To build connections and a sense of community, retirement communities offer numerous opportunities for residents to get involved and socialize with each other and staff while promoting mental and physical health.
In retirement communities such as the Souderton Mennonite Homes, a variety of activities are provided to residents to keep them active.
According to resident Susan Shade, the multitude of activities includes things such as exercise classes, music programs and lectures on subjects like history.
“There’s a lot of choices of different things to do,” Shade said. “[There are] a wide variety of things that you can be involved in.”
Shade is involved in several activities, claiming that she would not have these opportunities if she did not live at Souderton Mennonite Homes.
“If I was still at my home, living alone, I wouldn’t have all these socialization things to do,” Shade said.
For resident association president Richard Close, a variety of activities and opportunities to socialize are important for maintaining mental health stability.
“As you get older, it is important that you do not become isolated,” Close said. “Here, at Souderton Mennonite Homes, it’s very good for mental health and for psychological health that you’re living with other people.”
Close also said that the many opportunities provided to the residents help them to maintain good health as they age all the way into their nineties and older.
“We had a lady on our floor who was over 100 years old, who was still fine physically and in mental health,” Close said. “There’s so many older folks that find out that it’s really important to stay physically fit.”
In addition to providing a variety of activities, retirement communities can also offer many opportunities to socialize that provide a sense of community.
According to Shade, she has found many new friendships during her time at Souderton Mennonite Homes, saying they are almost like a “whole new family.”
“I knew one individual who lived here when I moved in,” Shade said, “but now I feel like I have a whole new variety of friends, and it really is a very nice community.”
For Close, the development of friendships has been his favorite aspect of his years at Souderton Mennonite Homes.
“Here, there’s so many opportunities to spend time with people,” Close said. “Getting to know people is so, so important as you get older.”
According to server Jane Rush, she is able to form connections with the residents.
“I feel like I have good relationships with some of them.” Rush said.
Rush said she is also able to build relationships with her coworkers.