Why are the 8 Dimensions of Wellness Important for Seniors?

Oct 26, 2020 by Danielle Andersen



Take a moment to think about everything you do in a single day. Consider your passions, hobbies and how you like to spend your free time. Perhaps you are passionate about baking or love to spend your free time chasing your grandkids around the park. No matter how you choose to spend your time, all your activities tie into your well-being.

Wellness is important for every stage of life, but it becomes increasingly important as you age. From your physical health to your spiritual well-being, your personal wellness can help protect you from diseases, obesity, depression and other ailments. When you’re feeling healthy and well, you’ll be able to do live the lifestyle you want for longer.

The 8 Dimensions of Wellness

According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, wellness encompasses 8 dimensions that all require an equal amount of attention in order to achieve a true state of well-being.

As you age, it’s necessary that your day-to-day routine include the following 8 dimensions of wellness:

1. Physical. The physical dimension of wellness is probably the one you’re most familiar with, as it’s focused on caring for your body and staying healthy. In order to maintain your physical wellness, you can incorporate exercises like daily walks and fitness classes. To maintain your physical wellness, you should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week.


2. Intellectual. This dimension focuses on your ability to grow intellectually and continue to learn throughout the course of your life. It encourages you to expand your knowledge and share it with others. To feed your intellectual wellness, perhaps you enroll yourself in a painting class or take a course online to master a new skill or explore a passion.


3. Emotional. Emotional wellness includes understanding and accepting your feelings and the feelings of others. it’s crucial that you become comfortable with yourself and your feelings about life in order to achieve a sense of well-being. If you’re looking to improve your emotional wellness, maybe practice yoga or meditation on a regular basis or dive into a new hobby that helps you feel fulfilled.


4. Social. This dimension is all about your social relationships and enjoying your time spent with others. Developing strong relationships and friendships, caring about others and contributing to your community are all essential steps to obtaining a good level of social wellness. To keep your social activity up, schedule a weekly call with friends and family or seek out a new club or organization to join.


5. Spiritual. With this dimension, the focus is on finding purpose, value and meaning for your personal life. Whether you practice organized religion or not, it’s important to participate in activities that are consistent with your unique beliefs and values.


6. Vocational. No matter if you are still working or retired, it’s important to participate in work that provides you with personal satisfaction and enhances your life. You could fulfill this dimension by volunteering in your community or maybe even seeking part-time work for an organization you feel passionate about.


7. Financial. Having control over your personal finances is important at any age, but is especially important as you near and reach retirement. A great way to ensure your finances are in order is to either hire someone or select a trusted family member to help you make informed financial decisions and investments.


8. Environmental. As you continue to live on this earth, it’s important to pay attention to your environmental surroundings and to understand how your behaviors impact the world around you. An easy way to improve your footprint on the environment is to begin recycling and use sustainable, reusable products.

When you make an effort to incorporate the 8 dimensions into your everyday life, you will find a sense of personal harmony that allows you to live your live in the fullest manner possible.

Take Part in Knute Nelson’s Personalized Wellness Programming

At Knute Nelson, we understand how important wellness is to your quality of life – this is why all eight dimensions of wellness are incorporated into every level of care we provide.

For example, home maintenance is taken care of for you in independent living and assisted living, so you can focus on socializing and doing more of what you love; Our wellness programming that includes Wellness Center services, fitness classes and a multitude of activities can help you live a healthier, well-balanced lifestyle; And our hospice services empower life by managing physical pain and providing spiritual care.

To learn more about how our levels of senior care meet the 8 dimensions of wellness, contact us today at 320-759-4613. We would be happy to assist you!