May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Our Lake in the Hills senior retirement community focuses on creating a Life in Harmony™ to support our residents' mental health through the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. In addition, our medical experts have created a Senior Living Mental Health Checklist below to ensure you and  your senior loved one has a healthy mind.
 
Depression
Medical experts say depression and anxiety are not a normal part of aging. However, if you or your senior loved one are experiencing consistent feelings of sadness or nervousness, you should see a medical professional. Our senior living community offers residents a variety of ways to keep their minds healthy. First of all, the support of a community provides social wellness and can be the first line of defense against depression and anxiety. We love to see our residents talking, bonding, and helping one another. Exercise is also a proven way to fight off feelings of depression and anxiety. Our Lake in the Hills senior living community has a state-of-the-art fitness center, group exercise classes, and walking groups to encourage physical wellness. 

​It always feels good to find a piece of a puzzle! Melody Living Lake in the Hills’ memory care community members gather to do puzzles together every Friday afternoon. The activity supports our focus on the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. Here are four reasons why puzzles are great for your senior loved one living with dementia.
 
Calm & Comfort
Puzzles take patience. Putting together a puzzle is calming and has a therapeutic effect on the brain. Puzzles allow seniors living with dementia the ability to focus and, in turn, experience the feeling of contentment. Puzzles are an excellent way for our memory care residents to achieve intellectual and emotional wellness. 

​We love our Moms! There is nothing better than spoiling the woman who loved and cared for you as a child and became your best friend as an adult. The experts at our Lake in the Hills senior living community have compiled a list of the top four Senior Mother’s Day gifts based on our Eight Dimensions of Wellness (emotional, physical, environmental, social, occupational, intellectual, spiritual, and financial).
 
A Day at the Spa
Pamper Mom at our on-site salon and spa! Melody Living Lake in the Hills’ beauty shop offers hair and nail services that will make Mom feel oh-so refreshed! The space is designed to provide wellness through self-care. You can surprise her with hair or nail services. Give us a call today at 847.957.7070 to make arrangements.

​​Say, “Hello” to Melody Living Lake in the Hills’ senior living resident, Geri Brzisinski. She is such a wonderful ambassador for our community because she never misses a BINGO session!
 
Originally from Arkansas, Brzisinski was married for 60 years. She is a proud mother and grandmother to a son, daughter, two granddaughters, and a grandson. Her greatest accomplishment in life is raising her family. She especially loves spending time with her family at Christmas.
 
Brzisinski is good with numbers (probably why she never misses BINGO!). Her professional life was spent at a bank and then in the accounts payable department for Township School District 211. She believes her special talent is helping others.

​Not all senior living communities are designed equally. While some focus on getting the maximum number of units possible in their design, Melody Living’s Lake in the Hills focuses on creating a Life in Harmony™ through thoughtful design. When creating the community, the focus was on intentional design elements that encourage the Eight Dimensions of Wellness (emotional, physical, environmental, social, occupational, intellectual, spiritual, and financial).