active senior living group of seniors.

Benefits of an Active Senior Living Retirement Center

Does the world encourage active senior living enough? Everyone encourages kids to stay active. There’s a PE class in elementary school. Many parents put their children into sports. Even the NFL has the Play 60 campaign to encourage kids to get at least sixty minutes of daily activity.

When kids grow up, that encouragement stops. But the benefits of an active lifestyle never go away. Staying active gets more vital as you age.

For seniors, staying active can be one of the most critical things you can do to stay healthy and happy.

Here at Saint Ann Retirement Center, we encourage all residents who can stay active, to do so. We offer a wide array of amenities and activities to promote active senior living.

Given the importance of staying active, Saint Ann makes it a priority to help residents stay engaged both mentally and physically at our senior living facility.

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active senior living. seniors outside hula hooping.

Why are activities important for seniors?

Activities that Prevent Disease

Activity improves your immune system. For many seniors, their immune system declines with age. Active senior living helps keep it strong.

With a stronger immune system, your body can fight off illnesses like the common cold, the flu, and even COVID-19.

Activity can mitigate other ailments like heart disease or diabetes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with seniors impacted the most. Staying active can drastically lower your odds of death from heart disease.

Staying active doesn’t mean you have to get up and run miles and miles or lift heavy weights in the gym. Activity can mean walking laps around a track. It can mean stretching in the morning. It can even mean doing band exercises!

Active senior living will keep you strong against disease and illness.

Activities that Help Manage Body Weight

Our metabolisms grow slower with age. Regular activity keeps our metabolism high, helping our bodies burn fat and retain muscle.

Activities that Improve Mental Health

Physical activity is excellent for your mental health. Getting active releases endorphins or hormones that make you feel good. These can relieve stress and help you feel happy.

Activity can also help you sleep well! Sleep and general rest are essential for seniors, who are often prone to insomnia and other sleep-related issues.

Activities that Lessen Fall Damage

Young folks can fall and bounce back up as if nothing happened. But their weaker bones can break when seniors fall, even from a small height. Large bones like hips and femurs are at particular risk during falls.

But regular activity can keep your bones strong! Activity also keeps your muscles strong, which may prevent you from falling in the first place!

Activities that Get You Social

Activity, especially in a senior living center, almost always occurs in groups!

Here at Saint Ann, we offer loads of wellness activities designed to promote socialization and active senior living. You can make new friends and get to know your fellow residents better through active senior living.

Staying social is great for your brain, especially for those getting older. Meaningful relationships give us purpose, motivate us, fight against feelings of loneliness and depression, and keep us mentally sharp.

If you do activities with people you like, it will feel like fun and less like work!

Activities that Improve Brain Function

Many studies have suggested that adults who exercise regularly have a lower risk of dementia.

And don’t think that if you start now, then it’s too late. The same studies also suggest that it doesn’t matter when you begin a fitness routine, as long as you start one!

active senior living. seniors doing yoga.What kind of exercises are best for seniors?

Yoga

    • Yoga is an excellent exercise for active senior living! It’s a low-impact exercise that’s easy on your joints. It helps build core strength and increase flexibility. These benefits will help keep you strong and safe!

Aerobics

    • If able, aerobic exercises are great at building stamina and heart health. It also strengthens the lungs. Aerobic exercise can mean a lot of different things. Walking, swimming, biking, and even table tennis or pickle-ball count as aerobics.

Strength Training

    • Weightlifting doesn’t have to mean stepping into a squat rack. But lifting weights, even five pounds or less, can drastically slow down muscle loss and keep body fat low.
    • Muscle loss is a big issue for seniors, which is part of why mobility becomes poor and falls become dangerous. So weightlifting, even a little bit, can pay huge dividends later in life.

How Saint Ann Retirement Center Keeps Its Residents Active

Saint Ann offers many amenities, facilities, and activities to support active senior living and help residents stay fit.

Wellness and Exercise Programs at Saint Ann:

Chair volleyball

    • Get into the action of volleyball from the comfort of your chair!

Strength training classes

    • Lift weights with your fellow mates!

Cornhole

    • A classic yard game that anyone can play!

Stretching sessions

    • Stay loose and limber with stretching sessions led by our skilled and friendly instructors!

Social Amenities at Saint Ann:

Active senior living involves both physical engagement and mental engagement.

Libraries and game centers

    • Keep your mind sharp with a good book or challenge a friend to a vast array of classic board games!

Computer rooms

    • Stay in touch with friends and relatives, or access the internet in our computer rooms!

Fitness and wellness centers

    • A great place to stay in shape!

Chapels

    • A quiet place for worshipers of all faiths to practice their religion peacefully.

Who can benefit from Saint Ann’s Activities?

If you’re interested in assisted or independent living, then Saint Ann Retirement Center would make a great home for you.

But what’s the difference between assisted living and independent living?

Independent Living

Independent living is for healthy seniors who still live independently but want the safety and sociability of living with fellow seniors and staff members. In addition, seniors find it exciting to live in a community where they can interact with their peers.

You can make your daily decisions at an independent living facility without the hassle of chores like housekeeping, grocery shopping, lawn care, and home maintenance.

Delicious meals are prepared daily for your convenience. However, apartments come with kitchenettes, making it possible to cook meals when you’d like!

Daily medical and personal care differs for assisted and independent living residents. For independent living, medical and personal care is provided by your choice of home health companies whenever needed or requested. Independence is the top priority for our independent living residents.

Assisted Living

Assisted living is for those who want personal care and other support in a home-like setting. Those in assisted living get help from staff when needed and get services at their request.

Assisted living also gives residents an environment where they can be social at their own pace. Someone who wants to be around people their age would greatly benefit from assisted living.

Why should you choose assisted living?

    • It provides a safe environment for seniors with limited mobility or medical conditions that require assistance.
    • It fosters socialization opportunities for seniors to thrive.
    • Help and medical personnel are available.
    • Delicious, healthy meals are prepared to support the immune system and maintain overall wellness.
    • Transportation is provided to help seniors maintain their independence.

Active Senior Living at Saint Ann

Here at Saint Ann, we hope to have answered all your most pressing questions regarding the value of activity for seniors.

If you have any additional questions or are interested in learning more, please call and schedule a visit today!

Saint Ann Retirement Center offers the best senior living options for retirement in Oklahoma City. Assisted living and independent living accommodations enhance the lives of individuals looking for support and comfort and a variety of amenities to keep the community active and engaged. Saint Ann is owned and operated by The Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, a not-for-profit Christian organization.

How you choose the best retirement community is important to the next step you take in your life. Should you choose assisted living or independent living? Read our blog to figure out how to find the right fit for you!

How to Choose the Best Retirement Community for You: 8 Tips

Assisted living senior living independent living in oklahoma city Transparent Clean St. Ann Assisted Independent Living BLK

Are you looking for the best retirement community for you or a loved one? Not sure where to start? Here at Saint Ann Retirement Center, we’ve identified some things to consider and questions to ask when looking to move into a new retirement community.

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Choosing the right retirement community for you can be a tough process. read more about how to choose the right place for you.

How to Know What Retirement Community Is Best For Me?

Here’s what you need to consider when choosing the retirement community for you.

1. Dining

You’ll be eating the food for nearly every meal, so you better like it! When you or a loved one visits, pay close attention to the dining aspects.

What kind of meals are available? Who is preparing it? Are the ingredients of excellent quality? Can they accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences with ease?

2. Social Activities

It would help if you wanted to move into a retirement community to be around folks your age that whom you can socialize with. Ask for a calendar of monthly events when you tour.

Do the activities interest you? Are you physically able to participate? Activities are what get you moving and interacting in a retirement community. You should enjoy them!

3. Personal Care

Every person interested in a retirement center has different medical and personal needs. Some retirement communities focus on medical care also known as assisted living care, while others prioritize independence or independent living.

Evaluate your situation and decide if you value getting to live on your own or being in a place where specialty care is provided. Do you need help with your meds? Do you need assistance with dining? Do you still do chores?

How you choose the right retirement community is important to the next step you take in your life. Should you choose assisted living or independent living? Read our blog to figure out how to find the right fit for you!

4. General Disposition

Do the residents and staff seem happy when you visit? Or do they seem bored or dismissive? Pay attention to the state of the residents.

You’re likely to feel similar to how they do. You should spend your years in a retirement center happily!

5. Amenities

Amenities are the shared spaces in retirement centers for residents to enjoy. Amenities vary from religious spaces, exercise rooms, game centers, and more!

If most of the amenities don’t interest you, consider if the cost of living there is worth it if you don’t like the amenities.

6. Community

When you visit, take some time to mingle with a current resident. It could be insightful to the retirement experience. Still, it gives you a chance to gauge if you see yourself getting along with those who live there.

If you use the center’s amenities and participate in social activities, you should do it with friends!

7. Transportation

Transportation is an often-overlooked aspect of retirement communities.
A community’s transportation allows you to get out and about. While it varies from place to place, Saint Ann is proud to offer a robust transportation service.

We have a scheduled driver who can take you to medical appointments, the grocery store, movie theaters, and more!
Transportation is key to living with independence.

8. Independent Living or Assisted Living

You’ll be faced with these two living options when looking to move into a senior retirement community. Independent Living Vs. Assisted Living.

In short, independent living focuses on:
– The social needs of the resident
– Aid with daily activities when asked
– General independence

Assisted living focuses on:
– Medical and personal care
– Continuing care support
– Nursing care
– Help with daily activities

Some senior living communities specialize in one or the other. Saint Ann provides both in one location.

In Conclusion…

Moving into a retirement center is a big decision with many factors.
Here at Saint Ann, we hope to have alleviated some stress and given you some peace of mind on how to best make this decision.

Are you interested in a senior living community? Visit Saint Ann today! We are an all-encompassing facility with the people and resources to accommodate independent and assisted living residents.

Stop by and see our wide array of amenities, happy residents, and welcoming staff and see if we are best for you.

Assisted living near me, assisted living okc

Choosing the Best Assisted Living Near Me in 10 Steps

Assisted living senior living independent living in oklahoma city Transparent Clean St. Ann Assisted Independent Living BLK
Saint Ann Retirement Center Assisted Living okc and Independent Living

Choosing the Best Assisted Living Near Me

When transitioning yourself or a loved one into an OKC assisted living facility, there are many things to consider. But ultimately, happiness and health are above all else. To ensure this, Saint Ann Retirement Center has identified ten factors for you to consider when choosing an assisted living facility in OKC. 

1. Location 

When you look for assisted living near me, choosing an assisted living facility near loved ones is one of the most important decisions. It’s easier for them to visit you regularly or be readily available in an emergency. A local assisted living facility can also make things more comfortable for you. You will be near familiar places. The other residents around you will also be from the same community. Therefore, you will feel more at home at a local assisted living facility. 

2. Meals

Food is often overlooked when choosing assisted living facilities, but not at Saint Ann. We understand how important it is for seniors to have balanced, healthy meals. Some facilities have their food catered, which leads to little variety from day-to-day, and the food may sit out for some time before it gets to you. That is not the case at Saint Ann. Instead, our outstanding chefs prepare our delicious meals daily and plan menus around resident preferences. When touring an assisted living facility, please pay close attention to the quality of the food, how it’s prepared, and who’s preparing it. You’ll be eating it every day. So it’s important that you like it and that it’s worth the cost. 

3. Amenities 

Amenities are the features of the assisted living facility, which can include: 

  • Libraries and game centers
  • Computer rooms
  • Fitness and wellness centers
  • Chapels 
  • Beauty Salons
  • Wi-Fi
  •  And more! 

Some assisted living facilities boast many amenities, while others focus solely on personal care. Neither one is better than the other. What matters is what you value. Suppose you can live independently but need help taking medication or performing day-to-day personal care activities. In that case, you might enjoy a facility with more amenities that you’ll be able to use. 

If you need more attentive care, you may like a facility with fewer amenities.  Searching for assisted living near me could help you find options in your area. However, it would be best if you didn’t have to pay for assisted living amenities you can’t use. 

4. Staff 

Staff members will interact with you throughout every day. They are available to walk you down the hall, prepare your food, manage your medication, and provide personal care. Finding a place with a loving, caring staff of genuine people is perhaps the most critical part of choosing an assisted living facility. An in-person visit is the best way to gauge a staff. Perhaps talk to some residents or family members of residents and see what they think. 

5. Activities 

Activities are at the heart of every great senior living community. They get you active, engage you with other residents, and make the facility a fun, social place! 

Assisted living activities at Saint Ann include: 

  • Entertainers
  • Bingo and games
  • Chair Volleyball 
  • Strength training sessions 
  • Religious services 
  • Arts and crafts 
  • Socials 
  • And more! 

When you tour in person, ask for a brochure or form that includes their activity list so you can review it when you get home. Also, ask to see where activities take place! 

Assisted Living near me in OKC

6. Space 

Be mindful of how much space there is in the facility’s common areas. For example, if you use a wheelchair, will you be able to access every part of the building, or will some places be unreachable? 

Also, consider how much space you have in your room. Is it large enough for your liking? Does it give you room to move about freely? Can you accommodate people in your room, like if friends or family came to visit? Finding answers to these questions is necessary when choosing an assisted living facility. 

7. Cost 

The cost of assisted living near me varies from facility to facility and even more so from city to city. Many people save money by moving to assisted living because they don’t have to pay out of pocket for helpers, home maintenance, lawn care, groceries, etc. 

The cost of assisted living includes many things, like: 

  • Meals 
  • Activities & Life Enrichment
  • Personal Care & Nursing Oversight
  • Housing & Utilities
  • Housekeeping
  • Transportation
  • Medication Administration

Consult with your family and decide if the move to assisted living is right for you. 

8. Reviews 

Read reviews of the facility online. These reviews are the most honest reflections you will get of the facility. 

Keep in mind that everyone’s experience is different. Someone might have had a wonderful time while someone else, for whatever reason, did not. So read these reviews carefully and parse out what information you can. 

Try to avoid particularly negative and overly positive reviews. The ones in the middle will likely provide more substantial insight into the experience at a facility, weighing the good and the bad. 

9. Be Honest 

When you search for assisted living near me, you want an OKC assisted living facility that caters to your needs. To do this, you’ll need to be honest with yourself. 

There’s no shame in admitting you need help. Assess what you want in a facility, but make sure it has what you need regarding personal and medical care. 

Additionally, be honest with yourself about the transition to assisted living. Too often, people prolong the transition. This leads to more accidents at home, where it’s harder to get immediate help. Our current assisted living residents always advise future residents to decide while they still can for themselves. 

But this doesn’t mean you are receiving constant medical attention. Assisted living and nursing homes are quite different. That’s what’s great about a place like Saint Ann. 

We have a staff of dedicated, lovely people who give you specialized personal care. But we also provide you with exceptional amenities, fun activities, and delicious meals. 

10. Schedule a Visit 

Explore the options when you search for “assisted living near me” and take a visit yourself. Of course, loved ones can visit for you, but it is truly best for you to see a place with your own eyes. Get a sense of the building. Meet with the staff. Mingle with the other residents. There is no replacement for yourself! 

In conclusion… 

We hope to have provided some key insights into choosing the right option for “assisted living near me” that adjusts to your needs. Saint Ann Retirement Center is happy to provide a comfortable environment with a caring staff, fun activities, tasty food, and quality amenities for you. 

Come see it for yourself! If you’re interested in transitioning into assisted living, give us a call, check us out on Facebook, or visit our website to schedule a visit today!

Infographic on Choosing the best assisted living near me

Saint Ann Retirement Center

  • Oklahoma City
  • Edmond
  • Mustang 
  • Midwest City

Open: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed: Saturday & Sunday