Have you considered how best to embrace your life well-lived, while finding ways to simplify necessary tasks? If you’re looking for a community that can take care of everything, including future changes in your healthcare, we may have the perfect answer.
Life Plan Communities, also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities, are uniquely positioned to support your active lifestyle and offer the peace of mind in knowing that if you ever need Assisted Living or more health services down the road, you’re covered. As all of the services are offered in the same community, you won’t have to endure the emotional and time consuming undertaking of searching and moving ever again.
These communities not only offer a stress-reduced life and numerous programs and amenities but there are documented health benefits as well.
The Age Well Study, conducted by the Mather Institute and partner Northwestern University, found that Life Plan residents when compared with older adults at large, had greater emotional, social, physical, intellectual and vocational wellness. They found positive connections when examining the residents’ specific characteristics as it related to these areas:
Physical activity: associated with psychological well-being, reduced risk of chronic disease and functional independence
Healthy diets: a known way to reduce the risk of chronic disease and death among older adults
Social activity: can offer protection against dementia and reduced risk of mortality
Meditation: associated with decreased anxiety and depression
Previous research has suggested that traits such as optimism and resilience can be learned or strengthened. Living in a community can increase engagement in healthy behaviors if residents are encouraged or motivated to take advantage of programs. Older adults with a negative perception of aging might assume they are supposed to be sedentary. But the right educational program paired with an exercise class could change that expectation and improve their physical activity levels.
The typical Life Plan community includes Independent Living, Assisted Living and Long Term Nursing Care. If your health care needs change in the future, instead of searching and coordinating a new move, you and your family can rest assured that you’ll still be at home in your familiar community. The organization, as well as the amenities and activities, remain the same. And you no longer have to worry about where to find the right care because you’ll know you already have a plan in place.
The following are some of the general elements you may wish to consider when researching the services a community offers and the philosophy they promote:
As a not-for-profit Life Plan Community, our mission is to provide the highest quality services to our residents. You’ll find your new home, located in a forested Northern Virginia neighborhood, offers you a rich and active lifestyle, free from worrying about any future health care needs.
Our wellness programs, lifelong learning opportunities and excellent amenities have all been planned to support you in continuing to live an engaging life. We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long Term Nursing care, all located in our warm and inviting community, yet with easy access to neighboring Occoquan and the shopping and entertainment possibilities of nearby Washington DC.
Our philosophy encourages what the Age Well study also found – that residents who form strong bonds within their community tend to engage in healthier behaviors as well as experience better overall health. Here are a few of the opportunities that you’ll find at Westminster at Lake Ridge:
Call (703) 794-4631 if you have any questions or visit our events page to sign up for one of our virtual events!