How an Independent Living Community Can Ignite Your Social Life (and Your Health)

Even if you don’t describe yourself as a ‘people person’, you need a community around you in order to flourish. Humans are social animals, and thrive on connection with others – it’s literally coded into our DNA.

Studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation bring an increased risk of disease and early death. And yet, so many of us experience loneliness – especially as older adults.

A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report revealed that more than one-third of adults over age 45 feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth over age 65 are socially isolated. And just look at what happened during the pandemic – when we couldn’t physically socialize with friends and family, and had to restrict our physical contact with others, it severely impacted mental health.

For seniors, building a sense of community, meeting new people, and having the ability to stay connected and close with friends and loved ones is essential to living a longer and healthier life. And that’s one of many reasons to consider an independent living community.

Socializing can be challenging as we age

In mid-life, as we become engulfed in our careers and families, our schedules typically get busier, and it becomes easy to lose the kinds of social connections we may have had time to foster when we were younger. Keeping up those connections can become even more difficult in our older years, as our energy and mobility start to wane.

Nonetheless, many seniors miss out on opportunities to socialize because they live in homes or neighborhoods where social connections become limited. This was partly the case for Eva Stolt, who moved to Westerleigh PARC at age 86. “For 24 years I walked 2 km with a group of friends every Sunday,” she says. But as her walking pace slowed, keeping up with the group proved challenging.

At home, she was also struggling to cook and clean. “Being a pharmacist, I worked with many seniors, and I always said ‘I will go directly from my house to the cemetery’. I loved my home,” she adds, “but it was getting to be difficult by age 84 and 85. I lived in a two-level apartment, and always had to have help.”

Eva made the decision to move to Westerleigh PARC after a visit to the community last February. “It’s more comfortable than living at home!” she says.

She now enjoys the convenience of exercise classes geared toward seniors – and the built-in social group to interact with. “My first time I thought, ‘sitting in a chair to do some exercise movements, give me a break’. But it’s very good and you get tired after 45 minutes! I think my balance is much better than before.”

Connecting through common interests

Whether you’re into walking, art, board games, or pickleball, you’ll find that the opportunities to be active and social are varied and easily accessible in an independent living community.

At PARC, for example, we offer a wide range of options – from art classes and community excursions to crafting and woodworking, to shows and entertainment. “I wish I could go to all of the things – there are so many possibilities,” Eva says. “For example, today it’s raining, so there’s a group going out with the bus to drive to interesting destinations. There’s also book club and, in the afternoon, sometimes we have people come in and perform a show or talk about a news event or current topic. There is an activity every two hours,” she adds. “If you want to be involved, you can be very busy.”

Staying busy and connected is what keeps Eva feeling fulfilled and engaged, but her favourite activities involve art and music. “I need classical music, and I get it here,” she says. “Most Sundays there is a classical concert being transmitted from Berlin. They also regularly invite us to enjoy the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.”

She also appreciates the local talent, and the chance to chat with her neighbours while enjoying music in the main lobby. “One of the residents goes down every morning and practices on the piano. If you are bored you can go and sit beside them.”

Good food is better together

For many seniors, the joys of eating together fade when they live alone at home. And the process of buying and cooking healthy food becomes more onerous. Independent living brings delicious food and friends together with the opportunity to enjoy chef-prepared meals in a beautiful and friendly community setting. This was key to Eva’s decision to move into Westerleigh PARC.

“At 86, who wants to cook!” she laughs. “But I had resorted to snacking on bread, and being a pharmacist, I was aware of the dangers,” she adds. “I knew I had to make some changes. At PARC, the food is the best. It’s not only nutritious, it’s beautiful. You don’t have to shop. You don’t have to cook. And you don’t have to wash the dishes. I just go downstairs, I eat and I talk to everybody!”

Learn more about all six of our award-winning residences for independent seniors.