It Takes a Village: How Communal Living Can Improve Wellbeing

As we age, it seems like everyone we speak to has an opinion on how to keep us healthy. Our doctors tell us to eat right, exercise, and take certain medications. Our friends share the latest health trend on Facebook. Our family tries to wrap us up in metaphorical bubble wrap to keep us safe from every bump and bruise. It all comes from the right place, an attempt to help us thrive, but all this advice misses out on what researchers call the most vital component.

Diet, exercise, and proper medication are all essential, but true well-being and longevity starts with the most fundamental part of our lives: where we live. The research is clear: seniors living in community settings are far healthier than those living alone. In fact, according to a famous 2015 study, seniors who live alone and are at risk of social isolation have a 29% higher risk of premature mortality than those who live in communities. That higher risk is comparable to the risk of premature mortality caused by cigarettes.

And social isolation amongst seniors is on the rise as more and more older adults find themselves not just alone but even homeless. A 2024 review by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 20% of all individuals experiencing homelessness were aged 55 or older. Even more startling, that amount was a 6% increase from 2023. Another study from the University of California, San Francisco, estimates that the number of individuals 65 and older experiencing homelessness in the United States is expected to triple between 2017 and 2030.

The trends in senior homelessness and the negative health implications of isolation remind us that choosing a safe, supportive, and social environment isn’t just a preference; it is a powerful act of self-care. While living alone comes with risks, does living in a community truly offer benefits? The answer is a resounding, yes!

When you choose an environment focused entirely on vibrancy, dignity, and continuous joy, the benefits to your well-being touch every aspect of your health. Some of these advantages include:

• Cognitive Resilience: Community programs and events provide daily intellectual stimulation, which is essential for maintaining sharp cognition and reducing memory decline.
• Spontaneous Connection: Combat loneliness and isolation by living in a place where friendly conversations and a vibrant social calendar are available just outside your door.
• Effortless Nutrition: Even those of us who love to cook can find it hard to plan and prepare consistently nutritious meals. Take the burden off with meals provided by an expert culinary team focused on healthy living.
• No Fuss Fitness: Getting to the gym daily can feel impossible, and even finding time for a walk can be a chore. Community living offers access to fitness classes, personal trainers, and opportunities for movement at your fingertips.
• An Invisible Safety Net: Feeling unwell or experiencing a sudden injury can be frightening, especially when alone. Communities provide compassionate, trained staff who are ready to offer discreet assistance whenever needed.
• Simplified Financial Living: Managing bills, deadlines, and passwords can be overwhelming. Instead of juggling multiple companies and schedules, living in a community allows you to simplify things by paying just one predictable monthly bill.
• Stress-Free Living: Who wants to spend their days worrying about cleaning the house, tending to the yard, or fixing a leaky faucet? Let an expert community maintenance team worry about that so you can focus on fully embracing your retirement.
• A Focus on Wellness: Community living offers a dedicated team of onsite nurses, wellness coordinators, social workers, physical therapists, dieticians, and personal trainers, all focused on proactively addressing health needs.
• The Foundation of Benevolence: Many of us prepare for retirement but may outlive our resources. That's why non-profit senior living communities support benevolent funds to ensure no resident is forced out of their home if they run out of funds.

So, the experts believe in community living, but what about those who have already made the decision? Well, ask any resident if they think they made the right choice, and the answer is almost always a resounding yes! Even more common are those who wish they had made the decision sooner. Residents are living proof that community living is the most proactive, positive step a senior can take to safeguard their health, happiness, and long-term security.

At Aviva, we see how community living can inspire, heal, and strengthen seniors. Just ask the over a dozen centenarians who call our campus home, or those who have fully recovered from strokes or illness, to become more active and engaged than they were before. We view our community as more than a place to live; it is a lifelong promise to maintain a vibrant environment that combats the risks of isolation and vulnerability. But our commitment extends beyond exceptional amenities and daily support. As the national crisis of senior homelessness and isolation accelerates, it is more crucial than ever that we secure the future of everyone within our walls.

Our commitment takes shape through our Benevolent Care Fund. This critical fund ensures that, when circumstances change, residents of our community will never be forced to leave because they have outlived their financial resources. But we cannot do it alone. We rely on the generous support of donors and champions to help us continue funding the Benevolent Care Fund. We hope you will consider joining us in this critical mission by donating to the Benevolent Care Fund. Every dollar we receive goes directly to helping a resident live their best life in a community where they are treasured and loved.

To learn more about the Benevolent Care Fund, please visit https://foundation.avivaseniorlife.org/impact-areas.