Wow Your Clients with the Wellbeing Benefits of Retirement Living

Discussing later life with your clients will inevitably take a financial focus. However, holistic retirement planning is about much more than the money.

Recognising the emotional side of retirement planning is important. For your clients, it’s not just about having the means to live comfortably. It’s about staying as physically and mentally healthy as possible, enjoying life, and, if required, accessing support in a way that aligns with their wishes.

The most productive later-life discussions are about financial, emotional, and physical wellbeing

But what exactly does “wellbeing” mean?

Age UK has published its Index of Wellbeing for Later Life, analysing key data from individuals to assess the wellbeing of older people across the UK.

It found there were four key areas that contributed to overall wellbeing:

– Participation in enjoyable, meaningful activities.
– Physical activity.
– Support for older people who are informal carers.
– Positive social interactions.

And its most significant takeaway was this: the importance of maintaining meaningful engagement with the world around you in later life.

This could be social, physical, educational, creative, or community-led, but however it manifests, the connections we cultivate are most important. Those who fared less well in the index felt isolated, had no real access to transport or facilities, and had small or non-existent networks of friends and family.

Integrated Retirement Communities can be pivotal in boosting wellbeing in later life

Integrated Retirement Communities (IRCs) such as Riverstone can help to address some of the barriers to wellbeing in later life, providing strong social connections and fostering good physical and mental health. Instant access to facilities in an IRC overcomes transport or mobility issues. That removes the “postcode lottery” of only being able to tap into what’s in your clients’ local area.

Workshops designed to promote cognitive health help to nurture mental wellbeing, and many IRCs also offer access to alternative and complementary therapies. Plus, residents enjoying fun pastimes like dance classes benefit from social connections, physical exercise, and the feel-good factor that dancing brings. That’s wellbeing all wrapped up in a single activity!

Research commissioned by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust found several key benefits to its integrated homes, health, and social care model, including:

– Reduction in routine and regular GP visits (46%)
– Decrease in anxiety symptoms (23%)
– Significant increase in exercise levels (75%)
– Reduced risk of falls (18%)
– Decrease in depressive symptoms (15%)
– Increase in memory recall tests (17%)

Loneliness can often be overwhelming for older people, especially if health or mobility issues lead to isolation. But the research also found that 87% of residents were “never or hardly ever” lonely, a statistic that speaks volumes about one of the shining benefits of IRCs. This is by no means an isolated piece of research.

A report commissioned by the Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO) found that residents stay healthier for longer, are more active, and are less lonely. The research also found that residents have a greater sense of a safety net and enjoy life more.

Care is another key aspect of IRC living. For many people, remaining in their own home is seen as a “must”, but the reality can feel very different if they need to access care at home. This can be both expensive and isolating. In fact, the NHS suggests an average hourly cost of £20 (although double that in London), while a live-in carer could cost as much as £1,600 a week.

IRCs, meanwhile, allow your clients to access a range of care services on-site or in their apartments. This gives them the support they need within the more socialised setting of the IRC, whilst often being cheaper due to negotiated discounts.

Thus, IRCs provide measurable positive outcomes on a number of levels, boosting residents’ overall wellbeing.

Above all, they offer a wonderful chance to grab later life with both hands, while still retaining private space and independence.

They offer the best of all worlds, with wellbeing right at their heart.

To find out more see: https://www.riverstoneliving.com/advisors