News

Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab Social Wellness Programs Foster Active Social Lives, “Community” Environment for Seniors

July 4th Events Highlight Socialization Activities for Skilled Nursing Facility Residents

July 13, 2023

Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab, is emphasizing social wellness techniques as a key component in helping its residents to increase their overall happiness while benefiting their health.

Many seniors face challenges that impact the quality of their lives and it's important to have ongoing activities that bring them together with peers and others. When living at Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab, the skilled nursing facility's residents are frequently engaged in group activities to help them stay active and socialized.

As an example of a special wellness activity for Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab residents, Independence Day was filled with patriotic fun and festivities. Residents gathered together to enjoy a 4th of July parade along with a variety of other group activities including:

• Watching a movie
• A traditional BBQ
• A resident social event

“It's very important and meaningful for our residents to partake in social activities that are designed to increase their emotional and mental wellness,” said its CEO/administrator, Cindy Oller. “Fourth of July conjures up memories for our residents of celebrating with family and friends which is why we strive to create events such as these that help them feel more connected and engaged.”

Oller noted that some of the most popular wellness activities held by Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab are:

• Interactive games where residents can participate with other communities on large screen TVs
• Special outings like fishing, shopping, or going to local restaurants
• Crafts and socials

The Dimensions of Wellness

According to the National Wellness Institute, which is a non-profit that supports wellness and its practicing professionals: “Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.”

Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab places strong focus on its residents' social wellness for the positive impact it has on aging. In fact, mindfully focusing on wellness enables individuals, as they age, to live healthier lives, according to Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute.

He identified “Six Dimensions of Wellness”: emotional, physical, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, and social. Hettler's wellness model explains that each of the six dimensions is interconnected and contributes to living a healthy life. Participating in social activities is also linked to reducing the risk of developing dementia and preventing depression, he noted.

“It's critical to maintain seniors' engagement levels, so we put significant emphasis on it,” said Oller. “By having a wide variety of socialization opportunities and styles of get-togethers, we can fulfill the needs of many different interests, mobility capabilities, and personality types. This is what helps support a vibrant quality of life.”

About Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab is a 96-bed skilled nursing facility in Taylorville, Ill., providing long-term care, short-term care, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehab-to-home, speech therapy, hospice care, respite care, and a memory care unit. The center is currently accepting new admissions for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. For further information, please contact Mindy Semple at 217-836-8954 or visit the Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehab website at www.taylorville-snr.com.