What Is Holistic Senior Living Care?

Senior living communities that emphasize really living offer so much more than a roof over your head and “three squares” a day. Certainly, you can expect an appropriate level of personal or medical assistance if you need it, but to achieve overall well-being, you need to feed your mind and spirit as well as your body.

Holistic senior living care recognizes your whole self. Body, mind, and spirit are different in some ways, but they are actually inseparable. Humans are, after all, supremely complex.

At Magnolia Manor, holistic care has always been at the heart of our senior living communities. In addition to providing personal assistance and care services, we offer activities and programs that meet each resident where they are in terms of interests and ability – opportunities that stimulate the mind and senses, strengthen the body, and lift up the spirit. That’s the very definition of quality of life.

Healthy Bodies

We aren’t just sitting around! Exercise is essential to maintain strong bones and muscles, flexibility, and balance. So we offer both structured wellness programs and a variety of informal, appealing ways for residents to stay active.

Of course, it takes fuel to keep fit. And – let’s be honest – seniors expect good food. So our campus dietary teams make sure meals are designed to provide all the nutrition seniors require, with the style and flavors our residents prefer. We’re talking Southern cuisine, which is both delicious and comforting.

Cognitive and Social Engagement

Mental health really has two meanings – emotional/psychological wellbeing and cognitive strength -- so supporting brain health is a vital part of holistic senior care, whether that’s specialized memory care or broader stimulating activities for all residents.

Yes, we do play bingo -- who doesn’t love to win a prize?! But the carefree lifestyle at Magnolia Manor encompasses far more when it comes to keeping bodies strong and healthy and keeping the intellectual and creative juices flowing. Games, gatherings, entertainment, and educational programs all bring residents together to socialize, share stories, and make new friends.

Remaining socially active is so important for seniors. Spending time with others helps, and engaging in meaningful activities provides a continued sense of purpose and reduces the risk of depression that can be fueled by loneliness.

Connecting with our greater communities gives us an even greater sense of purpose, along with opportunities to enjoy multi-generational activities. Some of our residents fan out into the community or gather together here on campus to do volunteer work for local organizations. And, boy do they love it when they get to visit local schools or the kids come to our campus to participate in joint activities!

Art in all its forms provides an excellent outlet for creative expression, something our residents especially love. Painting and drawing keep fine muscles well-tuned and support cognition, and the process of making art is psychologically therapeutic. Those are some pretty holistic benefits. Art therapy can be especially beneficial for our memory care residents.

Likewise, music has almost universal appeal. It provides many of the same benefits as art activities, and there’s nothing that says “fun exercise” like dancing. Also like art, music therapy has extra-special benefits for those with dementia.

Spiritual Growth

Spirituality means different things to different individuals. As a faith-based organization, our campuses offer religious activities such as worship services, pastoral care, and Bible study. However, we welcome residents of all faiths, with supportive opportunities to practice (or not) as each person prefers.

Holistic Senior Care Is Part of the Magnolia Manor Difference

Some benefits are easy to feel but not so easy to define. Here at Magnolia Manor, we consider staff and residents to be our family, and we treat one another that way, with care and everyday interactions that come from the heart. We fully believe in the holistic approach, and as a non-profit organization, we can devote our resources and our efforts to giving each resident the best, most carefree life possible.

See For Yourself How Holistic Senior Living Can Be

You can schedule a tour at any one of our 8 senior living campuses in south Georgia to see for yourself how truly wonderful senior living can be. Call us any time at 1-855-540-LIFE (5433) or schedule a tour online.