As we age, our lives change, and purposeful living is redefined. Kids and grandkids may be wrapped up with their own busy lives. Friends pass away. You may experience the loss of a spouse. You may wake up feeling aimless, disconnected, and lonely.
Michael Quansah, author of What You Can’t Live Without says, “It is one thing to Exist and quite another to Live. The difference between the two is the foundation of purpose.”
At Highgate Senior Living, creating a life of purpose is an intentional act. No matter what age or what ailment, Highgate identifies ways they can support their residents in living a meaningful and fulfilling life.
“Life at Highgate is full of choices. We make it our business to find out the individual preferences of our residents, who have the freedom and flexibility to live a life that is truly their own,” says Howard N. Addison, President and CEO at Highgate Senior Living.
Highgate at Temecula believes the secret to living well into old age is engagement, which can be difficult to accomplish when living at home alone and isolated.
Kathleen Williams, Executive Director at Highgate Senior Living in Temecula shares that isolation in the elderly is more common than most people would think.
Recalling a recent woman she had spoken with, Kathleen says, “Even though some of the seniors I talk to can still drive, it’s interesting the reasons they give you for not getting out of their home. Many times it’s fear. As they get older, the world seems much bigger than it did before, and very different than when they were young.”
While staying home may be the most comfortable and safe thing to do, it leads to a lack of purpose. This can cause energy loss, depression and even illness. Kathleen recalled a woman she had recently spoken to who said, “I’m so lonely sitting here. All I have to do is wonder when the next time is that I feed my dog.”
Staying mentally, physically, socially and spiritually engaged helps stave off unhappiness, senility and ill-health. A part of putting these practices into place is remembering what it is we love to do and then continuing to do it. The other part is being open to new experiences, making new friends and learning new skills. Creating opportunities for Highgate residents to do that allows them to explore what their purpose and meaning in life is.
Creating Opportunities to Help Others
Many people feel a sense of purpose by giving someone else a few seconds of joy and human connection. One way Highgate creates opportunities for residents to feel a sense of purpose is by giving back to the local community. “Whether making sandwiches for the homeless or knitting caps for newborns, for residents who are driven by giving back to others, we want them to wake up knowing they are going to make a difference today,” says Kathleen.
While some elderly adults resist considering assisted living because they feel it will limit their freedom and independence, for many making the move does the exact opposite. It provides opportunities to participate in meaningful experiences offered through the community they otherwise wouldn’t have had the access to at home.
Late-life depression affects about 6 million Americans ages 65 and older. But, only 10% receive treatment for depression. Taking a holistic approach to healthcare, Highgate invests in finding what drives each resident to wake up feeling wanted, needed, safe, and purposeful.
Having worked at several other Highgate communities before moving to Temecula, Kathleen has seen first-hand the difference it makes in the residents she has worked with. “It’s incredible once they find they still have a passion for life. They realize they’re not just coming into a retirement community to survive, they’re waking up with a passion for life every day.”
Do What You Love, Dream Big – Two Highgate Philosophies that Promote Purposeful Living
Living by the motto “A life without dreams can hold no purpose,” Highgate residents are encouraged to dream big. With a reputation of making active aging week a company-wide celebration, Highgate residents have ridden in hot air balloons for the first time in their life, gone ziplining, and flown an airplane just to name a few.
For some residents, they simply dream of experiencing something they’ve done before. Residents at Highgate have had the opportunity to feed baby calves, start a Rockette group, or even explore a national park for two days.
The activities and recreation program at Highgate is driven by resident input. When a new resident moves in, they take the time to learn about their life story. From the information gleaned, team members can identify ways to incorporate new life experiences, or activities and programming that allows them to enjoy something they once lived.
Becoming A Part of the Family
It’s difficult to live a life of purpose if fear or having to leave your new home is always looming. Highgate offers services that many other communities don’t, as well as a continuum of assisted living and memory care to decrease the number of residents who must leave their community for a higher level of care. From two-person transfers, use of hoyer mechanical lifts to diabetic care and hospice care, residents have the assurance that Highgate’s goal is to allow residents to age in place.
While some memory care communities only offer early-stage dementia care, Highgate at Temecula offers two levels of dementia care in order to cater to early, middle and late stage dementia patients. “In other communities, resident who are deemed “difficult” may be asked to move to another community. We work with the resident, family, and physician to find out what’s really going on. We don’t want to give up on them; they’re part of our family once they move in,” says Williams.
You’re never too old to try a new experience or re-learn a skill. Highgate provides residents the opportunity to find their life purpose with experiences that are meaningful to them.
