At Eventide, our approach to total wellness is rooted in fostering wellness of the mind, body and spirit. Many of the tenets of this whole health approach are often enhanced when we try new things, set goals and even let go of pesky lifelong habits. (Who says any of us need to be stuck in our ways?) So, as we celebrate a new year and define resolutions to boost our total wellness, happiness and vitality regardless of age, we want to help you be successful and — and have fun.
**Before you make any changes or additions to your current health routines, be sure to ask your doctor about any new exercises or foods you might want to try, as they may not be appropriate for your unique needs. If they aren’t, ask your doctor to recommend modifications or alternatives that would work better for you.**
Our life enrichment teams offer residents a variety of games and activities to challenge and stimulate the mind!
At Eventide, residents can be as social as they like – there is always something happening, from social events like card games and celebrations to outings in the community.
Remembering the past and communicating with loved ones are vital to emotional health. At our communities, we offer reminiscing activities – focused on historical events or trends of the past.
Eventide began in 1951 as the result of a community need identified by members of local Lutheran churches.
Occupational wellness fosters independence by strengthening skills and educating our residents on how to live safely and with purpose.
Eventide understands the importance of offering a wide array of physical activities to our residents, such as group fitness classes like Forever Fit and yoga to walking clubs.
As we age, though, we’ve found that the concept of S.M.A.R.T. goals should be less about being measurable and more about being maintainable. We also think they should be more age-appropriate, too.
So, we’ve come up with our very own S.M.A.R.T. goal concept for senior living that can help you improve your mind, body and spirit in a way that makes sense based on things like interest level, age, desire, simplicity and ability.
S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors: Simple, Maintainable, Age-appropriate, Realistic and Tailored
S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors is very similar to the S.M.A.R.T. goals you may employ at work or in other aspects of your life; they’re just, well, smarter.
Simple: Create a goal that has just one step or creates one small change in your daily life.
Maintainable: Choose something that enhances or builds on a healthy habit you’ve already established.
Age-appropriate: Make sure it will serve you well as you continue to add years to your life.
Realistic: Understand your abilities (and limitations).
Tailored: Work with your healthcare and wellness teams so a goal aligns with your unique needs.
Examples of S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors
The best goals will touch on one (or more) of the mind, body and spirit approach to total wellness. Here are examples of S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors that address each of our total wellness areas.
Intellectual – sharpen your brain
Social – enhance friendships and meaningful connections
Emotional – stay happy or content
Spiritual – Connect to your higher power
Occupational – maintain or improve lifelong skills
Physical – move your body
Putting it all together
If all this seems overwhelming and you’ve had enough acronyms in your life, we just have one more for you: K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Silly.
That’s right, if you stick to one aspect of S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors — Simple, Maintainable, Age-appropriate, Realistic and Tailored — just keep it simple.
After all, life can be far too complicated at times, and you probably don’t need a New Year’s resolution to keep that top of mind.
May you be blessed with the best health and happiness in 2022 and beyond!
Perhaps simplifying your life is on your list of goals for the year. Whether you’re looking to downsize to a smaller home or upgrade your amenities, Eventide has living options tailored to meet the needs of seniors looking to age well.
With nearly seven decades of service experience, Eventide is one of the Midwest’s most trusted premier care partners, providing collaborative and innovative solutions. As lifestyle expectations have evolved over the years, so has our approach to senior care.
