Community and Connection: Surprising Keys to a Healthy Aging Lifestyle
A nourishing diet, regular exercise, and a history of family longevity go a long way toward helping you age well. But there’s another factor that may be even more beneficial: social engagement. According to the Mayo Clinic, there’s a direct correlation between your overall health and the quality, duration, and nature of your relationships—and strong social connections are also associated with a lower risk of health problems including heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline.
A growing number of people are discovering that active senior communities like Edenwald in Towson, Maryland make it easy to cultivate meaningful friendships, social connections, and a strong sense of belonging that contribute to a lifestyle that supports healthy aging. Read on to learn how these communities are making it happen.
Creating opportunities for engagement
One misconception about Life Plan Communities is that people who live here are lonely and isolated. You may be surprised to learn the opposite is true. For starters, wellness-focused retirement communities like ours make coming together for socialization easy with a variety of activities and events. At Edenwald, for example, our activities calendar is packed with happenings like wine tastings, dances, cultural excursions, and current event discussion groups. There really is something for every taste and preference.
The amenities found at many of today’s innovative Life Plan Communities also provide opportunities for casual, spontaneous encounters that grow into lifelong connections. Chef-crafted dining venues transform eating into a regular social event, while lounges and cafes provide warm, intimate spaces for coffee and conversation. Edenwald residents enjoy an added advantage: three miles of wooded nature paths and dirt trails winding through the adjacent Goucher College campus. These tree-lined routes offer a scenic natural oasis for neighbors to enjoy a walk, run, or hike together.
Building relationships through mutual interests
Meaningful activities and purposeful pursuits, shared with others, can help combat social isolation—and nowhere is that simpler than at active senior communities like Edenwald. Volunteer opportunities cultivate strong social bonds among older adults by giving them a chance to meet, strategize, and work toward a common goal. Book clubs spark lively group talks and shared ideas. Art, music, and theater groups allow creativity and interaction to flourish. Activities like yoga, exercise classes, and walking groups build a sense of camaraderie while cultivating physical wellness.
If you ask any Edenwald resident, they’ll tell you that our 30+ clubs and groups go a long way toward helping you find your people. And if you have a passion that’s not represented, the community provides the space and support for you to start your own group! Keep in mind, too, that no one is ever under pressure to participate. Many of our residents are perfectly happy enjoying quiet pursuits like book clubs or small group gatherings.
Learning together through college-enriched senior living
Exploring a fascinating topic, studying a new language, or acquiring a skill alongside other like-minded scholars offers abundant opportunities to widen your social circle and form lasting friendships. Regular conversations and group activities challenge the brain as well, which recent studies suggest may help delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Today’s innovative senior living communities like ours are taking note, integrating growth and discovery into everyday life—and residents are benefitting not just intellectually, but socially too. Expert speakers spark lively discussions about history, science, current events, and other topics. Art workshops and technology classes create a shared sense of purpose and allow neighbors to share tips and insights. Day trips to museums and art galleries are catalysts for fun, interactive chats.
Edenwald is leading the way in group learning opportunities through our partnership with Goucher College. Seasoned adult scholars have the opportunity to audit college classes, travel the world, and participate in intergenerational programs alongside students—proving that learning is a journey best taken together.
And as our new INSPIRE expansion takes shape, this partnership is only going to grow stronger. Edenwald residents will have access to the college library, live performing arts, lectures, and other campus events for free or at a discounted rate. They’ll also be able to audit classes at Goucher College and even work side-by-side with students in a cooperative community garden.
Discover how our senior living community can expand your world
Schedule a tour and experience the social connections at Edenwald for yourself. Talk with residents about the close relationships they’ve formed, try out an activity, or enjoy a chef-crafted meal.
You’ll also get a taste of the excitement that’s been building around our INSPIRE expansion, which will break ground in October. This highly anticipated project will feature three new residential towers, an outdoor plaza, exquisite amenities, and vibrant learning spaces. Central to this transformation is a deepening relationship with Goucher College, which is set to make Edenwald a college-enriched senior living community like no other.
Call 410-339-6263 to take your first step toward maintaining social wellness, lifelong learning, and a healthy lifestyle as you age.
