We want the best for our loved ones as they age. While many people enjoy living in their own homes, research now suggests that living in senior communities, compared to living in non-senior-specific communal settings or even alone, can net some major health benefits.
If your loved one is unsure of moving to a senior living community, reassure him or her that making this move could boost his or her physical and mental health.
Top 3 Health Benefits of Senior Living
Making the move to a long-term care community might seem overwhelming at first, but the benefits of a retirement community can make the move more than worth it to your family member. In fact, a new four-part study from NIC (National Investment Center) and NORC (National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago) sheds light on the benefits of senior living communities, including improved healthcare access, fewer inpatient hospital stays, and a longer lifespan.
1. Improved Access to Healthcare
This four-part series found that older adults who lived in a specialized long-term care setting, like an assisted living community, had improved access to healthcare than seniors living in the broader community.
Specifically, this research study found that living in a specialized senior care community means senior living residents could more easily access healthcare and personal care services and even receive specialty care from medical professionals like cardiologists. This fact is likely due to the presence of on-site healthcare services that staff members can render to residents each day. Caregivers can also keep a close watch on residents’ medical conditions to note any concerning changes, which may alert the need for visits to a medical specialist.
Older adults living alone or in a setting without specialized long-term care can mean that they may not be able to access healthcare services as easily or as often as senior living residents. Furthermore, these individuals are also not under the supervision of trained professionals, so they may not notice when medical conditions are worsening, leading them to see doctors later rather than sooner.
2. Fewer Hospital Admissions
The same NORC study also found that senior living residents not only had better access to healthcare but also had fewer hospital admissions than their peers who did not live in senior living communities. Of note, senior care residents visited the ER more, but their rates of hospital inpatient admissions (from the emergency department) were lower than their non-senior living peers.
3. Longer Lifespan
This study further found that residents of senior living communities, on average, had a longer lifespan than their peers who did not live in a long-term care community.
Other Senior Living Benefits
As the NORC research has shown, there are clear physical health benefits to living in a senior living community. Access to healthcare, fewer inpatient hospital admissions, and boosted lifespan aren’t the only benefits to senior living.
Other benefits not covered in this study include:
- Greater social opportunities, as many senior communities offer fitness classes,
- Social events like bingo night, and
- Arts and crafts time.
These events can help residents find new hobbies and make new friends, which can boost their overall mental health and sense of well-being.
Benefits of Senior Living at Avista
Avista is dedicated to offering the right level of care to families at the right time and place.
Our senior care options include:
Find an Avista Senior Living Community Near You
Life is never dull at an Avista community, and we aim to boost quality of life with amenities and services like:
- Medication management
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Housekeeping services for maintenance-free living
- Nutritious meals served in communal dining rooms
- Wellness and exercise classes to keep active
- Social events like book clubs to make new friends
- Transportation to off-site doctor’s appointments
- Regularly scheduled outings to the broader community
Contact Avista Senior Living today to learn more about how we can serve your family and give you peace of mind that your loved one will fully enjoy the senior living health benefits that communal living can bring.
Disclaimer: Each person’s situation is unique. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of medical, financial, tax or legal advice.
Wendy Gores, RN
Updated on 6/20/2025