National Wellness is Celebrated This Month – and a Daily Focus at MBK Communities
August is National Wellness month, a time to focus on self-care, creating healthy routines and stress management. While maintaining your well-being should be a year-round goal, as we enter the eighth month of a global pandemic, maintaining our mental and physical wellness is more important than ever!
There is no denying that the coronavirus has intensified the day-to-day stress and other health imbalances. However, the fact is by following these top five tips we can reclaim control of our health and wellness.
- Eat Healthy, Well-balanced Meals
Turning to high-calorie comfort foods and snacks during a stressful time is fairly common. But, did you know that eating healthy can reduce cancer risk, improve your memory, fortify your bones and teeth and boost your mood? Your aim should be to pick a balance of fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy fats at every meal.
At MBK communities, residents enjoy nutritionally-balanced seasonal menus and a variety of always available favorite selections to choose from, as well as specific options for special diets and food preferences. And, while our all-day dining has been suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions to restaurant-style dining, our talented culinary teams have found fun and creative ways to making dining a unique and enjoyable experience.
- Exercise Daily
Just 30-minutes of exercise per day can improve respiratory health, energy, vitality and also protect you from injury. During the pandemic, it’s vital to keep moving. Not only does exercise enhance your mood and reduce stress, it can boost your immunity. Studies show that physical activity may help flush germs out of your airways and reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness.
From one-on-one fitness regimes to small group classes to maintain social distance, MBK communities’ Resident Enrichment Directors and MBK Fitness Instructors provide residents with options to keep limber and lean. From sit and stretch classes and chair yoga to hallway strolls and walks throughout the community gardens, MBK communities offers daily opportunities for residents to improve balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and circulatory health.
- Take a Break
Everywhere we turn it seems there is a barrage of opinions, politics, protests, riots and COVID news on television and social media. It’s no wonder that we feel anxious, dissatisfied and irritated. This flood-tide of negative news can have an adverse impact on our moods and heighten depression and stress. It’s essential that we take a break from this bombardment and build in time to unwind, refresh and find peace of mind.
In MBK communities, enrichment activities such as wine tastings, book clubs, cards, online lecture series, virtual museum tours and scenic drives are just a few of the ways residents unplug from negative news and relax and unwind.
- Meditate or Pray
During times when people are fearful or feel life is out of control (much like today), it’s common to turn to a higher power for peace, comfort and guidance. No matter what religion you identify with – or even if you don’t identify with any religion, prayer or meditation is known to ease anger, fear and overwhelming feelings of chaos. In fact, studies show that what’s good for the mind is good for the body!
At MBK communities, residents enjoy Mind+Body Wellness that includes activities, classes and programs that enrich the whole person - mind, body and spirit. For example, many residents enjoy the benefits of Bible groups, on-site church services, chair yoga classes, deep breathing and meditation instruction, and other activities that provide them with spiritual rejuvenation and reflection.
- Connect With Others
Can you imagine how isolated some have felt during the pandemic? Especially those that may live alone and are hesitant to venture out of the house due to virus concerns? While we’ve had to reduce large group dining and activity programs, residents in MBK communities find numerous ways to connect with others.
In addition to small group dining and activities, MBK team members have helped residents tap into technology to stay connected to family and friends virtually, hosted drive-by parades and socials, and coordinated window and outside visits with loved ones. By staying connected with others, residents find the support to cope with today’s difficult and stressful circumstances.
While National Wellness Month is a wonderful reminder to care for ourselves, at MBK Senior Living’s 33 communities, wellness is a way of life. Throughout the corona crisis we have been even more committed to keeping our residents well. We are following all CDC, state and local recommendations, and have proactively implemented additional protocols above and beyond those recommendations. These protocols are working and continue to be our best defense in keeping our residents, families and team members well.
To learn more about MBK communities and our wellness lifestyle, visit MBKseniorliving.com
