With the New Year still fresh in everyone’s minds, health and wellness are common topics of conversation. Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is essential to happiness and longevity, so it’s easy to see why so many New Year’s resolutions are centered around physical fitness. 

Consistently following a fitness plan can be extremely difficult, however. That’s why the fitness challenge developed by our onsite Wellness Director, Shawn Reece, has been so integral to our residents’ success. 

The challenge begins with an effective step-by-step guide for realizing fitness goals, customized to fit each resident’s current physical condition and needs.

Many southeastern life plan communities also have teams of residents participating in the fitness challenge, which utilizes a healthy spirit of competition and camaraderie to help people stay motivated. It culminates in an end-of-year celebration, where winners earn recognition, bragging rights and an array of prizes, such as iPads and gift cards.

The fitness challenge is an integral part of helping our residents fulfill the Social aspect of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. It gives residents a sense of connection and belonging, as well the chance to develop a community-support system.

The Eight Dimensions of Wellness are about more than having six-pack abs or training for a marathon. Rather, they are designed to help people find happiness by striking a healthy balance in vital aspects of their lives. 
The remaining dimensions of wellness are:

• Emotional – coping effectively with challenges and maintaining beneficial relationships
• Environmental –creating a pleasant and stimulating home environment
• Financial – being satisfied with financial obligations
• Intellectual – supporting creative outlets, identifying new areas of interest and finding opportunities for lifelong learning
• Occupational – obtaining fulfillment from work
• Physical – focusing on physical activity, sleep and a healthy diet
• Spiritual – finding a sense of purpose and meaning in life

Supporting each dimension can be challenging. Anyone with the requisite funds can build a shiny new fitness center and fill it with exercise equipment but maintaining a wellness plan takes real commitment. 

As a nonprofit, we ensure funding is always there and money is reinvested into maintaining and enhancing our amenities and services. This allows us to have an onsite wellness director, musical and theater performances, patio bar socials, holiday parties, a library, a woodworking shop, a garden and a fitness center, along with the funding and financial solvency that provides residents with peace of mind. 

Some recent highlights from our Eight Dimensions of Wellness include the WILMA Dash and the Over the Edge event from Wrightsville Beach.  Plantation Village was proud to sponsor Over the Edge, in which participants rappelled down the eight-story Blockade Runner hotel in support of DREAMS of Wilmington, a charity that provides underprivileged children with complimentary art classes.  This year’s event raised over $63,000 —definitely something to be proud of!

In May 2016, Plantation Village sponsored the WILMA Dash to benefit the Pretty in Pink Foundation, focused on assisting women with their breast cancer journeys.  The event is tremendously popular. It’s the only all-female 5K in Wilmington, and includes an after party and women’s health fair - featuring food, drinks, music, health screenings and fitness assessments.

For more information about how we support the wellness of our residents and the local community, give me a call at (910) 821-8036. 
You are also welcome to simply stop by or visit us on the web at www.PlantationVillageRC.com.

Lisa Polanski is the director of marketing at Plantation Village. Plantation Village is a non-profit continuing care retirement community that offers independent living on a 56-acre campus in Porters Neck, just minutes from downtown Wilmington and area beaches. Residents enjoy first-class services in a wide variety of home styles, from one- and two-bedroom apartments to cottage homes and two-bedroom villas. Plantation Village is managed by Life Care Services™, the nation’s third-largest elder care management company.