3 essential elements to living a longer life

It’s no secret that modern medicine is enabling humans to live longer and longer, but you may be surprised to learn that there are over half a million people over the age of 100.

While winning the “genetic lottery” plays a huge part in whether a person can live to 100, ageing experts have identified a number of key aspects that can help a person live longer, including social connection, sense of purpose and stress management.

At Applewood, we’re passionate about helping our residents live happier, healthier lives for longer by creating supportive communities where like-minded over 55s can connect, stay active and reduce everyday stressors in their secure, low-maintenance home.

Here’s how calling Applewood home can help you harness the essential elements of living a longer life.

Social connection

A Harvard study that followed 1,300 people for 80 years, found that individuals who have strong social connections are 50 per cent more likely to live longer than those who may not have these social relationships. According to neuropsychiatrist Dr Dilip Jeste, “Humans are a social species. We can survive only if we have a sense of community and belongingness.”

At Applewood, our residents enjoy a lifestyle enriched by companionship. Our residents feel connected because they live within a community of like-minded people who share similar values. They often attest that they love belonging to a village where neighbours check in on each other, spend time together and care about each other’s wellbeing. Plus, our thriving social and activities calendar gives residents an abundance of opportunities to spend time with their neighbours and friends while having fun.

Our resident, Julie Marie, loves the friendly, community-minded atmosphere at Applewood: “You’re in a community of like-minded people. Community is really everything… When you’ve got wonderful neighbours you know that you can depend on them. We do street parties, we do street dinners once a month. We get together and we have trivia nights, and you get to know your neighbours.”

Sometimes, making new friendships and meaningful connections later in life can seem daunting. But living in our village with its strong sense of community, connecting with others is easy.

Sense of purpose

Having a sense of purpose has been linked to longevity, and having a purpose in life is something that all centenarians share.

Some experts warn that finding too much purpose in your work or career can have negative effects after retirement. According to Dr Jeste, a way to overcome this is by finding other things to do, whether that’s engaging in volunteer work or rekindling a hobby from years ago.

Applewood resident, Bob, says that moving to our village created more opportunities to live a full life outside of work. “We were still working when we came here; but very quickly we thought, ‘there's too much else to do’, and so we retired about two months after we came here.”

Stress management

Chronic stress has been proven to increase the risk of dementia, anxiety, insomnia, and high blood pressure, and so managing your stress levels and keeping them low is an important part of living a longer life in good health. Many over 55s experience stress due to the prospect of health issues, safety and security concerns, overwhelming home maintenance and fear of isolation.

At Applewood, our residents experience enhanced peace of mind in a range of ways, and you can too.

• You’ll feel safe living in a gated community with a 24-hour CCTV system.
• You’ll feel reassured knowing our staff are onsite 24/7 and are on-hand to assist in case of an emergency.
• You’ll feel at ease knowing you’re living in a home that will remain accessible, functional and practical as you age.
• You’ll feel comforted knowing that you live within a community of like-minded people who look out for one another.
• You can lock up and leave and embark on new adventures without worrying about the safety of your home.

If you’d like to see first-hand how you can harness the secrets to longevity and live life in good health at Applewood, book an appointment to explore our village by calling 03 8848 1111.