Especially when surrounded by the beautiful greenery of Colonial Village in Longview, TX, those who receive social support have a significantly more positive outcome when it comes to mental health, as confirmed by Dong et al (2024).
It can be difficult to guarantee, and after a loss, we understand that it may not feel like it is enough. However, it is a reality for many seniors. For this reason, we at Colonial Village in Longview, TX, ensure that healing after a loss is one of our primary ways of supporting the health of our community members.
Below, you will learn how activities in our community can help to create connections and guide people through loss recovery in senior living. Discover how a combination of structured routines and free social engagement, including wellness classes and community dining, helps to restore purpose and helps those in our care rebuild a sense of joy in their lives.
Grief in older adults is not always as obvious as in others. Not to mention that depression itself can sometimes manifest in unexpected ways across the whole population. While this list is not exhaustive, it can appear as:
In many ways, it can exemplify the connection between the mind and body, by showing how a lack of senior wellness after loss can trigger a deep depression and can cause what to others may look like a physical illness. In many cases, it can even undermine overall health if not addressed.
Retirement can also magnify this impact by removing regular daily roles and routines, making grief feel like a larger loss.
At Colonial Village, our staff have training to recognize the signs of this and provide support where possible to help get people back to a better mental health situation. We use science-backed methods and expert information to help offer support in areas like:
With community support and professional guidance, we can help your loved ones move forward in their lives.
It is a well-established fact that active social engagement often supports other mental health efforts. For this reason, we use group activities to create opportunities for our community to engage with one another, whether that means simply sharing experience and support, or in more structured ways.
Our staff organize coffee hours and games events, which can help to create informal settings for residents to share experiences. When individuals share their lives in these areas, they can receive support not only from our staff but also from other residents who may be able to offer kindness or even share their own experiences and how they resolved them.
Our staff also runs regular workshops, including "show-and-tell" style activities or storytelling events. These can encourage peer bonding through the sharing of each other's history and allowing for remembrance of positive experiences.
Alternatively, in some cases, a loved one may need to share something that causes them to express an emotion they need support with, and our staff can be there to help them get through it.
Those working for Colonial Village do everything they can to assess the mood of those in our care. They can check on personal needs and offer empathy, understanding the difficulties of seniors through having gathered vital experience through years of working with others.
We offer Independent Living with Supportive Services. Those in our community who need more focused efforts to help with an emotional journey can receive specific help, including with grief and aging together.
We will also inform a resident's loved ones of if there are any events that may need them to visit, such as during specific periods of grief. Scheduled family visits can often offer significant assistance to members of our community and ensure they feel as though they are surrounded by those who care for them.
We are well aware of the benefits of regular routines in promoting wellness. For this reason, we offer several daily sessions, including at least one physical activity each day, to keep our residents engaged and occupied. Doing this both helps keep people occupied and also provides emotional support in retirement via an outlet, as well as opportunities to boost one's mindfulness through meditation sessions.
Some examples of what we offer in this regard include:
Many of these are healthy outlets for processing complex emotions, while others can give your loved one the tools they need to handle their feelings in a healthier manner.
At Colonial Village, we recognize that we support a diverse range of residents who may have varying emotional and spiritual needs. For that reason, we offer spiritual and religious events that support the full range of beliefs of those with us. Residents can then find spiritual solace, even during grief, to help build a community that uplifts one another.
Our coffee and conversation events then allow all of these groups to come together and offer shared solace, discussing not only their spiritual beliefs but also any other aspects of their lives they wish to share.
Support for seniors from Colonial Village can help your loved one begin rebuilding their life's purpose and start healing after a loss. By forging connections with others, including staff and fellow residents, we can provide them with all the support they need during their grief.
For more information on our community, including how it can help your loved ones focus their resilience to help them enjoy their time with us, call us today. We can offer you a tour and provide you with the full range of support we have available.