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When a loved one starts having trouble with their memory, it can be difficult and upsetting. Small memory lapses are a normal part of aging. But when forgetfulness starts impacting daily life, it may be a sign of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.

The good news is that there are many ways we can nurture happiness in our elderly loved ones, even in the face of memory loss. With patience, understanding, and proactive support strategies, we can help them feel safe, valued, and content.

Understanding Memory Loss

Memory loss affects different people in different ways. For some, it may be occasional minor forgetfulness or trouble finding the right words. For others, it may mean forgetting recent events or people’s names, getting lost easily, or an inability to follow instructions.

When memory starts noticeably declining, it often indicates an underlying issue like:

• Alzheimer’s disease – A progressive disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills over time. It’s the most common cause of dementia.
• Vascular dementia – Decline in thinking skills caused by conditions that block or reduce blood flow to the brain.
• Lewy body dementia – A progressive dementia with symptoms like memory loss, confusion, poor judgment, and visual hallucinations.
• Frontotemporal dementia – Damage to the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes causing personality and behavior changes. Memory loss occurs later.

No two cases of dementia are exactly alike. The specific symptoms and progression vary quite a bit from one person to another.

Supporting Happiness with Memory Loss

Even when dementia robs a person of their memories and independence, happiness is still possible with the right support. As memory declines, focus on nurturing joy, comfort, and quality of life.

Encouraging Joy

Laughter, humor, and playfulness go a long way towards lightening the spirit. Look for activities that tap into your loved one’s sense of fun and joviality. This stimulates production of feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin to boost their mood.

Some ways to encourage joy include:

• Watching funny movies or TV shows
• Telling jokes and funny stories
• Being silly – making funny noises or faces
• Singing favorite songs from their youth
• Dancing to beloved music
• Looking at comedy books or magazines
• Playing simple, fun board games or card games
• Engaging in easy arts, crafts or cooking projects

Inject laughter and smiles into ordinary moments. With creativity and sensitivity, you can find many opportunities for harmless fun even when cognition is declining.

Promoting Comfort

To nurture happiness, focus on keeping your loved one as comfortable and content as possible day-to-day. This means helping them feel:

• Safe and secure – Minimize confusing or chaotic situations that can cause anxiety. Maintain familiar routines.
• Calm and relaxed – Notice signs of distress like pacing or irritation. Redirect their attention or shift environments to help them feel peaceful again.
• Connected to loved ones – Spend quality time together. Hold hands, make eye contact, reminisce about shared memories. Though the details may be forgotten, feelings often remain.
• Cared for – Attend diligently to needs like pain relief, proper nutrition and exercise. Small gestures like a hand massage or playing their favorite music show you care.
• Respected and valued – Avoid talking down to them or treating them like a child. Respect their dignity and individuality, regardless of cognitive skills.
• Purposeful and proud – Encourage them to participate in daily activities matching their abilities. Simple chores or duties nurture self-esteem and purpose.

Dementia or memory loss doesn’t preclude happiness. Focus on meeting needs, minimizing distress, and treasuring each moment together. Prioritize comfort and contentment as cognition fades.

Engaging the Senses

Another avenue for nurturing happiness is engaging the five senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. Dementia often gradually impairs memory and reasoning ability. But pathways connected to the senses and emotions are more resilient.

Tap into these pathways to help your loved one connect to present joy, rather than relying on declining memory. Some sensory stimulation activities include:

• Looking at photo books, nature videos, or artwork
• Listening to favorite music, audio books, or natural sounds
• Tasting sweet, salty, sour or bitter flavors
• Touching tactile objects like stress balls, stuffed animals, or textured blankets
• Smelling fresh flowers, aromatic foods, essential oils or scented lotions

When planning activities, consider your loved one’s personality, background, and personal preferences to make them as meaningful as possible. Observe their reactions to guide your approach.

Creating a Supportive Environment

As memory loss progresses to later stages, nurturing happiness focuses largely on creating a safe, familiar, supportive environment. Essential elements include:

Consistent Caregiving

Around-the-clock caregiving provides stability and supervision to compensate for declining mental faculties. Our professional caregivers can supply:

• Medication management – Ensuring proper administration of doctor-prescribed medications.
• Personal care – Assisting with activities of daily living like bathing, grooming, oral care and toileting.
• Health monitoring – Checking vital signs, watching for signs of pain/distress. Reporting concerns to medical professionals as needed.
• Meal planning and preparation – Providing nutritious, appealing meals tailored to medical conditions and preferences.
• Light housekeeping – Keeping living spaces clean, sanitized and clutter-free for safety and comfort.
• Transportation – Safely transporting to medical appointments, social engagements, or sightseeing excursions.

With professional support at Westminster Point Pleasant handling daily needs and health concerns, loved ones can focus simply on enjoying time together.

Engaging Activities

Dementia limits attention span and ability to initiate activities independently. Caregivers gently encourage participation in short, pleasantly stimulating activities throughout the day.

Some engaging group activities that nurture happiness include:

• Social hours – Playing trivia or bingo, working on puzzles, or having a singalong.
• Arts and crafts – Simple projects like flower arranging or painting ceramic figurines.
• Exercise – Stretching, walking, chair yoga tailored to individual ability.
• Outings – Going to parks, museums, farmers markets or festivals.

One-on-one activities might include looking through memory boxes filled with personal mementos, listening to music from their era, delivering hand massages, or chatting about fond memories from the past.

Specialized Memory Care

Eventually, dedicated memory care often becomes necessary to nurture happiness. Our assisted living community and nursing home in Bradenton, FL offer specialized programming, resources and environments designed for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Benefits include:

• Secure environment – Wandering risks are reduced via security systems, monitored exits, enclosed outdoor areas.
• Specialized training – Caregivers are trained in dementia and memory care best practices to enhance quality of life.
• Engaging activities – Stimulating physical, social and cognitive activities tap into remaining abilities.
• Community support – Support groups and counseling help families adjust and learn coping strategies.

In the later stages of memory decline, the safety, support and community of specialized memory care helps sustain comfort and joy.

Westminster Point Pleasant: Memory Care in Bradenton, FL

Located in Bradenton, FL, Westminster Point Pleasant offers specialized memory care assisted living with all the amenities necessary to nurture happiness during memory loss.

Our memory support team provides 24/7 support in a secure, yet homelike environment. Specially trained staff incorporates research-based IDEAL programming to engage residents’ abilities and nurture quality of life.

Residents enjoy delicious meals, social activities, help with daily living, medication management, laundry and housekeeping services. Westminster Point Pleasant’s personalized support allows families to enjoy time together, rather than stress about providing care.

To learn more about assisted living options for memory care needs in the Bradenton area, reach out to Westminster Point Pleasant today. Our dedicated team can help evaluate your particular situation and recommend solutions to keep your loved one healthy, safe and happy.

Here at Westminster Point Pleasant’s continuing care retirement community in Bradenton, you’ll discover that there is no shortage of ways to embrace both physical and mental fitness — whether you’re strolling about our beautiful grounds, working out at the fitness center, or enjoying a restorative swim. And one of our favorite ways to take care of both your mind and body? Yoga!

Yoga can be a hugely beneficial practice for people of all ages, but it’s a particularly wonderful choice for older adults who want to take positive steps toward a thriving, independent lifestyle they can feel good about. The benefits are countless — but we’re counting out ten below.

Relaxation

One of the most popular perks of yoga is, of course, the ability to relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of life. And it’s not just in your head! As Harvard Health notes, when done correctly, the practice of yoga can prompt the “relaxation response,” which includes lowered blood pressure and a better breathing rate. Many benefits linger beyond the actual yoga session, too, such as better sleep and improved mental health.

Mindfulness

Harvard Health also reports that the mindfulness you gain from yoga appears in other areas, too, such as making nutritious food choices.

Brain Changes

A 2021 study featured in the National Library of Medicine found that regular yoga practice was associated with physical changes in parts of the brain “implicated in aging-related cognitive decline.” For those who want to keep their mind as sharp as possible, it seems that yoga can make an anatomical difference!

Better Balance

Learning to master a yoga pose requires you to build up your balance, which can help you throughout your daily life and activities.

Heart Health

Harvard Health notes that studies have linked yoga to cardiovascular benefits — so it’s safe to say that your heart will thank you for taking up this meaningful practice! 

Making Social Connections

Yoga works great as a solo routine — but if you take part in a group class, or meet up with friends to practice outdoors, it has a way of bringing people together.

An Adaptable Part Of Your Fitness Regimen

Yoga can be adapted to suit different ability levels, which makes it more accessible than many other fitness activities! For example, if you need a chair, you can absolutely adapt popular poses to meet that need with the help of an instructor.

It’s Easy To Get Started

You don’t need much equipment to get started with yoga! Yes, a colorful mat or yoga-ready wardrobe is great — but really, this practice requires very little of its participants beyond an open mind and willingness to learn.

Lifelong Learning

Here at Westminster Point Pleasant, we’re passionate about lifelong learning — and while that might typically mean learning about educational subject in a formal setting, it applies just as well to poses and concepts you learn in a group yoga class! Plus, this is a practice that dates back to ancient times — giving you a natural outlet to learn about culture and history, too.

The Power Of A Good Routine

Whether you’ve just moved into Westminster Point Pleasant or are looking for ways to ease back into your preferred lifestyle after a moment of transition, yoga can help you set a routine you feel good about — which is helpful for people of all ages!

Now that you’re more familiar with the many benefits of yoga, consult with your care team and consider trying it for yourself here at Westminster Point Pleasant! We can’t wait to see where this amazing practice takes you.

Even though Earth Day only happens once a year, who says the planet love has to stop after April 22? Here at Westminster Point Pleasant’s life plan community in Bradenton, FL, we’re privileged to have a front-row seat to the majesty of nature — the sparkling waterways, the lush greenery, the proximity to sugar-sand beaches and vibrant mangrove escapes without ever venturing far from home. And that’s not even to mention the wildlife that abounds — the abundance of gorgeous seabirds that graze the surface, the intelligent marine mammals that swim below it.

Then the weather — oh, the weather! Our slice of the Sunshine State is blessed with lots of, well, sunshine — but even when it takes a turn for rain or storms, the colorful skies and cloud formations that appear in their wake looks unlike anything else in the entire country.

Suffice to say, we’re proud to call Bradenton “home,” and want to help our residents find special ways to celebrate the planet — and our corner of it — all year long. Just read on for some of our favorite ideas!

Go Swimming

The Earth is nicknamed “The Blue Planet” thanks to its abundance of H2O. In fact, nearly 75% of the planet is covered with it! So perhaps it’s not surprising that floating in refreshing water — like one of Westminster Point Pleasant’s two swimming pools — can help you feel connected to the planet in a meaningful way.

Explore The Great Outdoors

In addition to going swimming, there are many ways for Westminster Point Pleasant residents to get out and explore the great outdoors — such as strolling through the community, having a breezy picnic with our grab-and-go fare, enjoying a bike ride, and so much more.

Take Part In A Local Community Beautification Project

From local trash pickup events, to waterway cleanups, to mural painting projects, there’s always something going on for those who want to donate their time to the beautiful community (and, on a larger scale, planet) they call “home.” These events don’t just help you care for the planet, but also help you connect with likeminded neighbors and have some fun I the process!

Plant A Tree Virtually

Westminster Point Pleasant is proud to be a maintenance-free community — but that shouldn’t have to stop you from planting a tree to do the planet some good! Opportunities such as the United States Department of Agriculture’s Plant-a-Tree program give you a way to donate a tree to be planted somewhere special — and in fact, you can even dedicate it to someone special.

Look For Sustainable Activities

From recycling to composting, there’s no shortage of meaningful ways to practice sustainability in your everyday life. ‘Tis the season of spring cleaning, after all — so if you have excess clutter to go through, this can be a great time to make donations to loved ones or embark upon a repurposing project (such as turning old t-shirt into a meaningful quilt). Small acts of sustainability add up, and can help you show the planet some love from the comfort of home!

Learn About The Planet We Call “Home”

Here at Westminster Point Pleasant, we offer educational opportunities via the Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy — so if you want to learn more about our one-of-a-kind planet, this is the place to do it! You can also get some extracurricular studying done at our library and computer center, where the pursuit of knowledge is more attainable than ever. After all, there’s nothing quite like understanding our planet to help you appreciate it even more!

We hope that today’s ideas help you find new ways to fall in love with the planet every day! Of course, from our vantage point here at stunning Bradenton, that’s not hard to do. Plus, research shows that spending time in the outdoors is linked to a host of benefits for your mind and body — so heading outside and helping the planet is helping you, too!

Spring is swimming season! Well, technically, every season is swimming season here in the Sunshine State — but the return of longer, sun-soaked days means there are even more opportunities to enjoy the classic pastime of swimming from the comfort of Westminster Point Pleasant’s life plan community in Bradenton, FL.

 Here in our cozy corner of Florida’s Gulf Coast, you’ll find not one but two heated outdoor pools to choose from, each with a beautiful backdrop that’s sure to inspire a relaxing splash session. Ever since we were kids, pool days have been fun — but did you know they boast several serious mind-and-body benefits, too? Just read on as we share a few pool perks to keep in mind during your spring and summer swims! Exercise For All We think that fun and fitness should go hand in hand — and the pool just so happens to be a perfect example of this. Why wouldn’t you want to enjoy some exercise here when the exercise feels, well, like play? That’s the thing about swimming for fitness: It’s much easier on the joints and muscles than other workouts tend to be, making it a more accessible form of fitness — even for people with arthritis, according to the CDC! Swimming is a great form of aerobic activity that promotes lasting benefits, well after you’ve dried off and returned home. A Boost To Bone Health The CDC adds that post-menopausal women can improve or maintain their bone health by swimming! Protection Against Chronic Illness Doing an aerobic activity like swimming for 2.5 hours a week can lessen the risk of chronic illness, according to the CDC. Don’t Forget Mental Health While we’ve largely been focusing on the physical benefits of a good swim session, we’d be remiss not to mention the mental ones as well! Exposure to blue spaces, like a beautiful body of water, has been shown to promote a positive mood and less stress — which probably isn’t too surprising for anyone who’s ever spent time at their local pool. The CDC adds that swimming can reduce anxiety, and warm-water exercise therapy, specifically, can be a real mood-booster. Pool Pals Of course, one of the biggest benefits of spending time at the pool is the people! The pool provides a cool, refreshing backdrop to catching up with friends or meeting new ones. Yes, you can absolutely do your laps and enjoy a swim session on your own — but if you’re a social butterfly, then don’t stop at the butterfly stroke! Gather at the pool on a regular basis, or simply show up and say “hi” to your fellow swimmers. Any way you do it, it’s clear that a trip to the pool can recharge your social battery in a meaningful way. An afternoon at the pool may seem like a just-for-fun activity — but as today’s guide proves, there’s a lot going on beneath the surface as well! We hope that these pool perks inspire you to visit one of Westminster Point Pleasant’s stunning swimming pools today.

Nutrition is an important part of anyone’s life — especially as we age and want to keep feeling and operating our best for years to come! Here at Westminster Point Pleasant, your trusted continuing care retirement community in Bradenton, FL, we prioritize nutrition as one of the eight pillars of our My W Life wellness program.

We’re always on hand to help you guide your nutritional goals — but if you want a head-start, here’s a handy rule of thumb: Eat the rainbow!

Yes, as it turns out, eating a variety of colors throughout your meals — from vibrant red strawberries and tomatoes, to deep purple plums and eggplants, and every shade in between — can help you maximize your diet with diverse, delicious nutrients. Wondering how? Just read on to learn more about the myriad benefits of eating the rainbow!

Feel-Good Phytonutrients

All fruit and veggies have various health benefits to feel good about — but did you know that the beautiful colors of produce each represent different properties?

According to Harvard Health, red means lycopene: a carotenoid that protects your cells and tissues from free radicals. That means tomatoes, red onions, watermelon, raspberries… the list goes on and on!

Meanwhile, the cryptothanxin in orange and yellow foods can promote heart health; greens work against cancer-causing compounds; and blues and purples are packed with antioxidants that slow your cells from aging. And, yes, even white and brown produce (think onions, garlic, and mushrooms) have their unique perks.

Reach Your Weekly 30

According to the American Gut Study, people who eat more than 30 or more plant foods a week have a more diverse microbiome — which helps promote overall health and immunity! This number may seem daunting at first, but that’s where eating the rainbow may be able to help — turning the “weekly challenge” into a colorful game instead of a chore to check off your list. After all, it’s a lot easier to reach 30 plant sources when you’re incorporating foods from every color of the rainbow. (And even if you don’t reach 30 exactly, you’ll still get really close. Hey, nutrition is not an all-or-nothing game!)

Find A New Favorite

Ultimately, eating the rainbow encourages you to be a more curious eater — which is a fundamental part of being a foodie! It’s so easy for us to get caught up in busy, fun-filled days that we tend to reach for familiar favorites instead of branching out and trying something new. But by mindfully eating the rainbow, you might find yourself discovering new flavors and entire color groups you never thought about too much before — making new meal memories in the process. Fortunately, Westminster Point Pleasant’s on-site dining opportunities make it easy to try new fruits and veggies with ease.

Craving something colorful? Whether you dine in with Westminster Point Pleasant for restaurant-style breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or put together a vibrant spread of your own, eating the rainbow helps promote feel-good health in more ways than one. Not to mention — it’s delicious! We hope that today’s guide helps you maximize your nutrition one cheery hue at a time.

In our charming little slice of the Sunshine State, the idea of “golden years” takes on a totally new meaning. It’s about more than sunny days and balmy nights (and we do love those!) but a unique opportunity to live every day with the zest and spirit of a long, fun-filled vacation. Here at Westminster Point Pleasant’s independent and assisted living facility in Bradenton, Florida, you’ll find that every detail of our community was designed to emulate the feel of a deluxe getaway.

While we’ve supplied the backdrop to your endless “staycation,” you bring the imagination! Just read on as we explore some fun ways to enjoy year-round vacation vibes at Westminster Point Pleasant, this spring and all year long.

Waterfront Walks

The sound of the waves and the sight of the sunrise provide a peaceful start to your day — not unlike a serene holiday morning! It’s also a great way to stay active and engage with nature, getting your day off to an energetic start.

Pool Fun

At Westminster Point Pleasant, you can enjoy some quality H2O time at our two heated outdoor pools. Bring a good book, do some reinvigorating aerobic exercises, or simply enjoy the tranquility of floating in the water! This splashing heart of the community is a natural place to gather and lean into getaway mode.

Grab A Bite Al Fresco

We have two gorgeous waterfront dining venues, so you can always enjoy the carefree spirit of a breezy vacation meal!

You can also visit a local farmers market or prepare a bright, refreshing meal in your own kitchen and enjoy it as a picnic — another vacation staple.

Broaden Your Horizons

In addition to taking a scenic stroll around Westminster Point Pleasant, you can always take a day trip to local attractions. Our corner of Florida is home to numerous parks and trails that invite exploration, with several options depending on your preferred activity level. Get to know the Gulf Coast region at a leisurely pace — because unlike a traditional vacation, there’s no plane to catch or bags to pack. You’re already home!

Get Artsy

Florida’s rich cultural scene offers endless opportunities for exploration. You can visit local museums, and art galleries — but you can also lean into your artsy side right at home, finding inspiration in the beautiful hues of our coastal community.

Write Your Story

Living like you’re on vacation includes piecing together special memories from your travels — so why not do the same at home? Start a journal or blog to document your adventures, thoughts, and experiences. You can share it, or keep it just for you. Either way, writing can be a therapeutic activity that allows you to reflect on the beauty of your daily life!

Day Trips

There’s a lot of Florida to see! Organize outings with friends or family to explore new areas you’ve never been before. Visit historical sites, take a boat tour, or explore a new neighborhood. These mini-adventures can break up your routine and infuse your life with a sense of vacation-like excitement.

DIY Spa Session

You can create a spa-esque experience in your own home with facials, a DIY sound bath, and other grounding techniques! A personal pamper session can have restorative ripple effects you’ll feel in the days and weeks that follow.

A Relaxing Routine

Need some help adopting a truly vacation-ready mindset? Try adding yoga or meditation into your daily routine! Whether you do this through a fitness class or at-home practice to start the day, this can help you maintain flexibility, reduce stress, and enhance mental clarity — similar to how you feel after returning from a rejuvenating getaway.

Lifelong Learning

When we were kids, “vacation” usually meant a break from the books. But now, we know that learning for learning’s sake is itself a privilege worth relishing on vacation! Whether you bring a book to read outside, or enroll in a course at the Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy, you’ll be doing something meaningful for your mental wellbeing — not to mention fun!

Like the best vacation, there’s no rulebook on how to spend your day at Westminster Point Pleasant! This spring and all year long, we hope these ideas help fuel the fun as you explore your one-of-a-kind community.

Spring is here — and so is another time change! It feels like just yesterday we were “falling back.” But Daylight Saving Time (DST) officially returns on March 10, ushering in longer evenings and the promise of a sunny, fun-filled spring. If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to switch up your routine in a meaningful way, well, this is it!

Of course, this time change can take some acclimating as our bodies adjust to the new schedule. But don’t worry! To help you enjoy the transition at our Bradenton assisted living facility, we here at Westminster Point Pleasant have put together a brief guide that should help you embrace the change seamlessly — and with room for fun along the way.

Extend Your Outdoor Fun

Westminster Point Pleasant is home to no shortage of stunning outdoor spaces right in your very own backyard — from the pool, to waterfront dining, to the gorgeous courtyard! So sure, DST might be a little disorienting on those first few days, but you can lean into the outdoor fun to make up for it and recalibrate your daylight hours. It’s actually a great time to establish a new routine, such as a pre-dinner walk around the grounds or meeting up with friends to cap off your day.

Refresh Your Routine

Speaking of new routines, you can use this time to tweak your internal clock. You might do this by gradually adjusting your sleep schedule in small increments, so the change of an hour isn’t quite as jarring.

Learn Something New

Wondering how to fill your evenings with an extra hour? Another great option is to learn something new with that extra sunlight — perhaps through local classes or something you can learn right at home, like a new hobby! This isn’t just a fun way to celebrate your extra hour, but can help stimulate your mind and foster new connections with people who also do that activity.

Speaking of which, don’t underestimate the power of a virtual book club with friends or family members who don’t live nearby!

Home Safety Check

A practical task, but a worthwhile one! Now is a good time to assess the lighting situation inside your home. Check that all your lamps and lights are easily accessible, so that you can navigate them even during darker mornings.

Breathe New Life Into Your Living Space

DST falls at the same time as spring cleaning, so why not use that extra hour of daylight to illuminate your next household project? A clean, organized environment can have a positive impact on your mood and overall wellbeing, so it doesn’t hurt to sort through your closet or re-order your bookshelf on a quiet spring night.

Start Journaling

DST is also a good time to start a new healthy habit, like mindful journaling. If you’re looking for a soothing way to end your day — or a thoughtful way to start it — pick up a notebook and write about what you’re grateful for, or what you’re looking forward to! Whatever you write, you’ll benefit from the introspective practice well beyond DST.

These are but a few of the great ways to spend long, sunny days at your Westminster Point Pleasant home — but really, the sky’s the limit when you have access to so many community activities and attractions, from nature-filled walking paths to lively group fitness classes. Whatever you choose, we hope that today’s ideas help you “spring” into a new, fun-filled routine from the comfort of your very own backyard!

As we enter our retirement years, most of us find ourselves thinking more about the future than ever before. We consider not only how we will spend this exciting new chapter, but also how we can protect both our health and financial security during our golden years. This is why many Florida retirees and those planning ahead choose to call Westminster Point Pleasant home.

As a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located right here in beautiful Bradenton, we offer residents the opportunity to live comfortably and independently now, while safeguarding access to higher levels of care should they ever need it. With a focus on wellness, choice, and convenience, Westminster provides everything needed to make our residents’ futures bright.

The Value of Continuing Care

The first reason Bradenton seniors may find a CCRC like Westminster Point Pleasant appealing is the unmatched value of continuing care. Unlike other types of senior living, CCRCs allow you to secure access to a full continuum of care for the rest of your life with just one contract. This can provide invaluable peace of mind.

Within our welcoming community, you can choose from various residential living options based on your current lifestyle and budget. And if your needs change over time due to chronic illness or injury, you will have priority access to assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services located right on our campus. You do not need to worry about being asked to move again.

This model protects you from unexpected healthcare costs down the road. By paying one upfront entrance fee and predictable monthly fees, you can calculate expenses accurately and gain financial safeguards. With continuing care at Westminster Point Pleasant, everything required for a secure future is handled for you.

Staying Active in Florida

Another reason our Bradenton continuing care retirement community stands apart is our focus on healthy living. We want our residents to make the most out of their retirement by staying active, engaged, and well – something the Florida lifestyle supports beautifully.

Our community was designed with wellness in mind, complete with a fitness center, two swimming pools, Health Resource Center, and more. We offer fitness classes for all levels and abilities, nutritional guidance and education, and convenient on-site healthcare when needed. Our residents consistently share how involved and energized they feel living at Westminster Point Pleasant.

We also understand how vital a rich social life is as we get older. Our community brings people together through events ranging from guest lectures to parties to day trips showcasing this fantastic region we call home. With so many ways to pursue your passions and interact with your peers right outside your door, you will never find yourself bored or lonely when living at our CCRC.

Customizable Living Spaces

What also attracts local seniors to our Bradenton continuing care retirement community are the customizable living spaces built for convenience and comfort. Our residences were thoughtfully laid out to make daily living effortless while remaining highly personalized.

In our apartment buildings, choose from a variety of one and two-bedroom floor plans featuring ample living areas. Thoughtful security features offer an extra level of safety and confidence within your home.

Secure Support Nearby

A top priority for many searching Florida retirement communities is ensuring adequate support is available if required. This is yet another advantage our Bradenton CCRC provides. We have built a trusted reputation for providing secure, compassionate senior care and living options across the state.

Should your needs grow over the years, you can access assisted living, memory care, or nursing care services conveniently provided on our campus – delivered by the same team you have come to know and trust. If treatments take you off-site, you’ll have access to reliable transportation for medical appointments, shopping trips, religious services, and other outings that keep you connected to our vibrant local community.

We handle these details for you, so you can focus on making meaningful memories with your friends and loved ones. When you choose Westminster Point Pleasant as your continuing care retirement community, you gain total confidence that support will be there when you require it.

The Perfect Place to Call Home

As you look ahead to your golden years, few locations compare to the warmth, amenities and security our Bradenton continuing care retirement community affords. We balance independence and choice with support and stability, enabling our residents to fully control how they spend each day. Surrounded by lush tropical landscaping with the shimmering waters of Tampa Bay nearby, our setting nurtures the soul and delights the senses daily.

Here in this idyllic place we call home, you can build the future that dreams are made of. One overflowing with new adventures, new passions, new friendships, and a newfound appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

At Westminster Point Pleasant, let go of worry and embrace the endless possibilities your retirement holds. As you plan for your retirement future, choosing Westminster Point Pleasant as your Florida CCRC ensures you secure the lifestyle, value, convenience and overall peace of mind you deserve.  Learn more about our Bradenton CCRC by contacting us today. Discover why our residents continually share this is the best place to live life to its fullest!

At Westminster Point Pleasant, we believe that an active lifestyle is key to healthy and fulfilling golden years. As a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Bradenton, Florida, we emphasize engagement through recreational and social activities tailored to seniors. Golf stands out as one of the best sports for residents of Bradenton assisted living communities. More than just a leisure activity, golf provides physical, cognitive and social benefits that enhance quality of life.

In this article, we discuss why golf is an ideal sport for Bradenton seniors and detail specific ways that hitting the greens improves overall health. We also explore some of the social perks of golf, which prevent isolation and loneliness. Finally, we provide tips for making golf more accessible and enjoyable in our golden years. As an active living community committed to whole-person wellness, we encourage our residents to stay engaged on and off the course.

The Physical Perks: Endurance, Strength and Motor Skills

Golf may seem like a relatively low-impact sport, but a full 18 holes involves a considerable amount of walking and swinging. According to recent studies, the average golfer walks about 7,000 steps over just nine holes. Playing a complete course can provide up to 10,000 steps of moderate cardio in one outing. This makes golf an excellent form of aerobic endurance exercise for older adults.

In addition to increased stamina and circulation, golf also enhances strength and balance. Swinging activates core abdominal and back muscles while challenging stability. The twisting motion engages obliques while the weighted club requires muscular force. This makes an ideal cross-training complement to balance exercises like yoga or tai chi. Golf can also aid the mobility, coordination and fine motor skills that decline with age. From tee to green, a wide range of movements promotes flexibility and dexterity.

The sunshine state climate allows year-round play for Bradenton seniors. Golf provides motivation to stay active during winter months when seniors spend less time outdoors. Regular activity sustains functional independence so residents can continue favorite hobbies over time.

Mental Stimulation and Stress Relief

Along with physical exercise, golf also provides extensive cognitive benefits that keep aging minds sharp. The hand-eye coordination, depth perception, planning and problem-solving involved hone visuospatial processing while stimulating brain plasticity. Players must analyze distance, terrain and environmental factors to strategize each shot. The mental calculations required for scoring taps math skills as players tally strokes. Social exchanges also exercise linguistic and reasoning abilities.

Meanwhile, the immersive focus while golfing promotes psychological well-being. Like meditation, narrowing attention to the present movement and sensations elicits a relaxation response. The rolling outdoors setting also relieves anxiety through nature exposure. Golf alleviates stress in a fun way as players replace daily worries with friendly competition. In assisted living, the sport supplies mental enrichment alongside physical activity to enhance overall wellness. Through improvement across cognitive domains, golf helps maintain self-sufficiency for instrumental activities of daily living.

Camaraderie and Sense of Community

Beyond physical and mental perks, golf also facilitates social connectedness that combats senior isolation. Although golf seems like an individual sport, the game play occurs in a rich social context. Groups consist of two to four golfers who interact throughout the full four hours spent on an 18-hole course. Conversations spark organically with time together in the golf cart between shots. Jokes and encouragement surrounding mishits increases bonding. Clinics and leagues allow for friendly rivalries. After the round, many golfers continue socializing over a meal in the clubhouse.

In retirement living, the built-in community creates ideal opportunities for residents to golf together. Group lessons promote inclusion for beginners. Assisted living staff can organize regular outings to nearby courses as a social activity. Multi-generational family members who golf make for perfect visitors. And while scores and swings may vary across experience levels, all golfers share the collective identity as part of a broader golfing community. These lasting social connections impact overall life satisfaction and emotional health.

Tips for an Enjoyable Golf Experience

While golf clearly benefits older adults, certain age-related changes can pose barriers to an enjoyable experience. Compromised vision, arthritis grip pain and decreased mobility make aspects of golf more challenging. However, assistive equipment, carts and other accommodations expand accessibility so more seniors can partake in this rewarding sport.

Here are our top tips for an optimal golf experience in assisted living:

• Use larger grips and gloves to ease arthritis hand pain
• Attach ball collectors to carts to avoid bending down
• Try spectator golf rules so players skip difficult holes
• Focus on shorter Par 3 or executive courses
• Schedule early tee times to avoid midday heat
• Play 9 holes instead of full 18 for shorter games
• Join senior golf leagues to find players at similar skill levels

At Westminster Point Pleasant, we prioritize our residents’ independence, health and happiness through an active lifestyle customized to individual abilities and interests. Golf emerges as an ideal sport for Bradenton seniors that ticks all these boxes thanks to its combination of physical exercise, mental stimulation and social connection. Beyond enjoyment and scores, what matters most is that residents continue pursuing beloved hobbies like golfing.

We hope this overview convinces more local retirees and assisted living residents to pick up golf – or a club at least! To learn more about our vibrant senior living community near premier golf courses, visit the Westminster Point Pleasant website or schedule a tour of our Bradenton continuing care retirement facilities. Our dedication to whole-person wellness helps seniors thrive during their golden years.