Gather No Moss
Physical, mental, and social activity helps keep Father Time at bay.
“Father Time is undefeated, but that doesn’t mean you have to quit fighting,” said American Ninja Warrior Stephen Siraco, someone who knows a thing or two about the pluses of staying in shape.
While maintaining a high level of physical activity offers benefits for all ages, it’s especially critical for older adults, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Staying active can help lower one’s risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer; improve strength and balance to prevent injuries and stay independent; reduce aches and pains; and enhance one’s mood and alleviate symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Yet physical activity alone may not be enough to stay a step ahead of Father Time. The National Institute on Aging cites the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial that tested the effects of cognitive training—specifically memory, reasoning, or speed of processing—on cognitive abilities and everyday function over the course of a decade. The study found that participants who had training in reasoning and speed of processing experienced less decline than those who did not have similar training. In other words, older adults can take steps to maintain their cognitive health.
Given their druthers, most adults would probably prefer to age in place in their homes. The calculus can change quickly, however—when a spouse dies, for example, leaving them to feel isolated and vulnerable. When that happens, many choose to relocate to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), where they discover opportunities to strengthen the body and the mind, and also socialize with their peers.
Kimberly LaFountain, director of health and wellness for Dunwoody Village in Newtown Square, interviews each incoming resident to ensure that he or she will thrive in independent living. The connections she makes in the process are, in her words, “the best part of my job.”
“When I’m interviewing them, I talk about the importance of joining exercise classes in our wellness center,” she says. “A class keeps you fit, but it’s also a social interaction. We have people relocating here to be closer to their [adult] children or just because they like the area, and they enjoy the camaraderie they find in the classes and other activities.
“The good thing about a CCRC is that you can be as involved as you want to be,” she continues, “and we’re not going to hound you if you don’t [want to get involved].”
Area CCRCs offer everything from indoor aquatics classes, to pickleball and bocce courts, to state-of-the-art fitness centers. Many also have spacious grounds with walking trails so residents can commune with nature. At Dunwoody Village, a monthly educational program called “Wellness Wednesday” focuses on a litany of issues pertaining to residents’ health and wellness: cognition, mindfulness, infection control, emergency preparedness, fraud and scams, etc.
Area CCRCs offer everything from indoor aquatics classes, to pickleball and bocce courts, to state-of-the-art fitness centers. Many also have spacious grounds with walking trails so residents can commune with nature. At Dunwoody Village, a monthly educational program called “Wellness Wednesday” focuses on a litany of issues pertaining to residents’ health and wellness: cognition, mindfulness, infection control, emergency preparedness, fraud and scams, etc.
LaFountain has worked at Dunwoody Village for approximately 30 years. The experience has not only altered her perception of aging, but has also shown her how rich post-retirement life can be.
“I see living in a CCRC as a good investment in your health,” she says. “We want to see healthy residents, and we work hard to help people stay independent for as long as possible.”
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, February 2025.
