Evanston, IL (January 24, 2019) – New, groundbreaking research released today by Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging shows Life Plan Community residents report more healthy behaviors and have greater emotional, social, physical, intellectual, and vocational wellness than those living in the community at large. The five-year Age Well Study is the most extensive longitudinal research to date exploring health and evaluating the impact living in a Life Plan Community has on residents’ well-being, as compared to those living in the community at large. The Year 1 Report of The Age Well Study includes responses by 5,148 residents from 80 Life Plan Communities from 28 states nationwide and is available to download for free at www.TheAgeWellStudy.com.
Among the findings, evidence shows that Life Plan Community residents engage in more intellectual pursuits including reading, games, trainings or other educational activities, and use social media and meet up with friends more often than older adults in the community at large. Nearly 70% of older adults surveyed reported that moving to a Life Plan Community has somewhat or greatly improved their social wellness. The study also found that certain organizational factors, such as geographic location or living in an urban vs. rural or suburban setting, were associated with feelings of youth, optimism, and life satisfaction.