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1 Concordia Drive Bella Vista, AR 72715 479-855-3714 concordiaretirement.com Retirement Living at its Best! The largest independent and assisted living community in northwest Arkansas, Concordia offers townhomes and apartments on 26 acres of rolling hillside. Experience retirement living as it's meant to be. Senior Health Fair The Weekly Vista Wednesday, September 13, 2017 F 11C PAID CONTENT e benefits of staying social As human beings, most of us are programmed to be social. That doesn't change as we age, either. That's why, for seniors, staying social is crucial to good health. Feeling isolated and alone is not only unpleasant; it's bad for your health. Research has shown that older adults who are isolated are more likely to suf - fer higher blood pressure and are more susceptible to colds and the flu. A few of the most common negative behaviors that can result from isola - tion include: • Poor nutrition • Smoking or drinking too much • Skipping meals • Abuse of medication • Forgetting to take medication • Alcohol dependency It turns out that social contact with other human beings actually creates a physiological response. When we mingle with others, even casually, our brains send neural messages to the body to reduce the production of stress hormones. These reactions happen during social interactions because the brain senses an improvement in your envi - ronment. Seen in this light, seniors who stay social are warding off the negative physical side effects of loneliness and isolation. Consider it preventative medicine. For seniors, it isn't always easy to maintain an active social life. Transportation issues, living far away from friends and mobility chal - lenges can complicate getting out and about. With the services and amenities included at Concordia Retirement Community, we make these daily chal - lenges easy! This fall at our Concordia communi- ty, there are many exciting events and activities that encourage our residents to be social and active. If you'd like to know more about life at Concordia, please contact us at any time to sched- ule a visit or tour. Photo submitted The nature of Concordia Retirement Community encourages group settings as a way to maintain social connections.