“If you don’t use it, you will lose it.” Co-workers at Country Meadows often hear that piece of advice from residents when asked to share the secrets to longevity.
An active and social lifestyle retirement community such as Country Meadows offers many opportunities for residents to maintain or achieve physical fitness, participate in therapies to improve overall health and find emotional support. And the best active and social retirement communities have many success stories to share.
One resident came to Country Meadows suffering from extreme back pain. Before arriving, she spent most of her time in bed and received epidural shots for pain. Living at an active and social lifestyle retirement community like Country Meadows inspired her to lead a healthy lifestyle. A chance location for an exercise class was the start of her new life. “They offered an arthritis tai chi class right outside my door for 12 weeks. My kids said, ‘mother, why don’t you do that,’” she recalls. “I loved it and went the entire 12 weeks. After that I could walk. The class helped me and my back started to feel better.”
According to Renee Harlow, fitness director, “She took the first class, came back and said she felt good. As soon as the class was finished she came down to the fitness center and we set her up on Nautilus® and the exercise bike.” The resident walks three to five miles every day, rides the stationary bicycle for at least 30 minutes, participates in exercise classes and uses the weight machines.
Many residents move to an active and social lifestyle retirement community following an injury, illness or surgery requiring physical and/or occupational therapy to recover. Depending on the individual’s needs, residents can receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech therapy on campus. Services also can be provided to local residents via outpatient therapy.
Physical Therapy in an active and social lifestyle retirement community
Country Meadows partners with Genesis Rehab Services therapists who work with residents to help them regain strength and balance, prevent falls, increase range of motion, and decrease pain. Using a variety of methods including exercises and stretches, therapists work to improve mobility, restore function, reduce pain and prevent further injury.
Occupational Therapy in an active and social lifestyle retirement community
Following an injury or serious illness, many people need help regaining skills needed to perform everyday activities we take for granted such as bathing, dressing and eating, to name a few. Occupational therapists help residents find ways to adapt so they can live as independently as possible by providing exercises to build strength, endurance, coordination, balance and improve range of motion.
Speech Therapy in an active and social lifestyle retirement community
Speech language therapists provide services at active adult communities to help residents address communication problems, memory loss and challenges with swallowing. Following a significant health event such as a stroke, older adults may require assistance to understand speech and express their thoughts. Swallowing issues, commonly called dysphagia, may arise due to physical changes. Speech therapy evaluates swallowing capabilities and suggests potential food modifications such as thickening beverages and/or changing diet and recommends exercises to help strengthen the muscles used when swallowing for safe eating and drinking.
In every therapy, our team celebrates every achievement, no matter the size.
As active and social lifestyle retirement community, Country Meadows is always searching for ways to help residents build strength and fitness. One activity loved by residents in every care level is drumming. Yes, drumming. Drum circles are especially popular because in addition to the physical benefits of exercising the arms while beating a drum, residents socialize with others and enjoy laughter and making music as a group.
According to a Country Meadows Restorative Coordinator, “Incorporating the drum circles works because it is a fun way that we can restore residents cognitively through their interacting with the drums. Physically, it has a therapeutic component with the rhythms and feeling as one with their neighbors.”
Country Meadows has nine locations in Pennsylvania and one campus location in Frederick, Maryland. Often referred to as one of the best independent living communities in the area, our active and social lifestyle retirement community offers a wide range of services to serve a variety of resident needs. The senior care services within our active and social lifestyle retirement community include restorative care, rehabilitation, personal care and assisted living, memory support, long term care and independent living. If you or a loved one are beginning the retirement planning journey and would like more information about our active adult communities, please contact us today. Our co-workers can provide details on the services we offer, help you to schedule a tour of our active and social lifestyle retirement community and answer any other questions you might have.
Country Meadows
