When looking for a retirement community, making sure the community you are moving into can take care of you as your health changes is normally the top priority. But making the most of your retirement goes beyond your health. That’s why looking at your retirement with the goal of whole-person wellness is crucial.

According to LeadingAge.org, whole-person wellness is “a way to recognize that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. Focusing only on one muscle group or characteristic of your health may unfortunately have a negative impact on other critical aspects of wellbeing.” Elements that make up whole-person wellness include:

• Social/Emotional Well-being – being connected, having a support system, managing stress, manifesting optimism
• Physical Health – including cardiovascular wellness, flexibility/balance and strength rather than just the absence of disease
• Intellectual Health – the ability to use thoughts and logic to solve problems
• Spiritual Well-being – connectedness with a higher power, the eternal part of one’s self that provides solace in times of challenge
• Occupational/Vocational Health – having a sense of purpose or being needed by someone else either for paid or unpaid work

A focus on whole-person wellness at a retirement community stresses the quality of life for residents. A recent article on LeadingAge.org says:

Often we suppose that we have no control of our health issues, believing that we age as our parents did and that genetics predispose us to the same disease processes.  However, the book Successful Aging, by Drs. Rowe and Kahn, debunks this myth.  Based on a ten-year MacArthur Foundation Study on Aging, “Successful Aging” shares the research which reflects a different reality:  while there are some disease processes that are unavoidable, only 30% of the way we age is driven by genetics; 70% is based on our lifestyle choices!

For active seniors in a retirement community, your lifestyle choices can be as easy as taking advantage of the benefits your community has to offer. Ask:

• What volunteer opportunities are available?
• What kind of health/wellness classes do you offer?
• Is there a transportation option if I need to go to church, a meeting, etc?

Have questions about how Meth-Wick focuses on whole-person wellness for their residents? Contact Eryn Cronbaugh at 319-297-8620.