Stay Vibrant by Giving Back
What does “living vibrantly” mean for you? At Azpira Place® of Breton, a senior living community in Kentwood, MI, “vibrant living” can mean many things, but it all boils down to one overarching theme: finding fulfillment in your senior years.
“We believe that retirement and your senior years are a time to celebrate and embrace everything life has to offer,” says Michael Nitz, Director of Community Relations at Azpira Place of Breton. “The lifestyle at our community supports our residents to grow mentally, spiritually and physically. Every day is a chance to find a new hobby, a new interest and a new reason for being.”
April is National Volunteer Month, which leads us to focus on a big aspect of life at Azpira Place of Breton – volunteering.
“Volunteerism and giving back plays such a huge role in our community and in our VIVA! Programming,” says Michael. “We’ve found that seniors and residents who choose to donate their time to causes they care about end up having higher levels of well-being and better overall health.”
Michael says that volunteering is an excellent way for seniors to stay vibrant and live a lifestyle that matters, while giving back to their loved ones and their community. “Everyone enjoys feeling like they have purpose and that their life has meaning, and volunteering is a great way to make that happen,” he says. “At Azpira Place of Breton, we offer so many opportunities for our residents to donate their time to something they care about in order to not just live, but to thrive – each and every day!”
Why Volunteering Helps Seniors Live Vibrantly
Seniors can pass along their knowledge to younger generations.
You’ve learned a lot over the years. You’ve seen a lot, too. From valuable tools you’ve learned in your career to life experience that can be used to nurture and mentor younger generations, you have a wealth of knowledge that can be priceless to those around you. Sharing your skills and your knowledge helps provide a service to others, but also gives you a sense of purpose. What skills do you have that you would enjoy sharing with others? It could be as simple as passing along your love of reading by holding storytime with school children. It could be teaching city kids to fish and learn forestry skills. It could be sharing favorite recipes, or helping others prepare their taxes or anything else that you enjoy doing – and, more importantly, that you’d enjoy teaching others about.
It provides a sense of value and fulfillment.
The VIVA!(SM) programming at Azpira Place® of Breton is focused on nurturing the seven dimensions of wellness. One of these dimensions is “occupational,” which is the idea of finding work that is fulfilling and allows you to age well. What’s more fulfilling than finding work that you love to do? Since you’re retired and no longer “have” to work, you have the luxury of finding an occupation that fills you up in a different way. How amazing is that? And how fulfilling is it to see how your work directly benefits the lives of others?
It provides multigenerational interaction.
It’s important to make friends with everyone around us – not just our peers. It’s been shown that when seniors and younger generations have the opportunity to interact, everyone benefits. Younger people can gain knowledge, hear about wisdom and life lessons and get a new perspective on life. Seniors benefit from the vibrancy of a younger, energetic person, and can learn new technologies and a different way of looking at the world. Every generation has something to share with the others, and by volunteering, seniors can connect to people from all ages and all walks of life – making all of us more well-rounded and knowledgeable people.
It keeps your mind agile, sharp and curious.
Keeping your brain active is one of the best ways to age well. Not only does volunteering keep you interested and continually learning, but it also helps reduce your risk of dementias like Alzheimer’s disease. It also reduces the risk of depression, boredom and stress, all which help keep you healthy no matter how old you are. Studies have shown that volunteering provides stimulation because it causes you to use your whole brain. Problem solving, conversation, socialization, thinking ... no wonder you can feel worn out after a few hours of volunteering!
It helps you stay physically active.
Volunteering gets you out of your chair, out of your house and interacting with other people. Some forms of volunteering provide more physical activity than others (like building houses for Habitat for Humanity, for example). But even doing more sedentary forms of volunteering (like reading to children) has certain levels of activity. Plus, getting out helps improve your strength, prevent frailty and gets you moving, all of which are good things for aging bodies.
It helps you stay socially active.
Social isolation can be a big problem for seniors, who may have difficulty getting out and about or have friends and family who live far away. Volunteering is a great opportunity to get you interacting with other people, which instantly reduces your risk of depression, increases your social circle and provides you with friendships that you might otherwise not have developed. Senior volunteers end up spending quite a bit of time in their communities, which makes them feel part of something bigger than themselves (because, well, they are).
Volunteering is just plain fun.
“Now that you’re retired, you have the ability to do the things that you want to do, like try new hobbies, pass on your knowledge or do something good for your community,” says Beth. “And that’s just plain fun – and exciting! When else have you had the chance to focus on the things you want to do – the things that make you feel excited, young and energetic? Volunteering is a great way to discover that about yourself, and what better reason do you need than that?”
If you have any questions about how volunteering can help seniors stay vibrant during their golden years, or to learn more about life at Azpira Place® of Breton, please contact us at 616-259-5526.
Live Well. Age Well. Be Well.
At Azpira Place® of Breton, located in Kentwood, MI, we’re redefining how seniors Live Well. Age Well. Be Well. Our lifestyle is far from “typical.” Our vibrant and engaging Assisted Living and uplifting A Knew Day® Memory Support inspires our residents to live passionately with purpose, every single day
Each day, our residents find the person-centered support and care they need, all while enjoying an inspiring and engaging lifestyle. The need for care or support doesn’t stop our residents from wanting to be active, involved or engaged, and it especially doesn’t keep them from obtaining the lifestyle they desire and deserve. With a variety of spacious private apartment floor plans, constant access to good company, exciting services and amenities, delicious dining experiences and life-enriching programming, residents never have to worry about having nothing to do. There’s always something waiting for them just outside their door! And best yet, if they desire space and privacy, there’s also plenty of room for that, too! Spend time outdoors in the sunshine, read a favorite book in the library, take your pet for a walk or simply relax in your private apartment, the possibilities are endless!
At Azpira Place® of Breton, residents never have to worry about maintenance, housekeeping or the tasks of homeownership. We created our community so our residents could have the peace of mind of care while focusing on what really matters, what makes them who they are. With engaging VIVA!SM programming by Pathway to Living®, residents can spend their newfound time learning something new, enjoying an old pastime, taking up a new hobby, starting their own classes and clubs or focusing on their health with our wellness programming. Experience the lifestyle you deserve and discover the key to what helps Azpira Place of Breton residents Live Well. Age Well. Be Well.
To learn more or schedule a personal visit, call us at 616-259-5526.