Studies show older adults can maintain and improve brain health through a lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, cognitive and social stimulation, and good nutrition. Retirement communities gives residents easy access to group exercise and mind-body activities, mind-fitness workshops, games and discussion groups in a social environment that promotes brain health. Residents can find meaning and purpose through volunteer programs and enjoy tasty, nutritious meals dining with friends.

Are you an unpaid caregiver to an elderly parent or loved one? You’re not alone. In a recently released 2023 survey, Statistics Canada reported that in 2018, over one-quarter of Canadians aged 15+ were caregivers, providing 5.7 billion hours of unpaid care. And that number is growing.

Moving into a retirement residence before winter offers many appealing advantages. You get easy access to diverse recreational activities that will keep you mentally, physically, and socially active, regardless of the weather, along with tasty, nutritious meals. You also can avoid winter weather health hazards, the hassles of winter home maintenance, and beat the winter blues by forming new friendships and strengthening your social connections.

I never dreamed I’d be living in a retirement residence, and with all the negative publicity these past 2.5 years, I hoped I’d never have to. Yet, after a five-hour operation to remove a parotid gland and a neck dissection, here I am in respite care.

According to Statistics Canada, the 85+ group also has unique health care and housing needs that will require a range of solutions: “An increasing number are no longer living in private dwellings and need different types of housing options, such as seniors’ residences at first, and nursing care facilities as they get older,” Statistics Canada reports.

There’s no denying that moving can be stressful for anyone, especially for seniors. Those who choose retirement living, however, can enjoy peace of mind knowing that many senior living residences provide what’s known as a “continuum of care”— setting and services that allow you or a loved one to age in place without the need for a move.

For older people living with cognitive impairment and mild-to-moderate dementia, Chartwell offers a unique Memory Living Program. We sat down with Allison Schindler, Chartwell’s Director of Memory Living, to find out what makes the program special—and how it’s helping seniors and their families to enjoy a good day, every day.

At Chartwell, we strive to source our vegetables, fruit, dairy, and meat from local farms through our suppliers. Recently, our Senior Director of Food & Beverage, John Curtis and Chartwell food purchasing specialist Patricia Page—along with Tammy and Brandon from our partner, Fresh Start—visited a farm in Ontario to hear their story and learn more about the ingredients that form the foundation of our meals.

There are numerous ways for seniors to combat boredom, including keeping mentally, physically and spiritually active, trying new things, and importantly, maintaining a social life with friends and family. But while it’s easy to identify the antidotes to boredom, how do you apply them?

Although Canadian women live longer than Canadian men, older women are more likely to develop chronic illnesses and disability. Moving to a retirement community can help women, including those whose spouses are in poor health or have passed away, reduce chronic illness risks through stimulating social and physical activities. They can also improve their health and quality of life with easy access to artistic pursuits and nutritious meals with friends.

Moving to and living in a retirement home offers older adults easy access to diverse recreational programs that provide powerful, wide-ranging therapeutic and health benefits. Moving to music boosts brain health and longevity, stretching programs improve balance and flexibility, and savouring positive moments builds emotional resilience. Volunteering strengthens social bonds and gives a sense of purpose, while pursuing artistic passions lifts your mood.

You’ll find endless articles, books, videos and blogs devoted to the art of living with less—not just in terms of material goods, but in treasuring only the people, the pursuits, and the parts of our lives that bring us happiness and freedom to live the way we want to live. But there is also another way to discover a simplified life: it comes in the form of a retirement residence, where simplicity—and freedom—are built right in.