. One of the stigmas associated with senior living is, “I’m too young and active to be in senior living.” Therefore, many avoid it as an option all together. Unfortunately, this means they also lose out on the abundant opportunities to create new friendships and memories that this setting provides.

In our community, we have a group of residents who are professionals at welcoming new residents and helping them to feel at home as they settle in. We also ensure that new residents are invited to join all events, based on their preferences. Once our residents take advantage of these events, they often find themselves meeting new people or even connecting with old friends or neighbors. Through our daily events and programs, we often see close friendships form that continue. Residents begin having meals together or even take trips out of the community for shopping and family get-togethers.

It is my goal to help build and foster these relationships and break the stigmas associated with senior living communities. Being a Resident Services Director, one of your biggest roles in the community is making sure your residents feel at home. Part of that is having daily events that reflect resident interests and that all residents feel welcome and included. Our social, educational, physical, spiritual, and service events make sure all aspects of personal well-being are met. The residents here at The Boulevard invite others to events they may be interested in and always make sure to welcome new residents, by having an open seat for them in the dining room. It is so important, as the mind and body ages, to continue socializing and participating in events that stimulate the mind, body, and soul.

To break the stigma of, “I’m too young and active to live at a senior living community,” I really believe we all need to start looking at senior living with the right mindset. A lot of people believe you move into a senior living community to the end of your life, but when you change your mindset, its purpose is much greater. Senior living communities are communities of active seniors who have purpose, worth, and life. With so many different abilities living in one place, there is something for everyone, no matter their ability!

Sources: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316

https://www.eddyseniorliving.com/latest-news/the-importance-of-senior-friendships-for-healthy-aging/