As families gather together around the holidays, many adult children and their aging parents will start discussing whether its best to continue to age at home or move to a senior living community.

When you ask most seniors currently living in their family homes where they want to live, theyll tell you that they want to stay right where they are.

But thats not the right question. To get the full picture, you need to ask How do you want to live?

Most people will tell you that they want to be happy and connected to a community of friends and family. They want to be healthy and independent as long as possible.

It is in these areas that senior lifestyle communities can excel. Living at home may seem like the comfortable choice, but it can easily lead to loneliness, depression, boredom and social isolation all of which are huge contributors to mental and physical decline.

According to Kelly Cook Andress, president and founder of SageLife, a Springfield, PA-based company specializing in senior living, When you ask people how do you want to live versus where you want to live, youll see a dramatic difference. In fact, there answers are often in contradiction of each other.

People want to live in their home often because they dont want to move, she added. As a country, we are paralyzed by our stuff. We have a lifetime of stuff that we dont know how to divest ourselves of. When you ask people how they want to live, life in a senior community is much more in line with how people want to live.

SageLifes communities are dedicated to empowering seniors to age successfully and remain fully engaged. Its MOSAIC lifestyle programming encourages residents to pursue interests and discover exciting new ones by providingenriching opportunities every day, including a full schedule of lectures and discussions, concerts, classes and games, parties and picnics.

SageLifes MOSAIC lifestyle philosophy is around six fundamental tenets that keep people (not just seniors) healthier and happier: Movement, Outreach, Social, Arts, Intellect and Curiosity.

Movement

Exercise, dance and sports are all offered at Saglife. Human bodies were designed to move and the rewards for an active lifestyle are reflected in body, mind, and spirit.

Outreach

When you give of yourself and your time and talent benefits others, you reap the returns in the form of happiness and sense of purpose.

Social

Being in a community isnt just about enjoying one anothers company. People need one another. Frequent engagement with others promotes emotional and mental health and enhances longevity.

Arts

Humans are hard-wired to crave beauty. The visual and performing arts give us an outlet for creativity. SageLife provides ample opportunity for making or appreciating art.

Intellect

Never stop learning. Staying mentally active is a critical component of active aging. Challenging ourselves with new ideas sharpens the mind.

Curiosity

The freedom to explore may be the most rewarding aspect of retirement being able to follow your inquisitive mind down whichever path it leads.

Other ways in which senior living communities can be superior to living at home include: easy access to healthful and well-rounded meals and no home upkeep or maintenance. SageLifes communities in our region - including Kyffin Grove, Plush Mills, Dayleford Crossing, and Echo Lake - offer state of the art fitness centers, arts studios or makers spaces, 24- hour concierge services and personal care services.

Taking all these benefits into consideration, seniors should start to think about how they wish to spend their golden years and not simply where.

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Senior Life: When Talking to Mom and Dad About Senior Living, Ask the Right Question - The Delaware County Daily Times