Belmont Village Senior Living provides creative approaches to senior care, including the Circle of Friends program, which addresses mild cognitive impairment and early-stage memory loss. (photo courtesy of Belmont Village)

Patricia Will, founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living, has provided insights into how the senior living industry is evolving in 2022 to meet the changing needs of aging adults.

A combination of innovation, excellent clinical care and hospitality, continuous investment in research, collaboration with academic partnerships and state-of-the-art cognitive health programming have helped seniors thrive, she said.

Will cited telehealth as a major innovation. As heavily congested and overburdened emergency rooms and urgent care facilities become more common, seniors can access immediate medical attention online or by telephone without risking unnecessary exposure or potentially dangerous wait times at doctors’ offices.

Customized cognitive care for Alzheimer’s, dementia and the aging brain have also benefited seniors, Will said. Mental workouts and long-term memory enrichment programs promote stimulation and socialization, reduce stress and aid in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Belmont Village’s Circle of Friends program addresses mild cognitive impairment and early-stage memory loss and has been proven to slow the progression of dementia, Will said.

Innovative collaborations with specialists from universities, health care institutions and professional organizations have also guided programming and care. Models of independent living, assisted living and memory care combine hospitality and care to ensure aging adults are engaged in their environment and community. For example, the Raise Your Resilience study was developed through a collaboration with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Mather Institute. Seniors utilizing the RYR intervention program experienced an increase in resilience and perception, along with a significant reduction in the level of daily stress.

Other strategies for healthy senior living include prioritizing socialization in communities. A study from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project determined that social disconnection puts older adults at greater risk for depression and anxiety.

“The biggest takeaway is that there is now a choice. Seniors are changing how they choose where they want to live and what is important to them,” Will added. “Seniors want excellent programming and the latest technology to be innate qualities of the daily life and culture of their community.”

Belmont Village operates independent, assisted living and memory care communities for older adults in Hollywood and Westwood. For information, visit belmontvillage.com.