Active senior living is the practice of engaging your mind and body as you get older. It's designed to support healthy, positive aging. After all, staying mentally and physically active is critical to aging well and maintaining your independence. This is where Sunrise Senior Living comes in—our communities offer a wide variety of activities, programs, amenities, and services that help seniors stay active and engaged.
What Does Active Senior Living Look Like?
When you think of active senior living, you might imagine exercise classes and group hikes. While physical activity is important, staying active is a more holistic process. Mental stimulation is a key component—learning new skills and trying different hobbies help keep your mind sharp. To support emotional well-being, you might try meditation classes or religious and spiritual events.
Research shows that strong relationships and social networks promote healthy aging. This is why active senior living communities typically offer social activities and outings that help you build fulfilling, supportive friendships. Examples include playing card games with other residents, exploring local museums as a group, or enjoying coffee in a public lounge.
Benefits of Staying Active as a Senior
Keeping your body and mind active as you age can have a few significant benefits:
- Physical. Physical activity is an important part of active senior living; it builds strength, enhances mobility, and improves balance. A stronger, more stable body reduces the risk of falls and helps you bounce back from illnesses or injuries. It also allows you to move around comfortably and stay independent as you age.
- Mental. Staying active as a senior should include things that stimulate and challenge your brain, such as reading books, doing puzzles, or engaging in lively conversation. These activities have been shown to boost memory, support cognitive function, and improve overall quality of life.
- Emotional. Active independent senior living has important emotional benefits. Living in a community and building strong friendships can boost your mood and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. With friends around every corner, there's always something fun to look forward to.
How Sunrise Senior Living Supports Active Senior Living
At Sunrise Senior Living, we fully embrace the concept of active senior living. Our communities are designed to help you stay active and engaged in every aspect of life. We offer a full schedule of activities and events, so you can explore new interests and long-standing passions. Fitness classes ranging from yoga to hiking provide plenty of opportunities to move.
Sunrise Senior Living comes with a built-in community of like-minded seniors who are always ready for a great conversation or new adventure. Our living rooms, green spaces, and restaurants offer ample room to socialize with your loved ones and other residents.
Daily Activities and Programs to Keep Seniors Engaged
There's always something new to do at Sunrise Senior Living—our communities host daily activities tailored to residents' preferences and abilities. You can take classes in topics ranging from painting to flower arranging, learn new skills such as singing, or dive deep into nearly any topic with online MasterClass courses.
Social activities, such as card games, happy hours, live entertainment, and group excursions make it easy to meet other people and build lasting friendships. Plus, a regular schedule of fitness classes allows you to stay active in a fun and supportive environment.
Memory Care and Cognitive Function Support
To support your memory and cognitive function, Sunrise Senior Living provides an array of programs designed to challenge and engage your mind. Test your knowledge with puzzles and brain games or monitor your progress with memory exercises. Prefer a social experience? Compete for the top prize at a trivia event or build a puzzle with friends in our community spaces.
Residents who need extra support can find it in our customized memory care neighborhoods. Our Reminiscence program provides active living for those with Alzheimer's and dementia, while the Terrace Club is designed for people with early to moderate memory loss. With specialized care, highly trained staff, and a secure environment, these neighborhoods allow residents to enjoy familiar activities and enriching programs safely.
Activities That Promote Active Living for Seniors
Whether you're moving into a senior living community or aging in place at home, you can take control of the active-living process. Try these activities for seniors to maintain your social, physical, and mental health.
Physical Activities for Older Adults
Building fitness is critical as you age; it helps you maintain the strength, stability, flexibility, and mobility you need for independent living. Group exercise classes are a great way to stay both socially and physically active. Care for your joints and muscles with classes including yoga or tai chi, try a low-impact aerobics or water aerobics class, or join a walking club. Many fitness centers offer senior-specific classes with modifications to suit varying mobility levels.
Cognitive and Memory Exercises
Stay sharp with exercise designed to maintain or improve cognitive function. Puzzles and games are a great option—make a point to do the daily crossword puzzle, buy a Sudoku book, or try different brain teasers. Memory matching games and regular reading can also be useful. Activities that challenge the brain can help with memory, recall, planning, and decision-making. At Sunrise Senior Living, you'll find resources and organized events that support long-term cognitive health.
Social and Recreational Activities
A strong social network is essential for healthy aging and active living for older adults. Social interactions support mental health and reduce the risk of both depression and cognitive decline. You can make friends and build stronger social ties with group activities, including art classes, book clubs, and musical performances. Consider joining a community organization, such as a choir or theater group, or attend musical performances with others. Other activities include community volunteering, taking workshops, and scheduling regular gatherings with friends and family members.
The Role of Personalized Care in Supporting Active Living
Everyone ages differently. At Sunrise Senior Living, we offer personalized care plans to meet residents' unique needs and allow them to stay active and independent. Our team members provide tailored support to match each person's physical and cognitive abilities, ensuring they can participate in a range of activities.
Assisted Living vs. Independent Living at Sunrise
At Sunrise Senior Living, our independent living and assisted living communities offer different levels of care and support. Both options are designed to provide a vibrant, active lifestyle.
- Independent living communities are designed for people who need minimal support for daily life but still want organized programs and activities. These neighborhoods include housekeeping, maintenance, and concierge services, so you can focus on the things you love.
- Assisted living includes a wider range of support services to help you manage everyday tasks. Depending on your situation, this could include medication management or providing support with bathing and dressing. Our assisted living facilities are designed with safety in mind, with strategically placed handrails and single-floor layouts.
How to Choose an Active Senior Living Community
As you search for an active senior living community that suits your needs, personality, and interests, keep these factors in mind:
- Available activities. Look at the daily and weekly schedule to see what's offered. Are you interested in the activities? Are team members willing to add new classes or events?
- Cognitive support. Research the community's cognitive and memory support practices. In particular, look for a range of independent and group options.
- Personalized care. Make sure the community offers care plans that are tailored to your needs. It's also important to ask how care plans evolve as you age.
- Community engagement. Does the community provide ways to get to know other residents? Are there group activities? What spaces are available to gather with residents, friends, and family members?
At Sunrise Senior Living, we understand the importance of choosing the right senior living community. We offer free consultations to help you find the best fit for yourself or a loved one.
Embrace Active Senior Living at Sunrise Senior Living
As you age, staying active—both physically and mentally—is essential to maintaining independence and a high quality of life. At Sunrise Senior Living, we're committed to building vibrant, active communities that enable seniors to thrive and age well.
Find out how we can help you or a loved one maintain an active, engaged, and purposeful life by finding a Sunrise community near you and scheduling a tour or consultation today.