Staying healthy in retirement involves so much more than exercising. Brisk walks and fun games of bocce are great activities, of course, and great for the heart — but creating a retirement lifestyle that promotes your physical wellbeing calls for an overall approach of physical, mental, and social activity. The goal is to put the “active” in “active senior living,” and staying connected to your passions and to others around you is a great way to do this. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can exercise your mental and physical health and give yourself valuable boosts of energy and excitement during retirement — as well as the advantages of residing in an active senior living community like Viamonte at Walnut Creek, where the options for staying active and continuing to do the things you love has never been easier.

THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING ACTIVE IN RETIREMENT

The science behind aging clearly shows the benefits of being active and socially connected, as opposed to isolated and sedentary. Exercise and physical activity have positive effects on your bones, muscles, joints, heart, and brain — and mental and social stimulation have been shown to prevent memory loss and reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.  Unfortunately, what many retirees find when they age in place (living in their longtime home as opposed to moving to a senior living community) is that life at home can become increasingly isolating and inactive. This tends to happen because seniors living in their longtime homes tend to participate in fewer social engagements and activities, and access to exercise centers and programs can also be limited. This is why so many retirees love senior living and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), because these communities are exactly the opposite; They encourage residents to be physically and socially engaged, to enjoy activities they love and try new ones, and to take advantage of everything each day has to offer. 

WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE IN RETIREMENT

At CCRCs, also referred to as life plan communities, it’s easy to maintain an active lifestyle because you have access to so many resources and activities, and because the community around you is so supportive and like-minded.  These communities offer a complete range of services, amenities, and programming for residents — such as fitness and wellness centers, swimming pools, walking and jogging paths, hobby and game rooms, entertainment centers, art studios, continuing education classrooms, social clubs, religious centers, and more. These lifestyle enhancements are simply easier to access for seniors who choose retirement community living over aging in place. There’s so much to do at CCRCs, especially when those communities are well-connected to nearby shopping, dining, and nature. And, because they have vibrant social networks where residents make new and lasting friendships, many retirees actually find they become more social at their senior living communities than they have been in years.

ACTIVE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Naturally, social distancing restrictions have made things more complicated for seniors — but there are still plenty of ways to stay safe and active at a retirement community, such as taking advantage of pristine natural spaces and walking paths, outdoor social and dining areas, and other safe spaces to interact from a responsible distance.    CCRCs like Viamonte put their residents’ health and wellbeing ahead of all other priorities, and they take every precaution to ensure that safe and sanitary protocols are established and practiced throughout the community. 

ACTIVE SENIOR LIVING AT VIAMONTE

At Viamonte — a bold vision in retirement living that places residents at the intersection of nature and culture — you can discover a truly active lifestyle ideal for physical, mental, and social fulfillment during your retirement years. Viamonte is at the very center of the type of lives active retirees want to live. What’s so great about the location? Residents will be able to walk to The Orchards, a vibrant shopping, dining, and social center. They’ll be able to easily visit downtown Walnut Creek via the neighborhood shuttle, or explore the best the Bay Area has to offer via the nearby BART station. (If social distancing restrictions are eased by grand opening, residents will be able to enjoy the full benefits of this special surrounding area.) On top of that, Viamonte’s campus will feature a bounty of top-class amenities. Among these are:

• Exercise options like the bocce court, pool and spa, and state-of-the-art wellness and fitness centers
• Diverse dining options at the restaurant, bistro bar, and alfresco and private dining areas
• Social areas such as the outside fireside lounge, gas-fired grill area, club room and terrace, and card and game room
• Spaces for entertainment and cultural enrichment like the art studio, technology center, exhibition kitchen, and performance venue

Adding to these amenities are Viamonte’s exceptional services, which — in addition to perks like housekeeping and maintenance — will include comprehensive wellness programs, transportation to nearby attractions, and recreational, social, and educational programs to help residents live life to its fullest. Among these resident programs are fitness classes, book clubs, current events discussion groups, lectures, movies, art classes, workshops, gardening, games, excursions, and more.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

To learn more about Viamonte or schedule a time to visit the Preview Center and model home, visit the Viamonte website or call 925-621-6600.