If you’re like most people, the idea of leaving your current home is near unthinkable. After all, it’s the place where you’ve lived, raised a family, and forged memories that last a lifetime. But once the kids have grown up and flown the nest, living in a big house might be hurting your long-term quality of life.

For many older adults, the solution is clear: Life at a retirement community provides easy access to dining, amenities and a built-in social network. If you’re weighing the benefits of a senior living community, here are just a few more things to consider.

Friends Are Fundamental

No man (or woman) is an island. While some think they might prefer some lasting peace and quiet, it’s a commonly known fact that human beings are social animals. We require a network of relations – be it friends or family – to understand our place in the world around us. And more often than not, we prefer to have a group of peers with whom we can relate and share common life experiences.

Though it may be possible to find these strong social ties while living on your own, senior living communities come with a few distinct advantages:

  • You won’t have to take care of time-consuming home upkeep and repair. That means no gutter cleaning or lawn mowing, giving you that much more time to do anything you like.
  • You’ll be surrounded by your peers. That means baked-in-the-bread commonalities and mutual interests. In some ways, community living is similar to your schoolyard days – without the excessive immaturity and cliquishness, of course.
  • There’s always something to do. From book clubs to golf groups, you’ll be able to find your tribe. Quiet nights can be nice, but community living presents constant opportunities to be active and stay involved.

Boosting Your Emotional Health

Maintaining strong social ties is a major component of continuing mental and emotional health. For many seniors, living alone can lead to a real sense of isolation and alienation from their broader community. Even occasional social contact – once a month or once a week – does a lot to boost mood and provide a lasting sense of purpose. In a senior living community, these contacts are more frequent, and the resulting relationships are deeper and more meaningful, leading to a profound improvement in self-reported measures of happiness.

Community Life and Longevity

We’ve established why you need friends, plus the emotional benefits of keeping up a social circle – but did you know that community living could lead to a longer, healthier life?

It’s true. Loneliness is one of the biggest risk factors for a number of seemingly unrelated health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, compromised immune response and cognitive decline. It’s also shown to increase the rate of progression of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Moving to a senior living community won’t just keep you happy, it will also keep you healthy and sharp.

Helping You Find True Community

There are a lot of senior living providers out there. How do you know which one is right for you? At Eagle Senior Living, we understand that a great community starts with great people – that means experienced and compassionate staff, plus residents from all walks of life. We encourage you or your loved one to pay us a visit at one of our 16 communities nationwide. No matter what level of support you want or require, each member of the Eagle family will welcome you with open arms.