S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors!

At Eventide, our approach to total wellness is rooted in fostering wellness of the mind, body and spirit.

Many of the tenets of this whole health approach are often enhanced when we try new things, set goals and even let go of pesky lifelong habits. (Who says any of us need to be stuck in our ways?)

So, as we celebrate a new year and define resolutions to boost our total wellness, happiness and vitality regardless of age, we want to help you be successful and — and have fun.

**Before you make any changes or additions to your current health routines, be sure to ask your doctor about any new exercises or foods you might want to try, as they may not be appropriate for your unique needs. If they aren’t, ask your doctor to recommend modifications or alternatives that would work better for you.**

Intellectual

Our life enrichment teams offer residents a variety of games and activities to challenge and stimulate the mind!

Social

At Eventide, residents can be as social as they like – there is always something happening, from social events like card games and celebrations to outings in the community.

Emotional

Remembering the past and communicating with loved ones are vital to emotional health. At our communities, we offer reminiscing activities – focused on historical events or trends of the past.

Spiritual

Eventide began in 1951 as the result of a community need identified by members of local Lutheran churches.

Occupational

Occupational wellness fosters independence by strengthening skills and educating our residents on how to live safely and with purpose.

Physical

Eventide understands the importance of offering a wide array of physical activities to our residents, such as group fitness classes like Forever Fit and yoga to walking clubs.

Lesson from the business world: S.M.A.R.T. goals

In business, many companies focus their yearly efforts around S.M.A.R.T. goals. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym that stands for:

Specific: A goal that can easily be described or defined.

Measurable: Something that can be tracked with milestone achievements.

Achievable: A challenging task, but not unrealistic.

Relevant: It makes sense for where the business is currently.

Timely: It makes sense for where the business wants to be in the future.

Maybe you’re familiar with S.M.A.R.T. goals in the office, or you’ve used them to achieve personal goals at some point in your life, as well. The idea is incredibly helpful when creating resolutions throughout life, too, because they:

  • Help you define a clear goal with a simple solution
  • Encourage you to break down a goal into smaller steps
  • Improve your chances of success for the long term

As we age, though, we’ve found that the concept of S.M.A.R.T. goals should be less about being measurable and more about being maintainable. We also think they should be more age-appropriate, too.

So, we’ve come up with our very own S.M.A.R.T. goal concept for senior living that can help you improve your mind, body and spirit in a way that makes sense based on things like interest level, age, desire, simplicity and ability.

S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors: Simple, Maintainable, Age-appropriate, Realistic and Tailored

S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors is very similar to the S.M.A.R.T. goals you may employ at work or in other aspects of your life; they’re just, well, smarter.

Simple: Create a goal that has just one step or creates one small change in your daily life.

Maintainable: Choose something that enhances or builds on a healthy habit you’ve already established.

Age-appropriate: Make sure it will serve you well as you continue to add years to your life.

Realistic: Understand your abilities (and limitations).

Tailored: Work with your healthcare and wellness teams so a goal aligns with your unique needs.

Examples of S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors

The best goals will touch on one (or more) of the mind, body and spirit approach to total wellness. Here are examples of S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors that address each of our total wellness areas.

Intellectual – sharpen your brain

  • Try a new computer program or download a new game on your tablet or smartphone.
  • Spend time researching a person, place or historical event and present your findings.
  • Start brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand or performing a familiar task in reverse order.

Social – enhance friendships and meaningful connections

  • Sit at a different table with people you don’t know at lunch or dinner.
  • Set up monthly Zoom calls with a friend or family member you don’t know as well as you’d like.
  • Take someone (or yourself) out on regular dates.

Emotional – stay happy or content

  • Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal every day.
  • Commit to complimenting someone regularly.
  • Share your feelings if you’re feeling sad, lonely or just out of sorts.

Spiritual – Connect to your higher power

  • Watch inspirational videos on YouTube from people of different religions and spiritual backgrounds.
  • Create faith-based discussion groups with your peers.
  • Read or recite a different prayer each day.

Occupational – maintain or improve lifelong skills

  • Work on strengthening your balance.
  • Use a stress ball to strengthen your hand grip and dexterity.
  • Reintroduce yourself to daily tasks you used to enjoy but no longer do (even if it’s dusting knicknacks).

Physical – move your body

  • Invite a good friend into your activity routine to enhance accountability.
  • Set a walking steps goal or chair exercise goal and meet it daily.
  • Ask for an extra serving of vegetables in place of dessert a few times a week.

Putting it all together

If all this seems overwhelming and you’ve had enough acronyms in your life, we just have one more for you: K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Silly.

That’s right, if you stick to one aspect of S.M.A.R.T. goals for seniors — Simple, Maintainable, Age-appropriate, Realistic and Tailored — just keep it simple.

After all, life can be far too complicated at times, and you probably don’t need a New Year’s resolution to keep that top of mind.

May you be blessed with the best health and happiness in 2022 and beyond!

 at Eventide

Perhaps simplifying your life is on your list of goals for the year. Whether you’re looking to downsize to a smaller home or upgrade your amenities, Eventide has living options tailored to meet the needs of seniors looking to age well.

With nearly seven decades of service experience, Eventide is one of the Midwest’s most trusted premier care partners, providing collaborative and innovative solutions. As lifestyle expectations have evolved over the years, so has our approach to senior care.

Visit us online at www.eventide.org or call 218-217-4916 for a tour.

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