My Mother and her cat moved to Harbison Shores about a month and a half ago. Mother made the decision to move to assisted living herself, and we were very blessed that CarePatrol helped us find Harbison Shores shortly after she made the decision. Mother keeps telling us how content she is to be at Harbison Shores and how safe she feels, and the cat has settled in nicely as well. The staff and leadership team have all been lovely to work with. We have very much appreciated how responsive they all are to our requests and emails, and how ...kind they are to the residents. The wooded setting and outdoor areas are calming and beautiful, and Mother's apartment is perfect. Having Mother at Harbison Shores has lifted many anxieties from all our shoulders!
Show MoreLessLiving With a Purpose Back
In many ways, having a purpose in life directly correlates with one’s overall satisfaction and happiness, better physical functioning, and better sleep! Dr. Patricia Boyle, a neuropsychologist at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago says that having purpose is “a very robust predictor of health and wellness in old age.” The Rush Center also reported that purpose in life, all by itself, appears to have a potent ability to improve and extend lives.
So what does living with a purpose mean? If your strength and mobility is declining as your dependence on others increases, it may seem difficult to understand what your purpose in life may be now. There are many ways you can find purpose in your life by making a contribution to others around you that will help you extend beyond yourself. Here are a few ideas you may want to explore if you are looking for ways to fill your life with purpose:
- Mentoring
- Passing your experiences or memories on to younger people
- Spending more time on activities you enjoy (i.e. a sport or a craft)
- Using your work skills in a new way
- Taking care of grandchildren
- Volunteering in and around your community
- Writing your life history and sharing it with loved ones
Setting small goals to find more meaning in life will motivate you to keep going, and to keep trying. Eleanor Roosevelt once said that, “the purpose of life is to live it, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Often times, a sense of purpose will arise from learning something new, working together with others, making new social connections when others are lost, and accomplishing a new goal. If it is time to redefine your purpose in life, go at your own pace and take time to explore as many options as you need. Finding fulfillment is a process; it comes from deep within and it is long-lasting.