Dimensions of Wellness for Active Adults
Living a long, healthy life isn’t something that just happens by accident, but by proactive care for our own multifaceted health and wellness. The dimensions of wellness are the different areas that impact a person’s overall well-being. Experts disagree on how many there are, but when talking about dimensions of wellness in aging, there are six categories on which most concur.
- Physical wellness pertains to taking care of the body, inside & out. It’s what most of us focus on when we are trying to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s eating a diet full of nutritious foods, exercising regularly, refraining from unhealthy habits like using tobacco or overusing alcohol, having regular health screenings, and getting good, restful sleep each night. Physical wellness is not limited to just what we can see, internal physical health is often out of sight, out of mind. Heart disease is the number one cause of death, with cancer as second and all the healthy habits above can help to prevent heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, advanced dementia, and other degenerative diseases.
- Intellectual wellness is about keeping your brain engaged as you age. The mind, like the body, stays healthy when it’s kept active. Once people have retired and no longer have a career to keep them stimulated, they must make more of an effort to keep learning and growing, in order to protect the brain from conditions like dementia. Volunteer work, clubs and lifelong learning classes, and reading are all great ways to keep the mind engaged and promote intellectual wellness.
- Emotional wellness has to do with the health of your mindset. Maintaining a positive outlook can sometimes be difficult, but support groups and therapy can help. Sometimes, to get to a place of true emotional wellness, people must address old hurts, fears, and frustrations that haven’t been resolved.
- Social wellness is boosted through connection with other people. It’s good for your mind, body, and soul to have healthy interactions with others. Part of this is having a good support system in place, and another part is being open to new experiences and engaging with new people. Having strong friendships can help people feel less alone and help prevent conditions like depression.
- Vocational wellness, also called occupational wellness, relates to feeling productive. Even if you have retired, you still have much to offer the world. If you can use your years of experience and knowledge to volunteer, mentor, tutor or consult with others, you’ll be promoting your own wellness while giving back to the community.
- Spiritual wellness is more than just adhering to organized religion. Connecting to your inner values and faith can help you feel a sense of purpose, and this can get you through difficult times in your life. Some people nurture their spiritual wellness through things like gardening, meditation, journaling, worship services and yoga. Finding a place of spiritual peace can make you feel happier and less anxious.
At Cambridge Village, we believe in paying attention to each dimension of wellness for seniors, so that our residents can experience Optimal Living®. At each Cambridge location, you can experience all the reasons that we are considered North Carolina’s premier Optimal Living® community for active adults. We offer an exceptional lifestyle, with evolving wellness, concierge healthcare, and engaged experiences, for a retirement experience that exceeds your expectations. Contact us through our website to learn more.
