Belmont Village celebrates ‘community immunity’

Acorn - Thousand Oaks

As Seen in the Thousand Oaks Acorn

Belmont Village Senior Living communities are celebrating the gift of “community immunity” while putting the spring back in everyone’s steps among the seven Los Angeles area locations: Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Hollywood Hills, Burbank, Westwood, Rancho Palos Verdes and Encino.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shed a significant light on the dangers of seniors living alone at home,” said Patricia Will, Belmont Village founder and CEO.

“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,” Will said.

Belmont Villages established safety measures and disaster preparedness methods to keep residents engaged and connected mentally, physically and socially.

Staff members say their science based activities like Whole Brain Fitness Lifestyle and Circle of Friends ensure memory support. Also, hospitality and care prioritize residents’ overall health and well-being despite natural disasters and medical emergencies.

Will said that despite the pandemic, L.A.’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 camaraderie.

“It has been great fun to celebrate the gift of vaccine immunity throughout every Belmont Village in the L.A. Basin as we safely welcome family members back into our communities. Our record-high vaccine adoption rates allow everyone to reengage in the vibrant in-person activities that they’ve missed for over a year,” Will said.

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, but those feelings can be exacerbated by chronic illness, loss of family and friends, and decreased memory, hearing and eyesight.

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