If you've been looking for ways to strengthen your faith, incorporating a weekly Sabbath rest could be a good option. Sabbath practices focus on a day of worship and rest to renew your body, mind and spirit, so they offer other benefits beyond growing closer to God. If you've been considering assisted living, making the move could support your Sabbath practice by freeing up your time, offering worship options and connecting you with other seniors of faith.
A day of rest supports your mental and physical health, strengthens your faith and connects you to others. Consider the following benefits of integrating a Sabbath practice as a senior.
Worship is a key part of the Sabbath, so observing this practice can strengthen your faith. It may also help you find your way back to God if you've wandered. Being strong in your faith can help you face challenging situations unique to retirement years, like being on a fixed income and potentially facing health conditions.
The act of resting and worshiping gives your body a physical break. Relaxing, positive rest days could help lower your blood pressure and support your immune system. They also give your joints and muscles a day of rest, which could reduce strain.
By focusing on worship and the word of God, you may receive positive messages and get a break from the stress of daily life. Reading the Bible and sitting in prayer may help you find answers to the problems you've been facing or feel peace in those struggles.
If you participate in Sabbath worship with others, you increase your social connections with those who have similar beliefs. Loneliness can affect seniors more than other age groups, so finding that sense of community and sharing your faith with others on the Sabbath can help you feel more connected.
Choosing an assisted living community as your home can make taking a weekly Sabbath rest easier. Here are some reasons for that.
When you own a home, you might frequently have maintenance tasks to handle. It's not always easy to take a whole day of rest. As an assisted living resident, you enjoy a maintenance-free life, which frees up a lot of time. Your meals are taken care of, and even cleaning is often included.
Everyone chooses to worship in their own way. If you want to worship privately, you can easily do that within your assisted living apartment. Staying in for the day allows you to focus on specific areas of your faith. You might choose to be a prayer warrior from your assisted living apartment, for example.
While the Sabbath is a day of rest, you can still engage in relaxing activities that help restore your mental and physical well-being or connect you with others. Assisted living communities offer varied activity calendars, allowing you to choose options that fit into your definition of a suitable Sabbath day option. Or simply walk around the grounds and appreciate the beauty of nature all around you.
Worship services are often an option on Sundays in senior living communities. Some campuses have chapels available where you can worship when you want. Faith-based communities often schedule worship activities throughout the week. Some communities also offer transportation options if you prefer a local church service.
Living in a community with other seniors makes it easier to find like-minded people. This is especially helpful if you choose a faith-based assisted living community, like the assisted living communities under the Bethesda Senior Living umbrella. You might enjoy your day of rest together or start a prayer or Bible study group to support your Sabbath day.
