Family, friends, and hobbies bring joy to our lives, and as we grow older, those bonds only increase. A University of Warwick study found we become happier as we age, and staying healthy and comfortable is a way to continue living the good life.
Get Moving
Staying active is one of the most proactive ways of staying healthy and happy throughout the aging process. Physical exercise has been shown to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 50 percent, according to the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation. Beyond the positive effects exercise has on Alzheimer’s, staying active is an important part of living a healthy and fulfilled life.
According to Remedy’s Health Communities, “Staying active can boost vitality, help maintain strength and flexibility, improve mental function, reduce your risk for health problems, and even help relieve chronic pain.” If you’re starting a new exercise regimen, find something you enjoy and start out slowly. Activities like walking, swimming, biking, gardening, tai chi, and exercise classes designed for seniors are easy and effective ways to get moving.
Exercise Your Mind
Learning a new skill, taking a class, and doing mental exercises are great ways to work your mind as you grow older. A recent UCLA study found that memory fitness programs offered to older adults in their senior living communities helped improve their ability to recognize and recall words, benefitting their verbal learning and retention. “It was exciting to see how much older adults participate in a memory fitness program and improve,” said Dr. Karen Miller, the study’s author and an associate clinical professor at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. “The study demonstrates that it’s never too late to learn new skills to enhance one’s life.”
Pet Therapy
Along with keeping an active mind, improving and maintaining your mental health can be as easy as getting a pet. Studies have found that those with dogs are more physically active than people who don’t own a dog. Walking your pet is an easy way to fit exercise into your day, but your pet can also provide emotional support. Recent studies have found that interactions with pets and animals have significant benefits in improving physical and emotional well-being. A University of Maryland study found that interaction with dogs can preserve—and even enhance—the mental health and physical function of people with dementia. The companionship, love, and affection of a pet can be comforting. Another study from the University of Western Australia found that pet ownership also helps to improve social networks and access to social support, as being social with your pet can help you meet other pet owners.
Eating Right
Another way to prevent illness is fueling your body with proper nutrients. As you get older, changes to your body can alter eating habits. Variations to your senses—like smell and taste—can affect your appetite, and other bodily changes can slow digestion and metabolism, altering how you process food. With these changes, it’s more crucial than ever to maintain a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables contain fundamental vitamins and nutrients, so load up.
The Benefits Of Senior Living Communities
If you’re concerned about a loved one living alone, there are a few signs that indicate they may need a higher level of care: when they’re struggling to manage their household, forgetting to take medication, not eating well, not showering as often, and generally feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks. Senior living communities have numerous benefits including prepared meals, home care, socialization, activities, and peace of mind for loved ones.
How, though, do you know which option is the right fit?
Some communities, like Red Rock Senior Living in Woodbury, offer a continuum of care, so that seniors can transition from independent senior living to assisted living while staying in the same apartment; while others—like Deephaven Woods Senior Living in Deephaven—have a school next door and allow pets.
“Always trust your instincts,” says Judy Gustafson of Auburn Homes and Services. “While you are touring, make sure you think about yourself or your loved one living in that community.” How friendly is the staff? How helpful do they seem? Observe interactions, and ask residents for their honest opinions. Environment is important. “We strive to make our residents feel at home,” Gustafson says. “Our welcoming environment reflects the warmth and spirit of a small town.”
Twin Cities Senior Living Facilities & Amenities
Abiitan
abiitan.org
428 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401 | 612-378-0020
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 151
- Guest rooms: 0
- On-site rehab services: Available
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
Auburn Meadows Assisted Living
auburnhomes.org
591 Cherry Drive, Waconia MN 55387 | 952-227-0494
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 65
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Physical, speech, occupational therapy on campus
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
Chandler Place
chandlerplacesenior.com
3701 Chandler Drive, St. Anthony, MN 55421 | 612-788-7321
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 119
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Interim therapies available five days/week
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
Cherrywood Pointe of Savage
cherrywoodpointe.com
5950 West 130th Lane, Savage MN 55378 | 952-808-8725
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 94
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Coming soon
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: No
The Commons on Marice
commonsonmarice.com
1380 Marice Drive, Eagan, MN 55121 | 651-688-9999
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 147
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: No
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: No
- Diabetes management: No
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: via Avinity Health Services
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
Crest View Senior Community at Blaine (assisted living)
crestviewcares.org
12016 Ulysses Street NE, Blaine, MN 55434 | 763-281-1601
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 51
- Guest rooms:
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes, three meals daily
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes, emergency call system
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list:
Crest View Senior Community at Blaine (enhanced assisted living)
crestviewcares.org
12016 Ulysses Street NE, Blaine, MN 55434 | 763-281-1601
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 11
- Guest rooms:
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes, three meals daily
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes, emergency call system
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list:
Crest View Senior Community at Blaine (memory care)
crestviewcares.org
12016 Ulysses Street NE, Blaine, MN 55434 | 763-281-1601
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 24
- Guest rooms:
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes, three meals daily
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes, emergency call system
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list:
Crest View Senior Community at Blaine (senior market-rate independent)
crestviewcares.org
12016 Ulysses Street NE, Blaine, MN 55434 | 763-281-1601
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 66
- Guest rooms:
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes, 10 meals monthly included
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes, emergency call system
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list:
Deephaven Woods Senior Living
deephavenwoods.com
18025 Minnetonka Boulevard, Deephaven, MN 5539 | 952-746-8562
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 78
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Can be contracted to come in
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
The Fountains at Hosanna!
thefountainsathosanna.com
9850 163rd Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044 | 952-435-7199
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 92
- Guest rooms: 0
- On-site rehab services:
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: No
The Gardens (Nursing Home, LTC)
episcopalhomes.org
860 University Ave. W., St. Paul, MN 55104 | 651-632-8801
- Minimum age of residents: Case-by-case
- Total number of living units: 60
- Guest rooms: 2
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
Katy’s Cottage (Assisted Living Memory Care at Iris Park Commons)
episcopalhomes.org
1850 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55104 | 651-646-1026
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 16
- Guest rooms: 2
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
Mainstreet Village of Richfield
avinityseniorliving.org
7601 Lyndale Avenue South, Richfield MN 55423 | 612-869-6584
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 160
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: No
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: 9 mos-1 year
Nokomis Square Cooperative
nokomissquare.org
5015 35th Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55417 | 612-721-5077
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 199
- Guest rooms:
- On-site rehab services: No
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: No
- Housekeeping services: No
- Diabetes management: No
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: No
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list:
North Ridge Independent & Assisted Living
northridgehealthandrehab.com
5500 Boone Avenue North, New Hope, MN 55428 | 763-592-3000
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 197
- Guest rooms: 2
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: No
Old Main Village
oldmainvillage.com
301 South 5th Street, Mankato, MN 56001 | 507-388-4200
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 72
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Interim therapies available five days/week
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
Red Rock Senior Living of Woodbury
redrockseniorliving.com
2195 Century Avenue South, Woodbury, MN 55125 | 651-459-1400
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 77
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Interim therapies available five days/week
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: No
Saint Therese of New Hope Residence
sttheresemn.org
8008 Bass Lake Road, New Hope, MN 55428 | 763-531-5400
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 220
- Guest rooms:
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: No
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list:
Scandia Shores
avinityseniorliving.org
418 West Highway 96, Shoreview, MN 55126 | 651-415-9793
- Minimum age of residents: 55
- Total number of living units: 104
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: No
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: No
St. Anthony Health Center
stanthonyhealthcenter.com
3700 Foss Road, St. Anthony, MN 55421 | 612-788-9673
- Minimum age of residents: 18
- Total number of living units: 150
- Guest rooms: 0
- On-site rehab services: Physical, occupational, and speech therapies provided
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: No
Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake
sttheresemn.org
5200 Oak Grove Parkway, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 | 763-493-7000
- Minimum age of residents: Varies
- Total number of living units: 142 apartments, 64 skilled care units
- Guest rooms: N/A
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Sometimes
The Terrace (Catered Living/Independent Plus)
episcopalhomes.org
502 Lynhurst Avenue East, St. Paul, MN 55104 | 651-272-4900
- Minimum age of residents: 62
- Total number of living units: 58
- Guest rooms: 2
- On-site rehab services: Yes
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
- Wait list: Yes
WestRidge of Minnetonka
avinityseniorliving.org
11201 Fairfield Road, Minnetonka, MN 55305 | 952-512-0547
- Minimum age of residents: 65
- Total number of living units: 102
- Guest rooms: 1
- On-site rehab services: Interim therapies available five days/week
- Full-service dining room: Yes
- Scheduled outings: Yes
- Housekeeping services: Yes
- Diabetes management: Yes
- 24-hour staff and emergency call system: Yes
- Personal care assistance: Yes
- Beauty salon: Yes
-
Wait list: No
Photo above by Goodshoot
