A sharp contrast to the dangers of social isolation when aging alone
Belmont Village Senior Living communities across the Los Angeles area are celebrating the promising gift of “community immunity,” while putting a spring back into everyone’s steps among the seven Los Angeles area locations in Hollywood Hills, Burbank, Westwood, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Encino.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has shed a significant light on the dangers of seniors living alone at home,” says Belmont Village Founder and CEO Patricia Will. “With the inability to socialize or engage regularly with friends and family, aging adults have experienced an increase in isolation, stress, and depression. Many had no way to get to important doctors’ appointments, grocery stores, or pharmacies for critical medications; not to mention the dangers of falling, cooking, and more, making the need for Belmont Village communities more important than ever.”
Families in Southern California have counted on Belmont Villages rigorous safety measures and disaster preparedness methods to keep their loved ones engaged and connected mentally, physically, and socially. The experienced and loving staff ensure that every detail from their science-based activities like Whole Brain Fitness Lifestyle, and Circle of Friends® memory support to first rate hospitality and best in class care prioritize residents’ overall health and wellbeing despite wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and even the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a recent study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, “loneliness and social isolation is associated with a 50% increased risk of dementia, risk of premature death, a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke, depression, anxiety, and suicide.” Not only can aging in place at home be isolating and lonely, but those feelings are exacerbated by chronic illness, loss of family and friends, as well as decreased memory, hearing, and eyesight.
In sharp contrast, despite the pandemic, LA’s Belmont Village communities were able to maintain safe, intellectually rich resident programming, including practices of mindfulness and meditation, writing clinics, gardening, book clubs, outdoor concerts, and comradery among friends and staff members.
“Throughout the pandemic, our dedicated team members found creative ways to energize residents despite all the constraints and are thrilled that residents and staff alike are now able to celebrate life with their own families without fear of contagion,” adds Will. “It has been great fun to celebrate the gift of vaccine immunity throughout every Belmont Village in the LA basin as we safely welcome family members back into our communities. Our record high vaccine adoption rates allow everyone to re-engage in the vibrant in-person activities that they’ve missed for over a year. Our staff is dedicated to helping our honored residents live rich and fulfilling lives, as we believe that aging is a gift, and that caring for the aging is a privilege.”