One of the main features of a senior living community is the wide variety of enrichment programs provided for loved ones. Whether taking trips into towns or simply participating in arts and crafts, Discovery Village at The West End offers a comprehensive list of activities. Elderly enrichment should be treated as a priority as it can substantially improve the well-being of our loved ones. These are the importance and benefits of enrichment for loved ones.
What Is Elderly Enrichment?
Before stating its importance, elderly enrichment refers to programs designed to be beneficial for older people, as well as to make their lives more meaningful and enjoyable. There are three main categories of enrichment: physical, social, and mental.
For physical enrichment, it’s recommended that older people count at most 150 minutes of light to moderate exercise weekly, which can be subsequently increased to 300 minutes if they’re more agile. Loved ones who are less mobile should participate in activities at least three times a week.
Social and mental enrichment tend to be intertwined as they directly affect each other. These activities can be attending lunch clubs, playing board games, or joining dance classes.
Importance and Benefits of Elderly Enrichment
Elderly enrichment brings a number of benefits for your loved ones, including the following:
- Improve Cognitive Health
As cognitive health declines with age, you’ll notice that your loved ones will have trouble remembering and memorizing details, processing information, staying attentive, and solving problems. This is why they must take part in brain exercises to keep the mind sharp and focused. Examples of brain exercises include doing puzzles, learning a new skill, or even simply listening to music. By doing such exercises on a regular basis, your loved ones’ cognitive health will be enhanced, in turn improving their quality of life.
- Renew Sense of Purpose
If your loved ones are currently living in retirement, they’ll sometimes find it difficult to find meaning in their lives at this stage. This is no surprise considering that they have probably accomplished their goals in career and family, and no longer have to meet many responsibilities. Enrichment thus helps to renew their sense of purpose by providing them with obstacles and tasks. As such, there is now something they can look forward to at the end of the day.
- Improve Physical Ability
Concerning your loved ones, living a sedentary lifestyle can be extremely detrimental to their health overall, as a lack of fitness can lead to greater risks for medical problems like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other serious diseases. Participating in exercises can also improve their immune system and allow them to have better sleep patterns in the evening.
- Lessen Loneliness and Social Isolation
According to a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, one-fourth of older adults aged 65 and above face social isolation. This is alarming news as social isolation can result in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues to arise. In order to prevent loneliness, enrichment promotes an active social life in which loved ones get to mingle around and stay engaged with the community.
