Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
When most people think about health their thoughts generally focus on physical health, and in recent years, more on mental health.
However, according to many experts, wellness is comprised of six to eight mutually co-dependent dimensions: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, occupational, and financial.
If any one of these dimensions is neglected over time, it will adversely affect one’s overall health and quality of life. As we age, it’s more important than ever to think about each dimension of wellness and consider what areas may need a bit of attention.
For example, a person may be in good physical health, but perhaps they live by themselves and are isolated in their house. The lack of socialization, even just basic conversations, or “routine” interactions with others, is starting to take its’ tool on their emotional well-being. They risk becoming lonely and depressed.
Or maybe a person used to love going to work each day and enjoyed a highly successful career, but they have retired and are starting to lose their self-worth (occupational wellness). They may want to consider volunteering or becoming part of a club or service organization.
If there are areas in a person’s life that are indeed being neglected, perhaps it’s time to make some changes and direct more energy into these areas. Often times, making the transition to independent living at a retirement community is the remedy.
On Tues., March 14, Freedom Village of Bradenton will host a free lunch and seminar to help seniors explore important dimensions of wellness from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Community Life Services Director Katie Penta, who has worked in senior living for more than seven years and plans hundreds of events and activities for independent living residents each year, will be the featured speaker. Katie will provide an overview of how to age gracefully and tips for individuals to maintain good health in the various dimensions of wellness.
When you ask Katie to talk about the activities and events she manages for residents in independent living at Freedom Village of Bradenton, she quickly and proudly says, “Freedom Village is like a cruise ship that never leaves port!”
“Just like a cruise ship, we have multiple activities for our residents to enjoy every day,” said Katie. “We like to offer a mix of social activities, educational seminars, and fitness and exercise programs so that we have something for everyone. We also have many clubs that are run by the residents themselves that are quite popular.”
It’s really no wonder that Katie models resident activities and programming after what is common on a cruise ship. After all, she spent five years working in the cruise ship industry and specializes in helping seniors stay active, engage with others, and thrive in their golden years.
“Many seniors struggle with loneliness and are not active at all, and this can impact a person’s physical, emotional and social well-being,” said Katie. “We have a lot of residents who moved here because they want to have an active social life, they want to have friends to eat meals with, go to the theatre with, someone to go with them on adventures. So, we take a holistic approach in developing programming for residents that helps them stay active.”
Freedom Village offers a robust fitness and exercise program to keep residents moving that includes a morning walking group, a circuit training class on fitness equipment, chair yoga and chair Pilates, dancing classes, a balance class, aqua arthritis classes, water aerobics, and pool volleyball.
Other popular on-campus activities include movies on the big screen in the auditorium, Happy Hours, musical performances every Friday night, weekly Shabbat, Bible studies, and pop-up themed food events such as Italian night and casino night.
“We love to partner with our dining services team to put on special themed events,” Katie said. “In addition to all we do on campus, our residents also love the local excursions to restaurants, theaters and museums, as well as shopping trips and breakfast at Holmes Beach.
The crown jewels of Katie’s efforts to promote an active lifestyle are the 20-plus “Wish of a Lifetime” experiences that she has helped Freedom Village complete.
As AARP’s charitable affiliate, Wish of a Lifetime grants life-changing wishes to older adults and inspires people to redefine aging in America. (Any adult over the age of 65 can submit a wish request at wishofalifetime.org)
Recently, a 98-year-old Freedom Village resident took her first flying lesson, while another man in his ‘80s went hang gliding. A 93-year-old woman received her first tattoo, while another resident took a ride on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Zamboni ice-cleaning vehicle. Katie even parachuted with a resident just last month!
To learn more about Freedom Village and the active lifestyle residents in independent living enjoy, call 941-798-8122. To learn more about upcoming educational events, please visit www.fvbradenton/events/.
Freedom Village of Bradenton March Events
A Taste of Independent Living at
Freedom Village
Thur., Mar. 2 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Realtors Open House
Thur., Mar. 9 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Aging Gracefully:
Dimensions of Wellness
Tue., Mar. 14 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Open House: Unique Points of Difference
Thur., Mar. 23 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Friendship Lunch Table for Widows, Widowers, Singles
Tue., March 28 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Freedom Village of Bradenton
www.fvbradenton.com
6406 21st Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34209
