Health & Happiness in Life Plan Communities

While there are many retirement lifestyles to choose from, one option has been proven to improve happiness, quality of life, and provide health benefits: Life Plan Communities. According to the Mather Institute’s landmark Age Well Study, older adults who choose a Life Plan Community — like Vista Point at Fairview — are happier and more fulfilled than those who don’t.

What Is the Age Well Study?

Designed in collaboration with Northwestern University, the Age Well Study is the only national longitudinal study evaluating the impact of living in a Life Plan Community on residents’ cognitive, physical, and psychosocial health and well-being in an attempt to measure longevity in retirement living. When the survey launched in 2018, it focused on three components of health:

• Self-reported health
• Physical activity
• Healthy diet

Note: A longitudinal study is a research model that involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time.

Year One Results

In year one, the Age Well Study compared wellness outcomes of older adults living in Life Plan Communities to those of older adults in the community at large. A total of 5,148 residents from 80 Life Plan Communities participated. Here are some of the findings:

• Self-Reported Health: On average, Life Plan Community residents rated their health between “good” and “very good,” which is better than older adults in the general population.
• Number of Chronic Conditions: Residents had an average of two chronic health conditions, significantly fewer than older adults in the community at large.
• Mood: Residents reported generally positive moods over the prior 30 days and experienced more positive moods than the community-at-large group.
• Optimism/Pessimism: Residents showed high levels of optimism and low levels of pessimism, indicating a positive outlook on the future.
• Stress: Life Plan Community residents experienced fairly low levels of stress and felt capable of managing life’s challenges.
• Intellectual Wellness: 96% of residents read a book or newspaper at least once per week — an activity associated with cognitive maintenance.
• Social Wellness: 69% of residents reported that moving to a Life Plan Community “somewhat” or “greatly improved” their social wellness.
• Physical Wellness: Residents reported fewer than two chronic health conditions on average and engaged regularly in healthy behaviors.

Year Three Results

In 2020, the study explored factors associated with resident happiness and life satisfaction — both of which correlate with better physical and mental health and stronger social connections. A total of 4,191 residents from 122 Life Plan Communities participated. Key findings include:

Social/Communal Factors

• Loneliness: Greater loneliness was associated with lower happiness and life satisfaction.
• Social Cohesion: A stronger sense of community cohesion correlated with higher happiness and life satisfaction.
• Community Belonging: Residents who felt a greater sense of belonging were happier and more satisfied with life.
• Religiosity: More religious residents were more satisfied with life, though religiosity was not significantly related to happiness.
• Spirituality: More spiritual residents reported greater happiness, though spirituality was not significantly related to life satisfaction.

Health Factors

• Self-Reported Health: Better self-reported health was associated with greater happiness and life satisfaction.
• Physical Activity: More physical activity correlated with greater happiness but was not linked to life satisfaction.
• Healthy Diet: Residents who ate healthier diets were both happier and more satisfied with life.

Satisfaction with Life Domains

Approximately 92% of respondents were highly satisfied with their community, and 90% were highly satisfied with their city or town. Most were also highly satisfied with their daily life and leisure (85%), financial situation (82%), and family life (79%). Satisfaction with personal health was lower, with 60% reporting high satisfaction.

Satisfaction with Their Senior Living Community

91% of respondents were “completely” or “very” satisfied with their senior living community.

Overall Age Well Study Findings

The last Age Well report examines changes in residents’ health and wellness over five years compared to older adults in the broader community. Findings include:

• Life Plan Community residents consistently reported better physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and vocational wellness than older adults in the community at large.
• From Year 1 to Year 5, residents’ social contact significantly increased.
• Engagement in intellectual activities — including writing and attending educational programs — increased significantly among residents but decreased among older adults in the community at large.

Explore the Health Benefits of our Life Plan Community

If you’re ready to live your best life, explore Vista Point, the only nonprofit Life Plan Community in Southeastern Connecticut that combines a focus on health and wellness in senior living with breathtaking waterfront views. To discover the advantages of moving to our active and engaging community, call (860) 968-VIEW (8439) or contact us here.