Research on What Makes Us Happy

Why are some of us happier than others? Well, of course, some people have more reasons to be happy than others. Many  people find that the vicissitudes of aging diminish their happiness.  Others may experience tragedies. Still others are unhappy with no particularly good reason.

Some people are by their nature more likely to be happy under the same conditions that make others unhappy. Personality traits and social environments that affect happiness have been identified. The 2020 Age Well Study findings (released January 2021) specifically focus on the happiness and life satisfaction of residents in Life Plan Communities. The analysis reinforces the effects of happiness on multiple areas of health, underlining the importance of strengthening optimism, resilience, and feelings of community.

Retirement communities such as this have proliferated in recent years. They offer new alternatives for the elderly to experience their later years, as opposed to living alone or in the homes of relatives, such as their children. This kind of community living can contribute to greater happiness as one ages.

The Age Well Study examined survey responses from more than 4,100 residents in 122 Life Plan Communities across the United States. Life Plan Communities are age-restricted, amenity-rich retirement village communities that invite people to live on their own terms, enjoying a host of amenities, services, and opportunities, as well as the added benefit of access to on-site health care services.

These results are from the five-year study being conducted by Mather Institute and Northwestern University. The Institute is the research area of Mather, an 80-year-old not-for-profit organization that operates senior living residences and provides other aging services. Staffed by researchers, the Institute is an award-winning resource for research and information about wellness, aging, trends in senior living, and successful industry innovations.

Results of the study reveal the following:

⦁ Life Plan Community residents’ average happiness and life satisfaction scores are near the top of the range. Approximately 92% of respondents in Life Plan Communities were highly satisfied with the place where they live.

⦁ People are happier and more satisfied when they have a greater sense of community belonging.

⦁ The personality traits of extroversion, openness to new experiences, and agreeableness were both associated with greater happiness and life satisfaction.

A Local Example of Aging Well

In one typical Mather community in Tucson, Arizona, Splendido, people over age 55 enjoy a host of services, programs, and amenities, including:

⦁ Variety of homes, including Terrace and Villa Homes with one, two, and three bedrooms, some with dens

⦁ Fitness center and day spa including indoor and outdoor saline swimming pools

⦁ Inspiring social and cultural opportunities such as featured lecturers, live music, and resident-led interest groups

⦁ Full-service lifestyle with various culinary package options, housekeeping, and concierge services

One finding from the Age Well Study was that people who are satisfied with their daily life and leisure activities report higher levels of happiness. Living in a community like Splendido makes it easy to pursue lifelong interests and explore new ones.

“Research provided by Mather Institute contributes to some of our resident programming selections, and of course we rely on the knowledge and experience of our staff on-site,” says Joan Mayer, Splendido’s Director of Repriorment Services. “From fitness classes to a resident-led lecture series and more, we create a schedule packed with opportunities to suit residents’ eclectic tastes and interests.”

During the pandemic, many programs have been offered virtually, making use of Splendido’s in-house television channel. Among these are fitness classes that can be done at home, lectures, entertainment, and even some classes from the Splendido Intellectual Pursuits Program, or SIPP. Planned, managed, and often taught by Splendido residents, SIPP offers two “semesters” of lectures each year, each including a variety of high-level classes led by experts on topics from astrophysics to Impressionism, billiards to brain health.

Retirement villages have been around for years, but their popularity may be growing. This is an alternative lifestyle that many elderly are finding to be attractive.

Source:

https://www.matherinstitute.com/senior-living-professionals/free-industry-information/age-well-study-report-2020/

 

Disclaimer: the author has no vested interest in any retirement village.