Live Better by Living Smarter: 7 Wellness Tips for Seniors

It’s important for older adults to prioritize their wellness by maintaining positive, healthy habits and routines that will help them flourish.

Wellness is defined as actively pursuing good physical, mental, and emotional health. Research shows that embracing a lifestyle that emphasizes purpose, intellectual stimulation, physical activity, and social engagement leads to better health outcomes and a more positive outlook for seniors.

At Coterie Luxury Senior Living, wellness has been thoughtfully woven into residents’ daily routines to create a lifestyle built around health practices that feel effortless and organic. With a team trained and certified in the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, Coterie provides residents with an environment that emphasizes nutrition, daily physical activity, socialization, mental well-being, and self-care.

Here are 7 tips on how to live like a Coterie resident to achieve your own wellness goals.

Stay physically active

Physical fitness is a crucial factor in the overall health and wellness of older adults. The CDC recommends a mix of cardio, muscle-strengthening exercises, and activities emphasizing balance and flexibility. These three essential fitness elements can prevent and delay many health issues that accompany aging while also helping you maintain your independence by continuing to carry out daily tasks without assistance.

Furthermore, research shows that the benefits of regular exercise go beyond physical health. Physical activity can boost serotonin levels and alleviate depression. Studies suggest a strong correlation between good physical health and positive moods, as well as between positive moods and increased longevity.

With all this in mind, Coterie Luxury Senior Living communities feature 24/7 exercise facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. Our partnerships with Elevation Health and FitSprings let our residents take advantage of top-tier fitness programming tailored to seniors, including on-site personal trainers and fun group classes like dance cardio, low-impact aerobics, Hatha yoga, and Pilates.

Find a purpose

With more free time on their hands, many older adults struggle with feelings of boredom, aimlessness, and irrelevance. Finding a renewed sense of purpose can go a long way toward enhancing senior wellness and happiness.

Many seniors use their newfound freedom to pursue passion projects like writing, gardening, photography, painting, and traveling. Others find fulfillment in giving back to their community through mentorship programs, volunteering, charitable endeavors, or teaching.

What constitutes a fulfilling sense of purpose will vary depending on your interests, values, and abilities. The important thing is to find activities and opportunities that will keep you engaged, invested, and invigorated as you age.

Embrace lifelong learning

Lifelong learning emphasizes the concept that our intellectual growth isn’t limited to a specific period of life. Our educational journey continues to evolve as we age, keeping our minds stimulated and active.

Reading, learning new skills, and exploring creative opportunities can be immensely rewarding experiences in their own right, but research shows that these activities also enhance our overall wellness in several ways. Participation in senior learning programs can reduce cognitive decline, improve memory, reduce feelings of sadness and depression, boost self-esteem, and foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Book clubs and group classes also give seniors the opportunity to build social connections based on common interests.

Coterie provides residents with a wide range of lifelong learning opportunities, with libraries and book club selections curated by McNally Jackson. Cathedral Hill residents enjoy live presentations on renowned artists and streamed classes from the Fromm Institute, while Hudson Yards residents have an all-inclusive membership at 92NY, a world-renowned center for education and cultural engagement.

Maintain and expand your social connections

Meaningful connections, engaging conversations, and a sense of community are not only personally rewarding but also contribute to our cognitive health and longevity. At a time when our relationships with family and friends are changing, it’s important to actively maintain existing relationships and seek out ways to form new ones.

Research suggests that extended periods of loneliness and isolation take a severe toll on older adults’ overall wellness, roughly equivalent to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. Spending more time with friends and family is one way to counteract these negative health impacts, but seniors have many other opportunities for social engagement.

Social events like book club meetings, game nights, and dinner parties all provide a sense of belonging while offering the chance to form new friendships. Religious and civic engagement can broaden social circles and enhance seniors’ sense of purpose, while walks with friends and group exercise classes combine the benefits of social interactions with physical exercise.

Create a safe home environment

Being able to navigate your living space safely and confidently can reduce stress and lessen the risk of falls and other injuries. Features like adequate lighting, handrails, and non-slip floors can help offset some of the mobility challenges that often accompany aging.

“If I’m a senior living in a place where I’m always worried about tripping over rugs or falling in the shower, that’s going to affect what I feel comfortable doing, which in turn will increase my stress levels and decrease my independence,” says Catherine Schneider, Director of Memory Care Operations and Programming at Atria Senior Living. “Research shows that having a built environment that maximizes mobility and safety gives seniors a better chance for comfort and independence.”

Coterie’s luxury senior apartments are designed to provide older adults with a home where they can age gracefully. Custom inset carpets and handrails reduce the risk of falls, while custom-built cabinets and shelves ensure that everything you need is easily accessible. The Coterie Smart Home system lets residents use voice-activated technology to adjust lighting, order room service, and raise and lower the blinds. Floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors, and handcrafted millwork provide a high standard of luxury for a living space that’s comfortable as well as practical.

Stay hydrated

Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day. A recent study estimates that up to 40 percent of seniors may be chronically underhydrated. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, digestive issues, decreased kidney function, and periods of confusion and disorientation. It can also exacerbate chronic health conditions.

Seniors often experience a diminished sense of thirst as they get older, so it can help to build hydration into your daily routine by drinking a glass of water when you wake up in the morning, after each meal, and before or after exercise. Keep a refillable water bottle with you when going for walks, traveling, or running errands so you can hydrate on the go.

Embrace a nutritious diet

What we eat – or don’t eat – can have a profound effect on our physical, mental, and emotional health.

Age brings changes in appetite and metabolism that increase the risk of deficiencies in nutrients like protein, calcium, and vitamins D and B12. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products can prevent these deficiencies, support muscle and bone health, and boost the immune system.

Proper nutrition is equally important for our brain health and cognitive function. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants like berries and kale can help prevent or delay cognitive decline and dementia.

Coterie Executive Chef Chad Welch incorporates a host of superfoods and other nutrient-rich ingredients to create an upscale dining experience that’s both healthful and delicious.

“Wellness can mean different things to different people, and we are here to accommodate whatever journey they’re on,” Welch says. “We have full gourmet kitchens for both our Coterie restaurants and our memory care floors, so we can personalize every resident’s meals according to their needs and tastes.”

Healthy seniors require healthy habits

Actively pursuing physical, mental, and emotional wellness is one of the most important steps older adults can take toward a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Whether you’re aging in place at home or looking into luxury senior living options, incorporating these wellness habits into your daily routine will help you thrive.