By Catherine Campbell

 
Growing older does not have to be a hardship.

Aging often gets a bad rap, colouring people’s perceptions and expectations. There are so many preconceived notions around aging that stand in the way of positive experiences and a good quality of life. Ageism is a cultivated negativity that is ultimately detrimental to human happiness and longevity. A shift in mindset – with the necessary support in place – allows for the opportunity to celebrate aging well.
 
A little support can go a long way in extending one’s personal independence and ability to thrive. Living in a retirement residence creates a quality of life for older adults that can rarely be found when living at home alone.
 
Loneliness is one of the biggest risk factors for physical and mental deterioration in older adults and it’s a problem easily solved by staying connected to others. Though the thought of downsizing and moving to retirement living can be a daunting task, the resulting simplicity and independent, yet supportive lifestyle, can be extremely rewarding, leading to peace of mind and a renewed sense of possibility. Retirement living creates opportunities for community engagement and human connection, both of which are invaluable as we age.
 
A wander around any of The Berkeley locations is an opportunity to see a community, like any other, where people are thriving as a result of common characteristics, similar interests, and shared endeavours. Some have only just moved in while others have lived at The Berkeley for many years.
 
Take Dougie Pauls, for example, a Newfoundlander by birth, who has lived at The Berkeley Bedford for almost 10 years. She would tell you that living in that community has kept her strong, healthy, and active.
 
“I’m 92 and I’ve never been sorry about moving here. I doubt I’d have lived this long if I were at home alone. There’s never a dull moment and the holidays are especially festive!” she says.
 
As with most any community, people range in age, and have varying abilities and interests. Dougie agrees that aging is a fact of life that none of us can change and she says, “Living at The Berkeley has helped me to age well and enjoy my later years.”
 
Living at The Berkeley, Dougie has made plenty of friends and could never call herself lonely. There are always people coming and going, getting together for activities, sharing meals, and catching up over a cup of tea or a game of cards. Like any community, the greatest common denominator is that most everyone has an interest in camaraderie.
 
On the flip side, if Dougie needs a little quiet time, her apartment is the perfect haven. She enjoys quiet time exploring her creative side which includes crocheting, painting, knitting, and felting, among other artistic pursuits. For her, living at The Berkeley has proven to be the perfect balance of socialization and solitude.
 
Dougie is not alone in her satisfaction. New residents quickly recognize that retirement living is a fantastic solution for older adults who want to live amongst their contemporaries in a community where most everything they need is under one roof.
 
The perfect example is Jean Smith who – concerned about temporary loneliness – reluctantly booked a trial stay while her daughter went away for a few weeks. It didn’t take long for Jean to recognize that avoiding loneliness was only one piece of the retirement lifestyle puzzle. She found herself enjoying the meals, meeting new people, belly laughing like she hadn’t in years and wanting to move in permanently.
 
Jean happily acknowledges that her mistaken expectation of retirement living was that of a care home, similar to what she knew from years as a social worker in Britain.
 
“I had no interest in moving in permanently, assuming people would tell me what to do, which would ultimately lead to a loss of my independence.”
 
In fact, her experience has been quite the opposite.
 
“I have met so many interesting people at The Berkeley, and from all walks of life. The atmosphere is so relaxing, the staff are brilliant, and I see now that living here will actually help to maintain my independence.”
 
She goes on to admit, “My first impressions were based on work experience in care homes - not retirement living - and I am extremely stubborn so I couldn’t see past it until I moved in.”
 
Had Jean not taken a chance on The Berkeley, despite her reservations, she would never have realized the positive impact retirement living could have on her life going forward. As it stands, the search is on to find a permanent apartment for Jean who has no interest in going back to living alone now that she has experienced the benefits of life in a community.