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Adjusting to Senior Living at The Ashford

With any move, there can be stages of adjustment. For older adults, that transition can look different. Making the move into a senior living community can be prompted by a variety of challenging lifestyle changes, but senior living is meant to uplift and benefit your later stages of life.

Here are some ways to help adjust to senior living and make the most out of this period of your life.

Explore What Your Community Has to Offer

Push yourself to explore the community so you can become more accustomed to the senior living lifestyle. From there, it is easier to find a routine, get settled and start enjoying this new chapter. There are opportunities to expand your social activity with shared community spaces and events, but balance is also accessible with private rooms. Our senior living communities are built to sustain a happy and healthy lifestyle so that you can keep enjoying life.

Give Yourself Time to Adjust

Knowing that every day may not look the same is important to keep in mind when moving into a senior living community. It takes time to feel comfortable and adjusted to a new place. Many experts suggest that it can take 3-6 months to adjust to senior living, but Wallick Senior Living communities are equipped to help personalize the adjustment process. That way, you can focus on yourself and how you spend your time. From art classes to cooking classes, Wallick offers residents the choice to participate in activities that fit their interests.

Reflect on Your Previous Environment

In moments of change, it’s beneficial to reflect on what usually makes you feel comfortable. Try to emulate that feeling in your new home. Reflecting on the best parts of your previous home can also make you feel more comfortable with that chapter’s ending and the beginning of a new one.

We hope that when you open the door to your new home, you feel a sense of peace and belonging. These tips are here to encourage you to make active choices to embrace the senior living lifestyle.

To learn more about adjusting to senior living and the moving process, click here.

Managing Stress with Summer Activity

Stressors in the Later Parts of Life

Entering the elderly stages of life comes with new varieties of change. Some may deal with the loss of loved ones, health conditions, loneliness and other changes. Change could also bring on feelings of stress because of its disruptions to routines and needs. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) discusses the dynamic between aging and the stress that this period of life can bring.

During this period of life, it becomes important to manage stressors in a healthy way. For everyone, this can look different. One factor that adds complexity to life stress and our ability to manage it, especially as we age, is seasonal weather changes.

Embracing Routines in Senior Living

The summer heat can make it harder to indulge in our favorite routines, from daily walks to spending time with loved ones. Our senior living communities are here to help you adjust to these changes and continue to enjoy every day. We understand the importance of maintaining routines and their direct impact on overall wellness.

If there are added limitations to residents’ activities due to weather, we are prepared to provide comfortable and enjoyable alternatives. Our activities directors are aware of how changes in the seasons may affect stress. We always plan a diverse calendar of indoor activities for residents, providing the same level of stress reduction and mental stimulation as their usual routines that might be affected by high temperatures.

Having different coping strategies is one way that you can stay on top of managing stress during this period in your life. Here are some ideas for finding new stress-reducing habits outside of community activities.

  • Visit with peers to share advice and new interests.
  • Take proper precautions when going outside, like staying hydrated, monitoring medication effects and spending time in the shade outside.
  • Try new television programs, books, and games to occupy your time.

When possible, our communities are prepared to help you stick to your routine. In a recent interview with Channel 2 (WDTN), Sara Ward, The Ashford of Beavercreek Executive Director, spotlighted the Wallick Senior Living team’s dedication to helping residents beat the summer heat while allowing them to enjoy their favorite activities.

“In a heat wave like this, we’re going to make sure that if a resident wants to sit outside or wants to go on a walk, that we’re checking on them more frequently. We are making sure that they have water for their walk,” she said.

Keeping an Open Mind

Moments of change can be difficult to manage when your self-care is at stake, but it is important to know that stress during this period in your life is still normal. It will be helpful to continue being gracious with yourself and to try new things.

One of the beautiful things about being a part of a senior living community is that some of the burden of managing change is taken off residents. Our associates are here to uplift our community members and encourage them to reduce stress in the areas where we can.

Learn more about the activities we have planned by viewing our community updates located here.

Wallick Senior Living Featured on NBC4’s Daytime Columbus

“In making a transition to a community like one of ours, you’re surrounded by people, you’re surrounded by activities, you’re surrounded by possibilities.”

Wallick Senior Living was featured on Daytime Columbus! Check out the full interview here, where Adam Squires, Regional VP of Sales, and Kimberly Gibson, Executive Director of The Ashford at Sturbridge, shed light on the genuine wellness and mission-focused aspects of our communities.