Taking a dip in the beautiful outdoor pool at Moorings Park Grande Lake is one way residents enjoy life in the heart of the Southwest Florida “blue zone.”
Can where you live help you live longer?
About a decade ago, researchers Dr. Gianni Pes, Dr. Michel Poulain, and Dan Buettner discovered regions scattered around the globe where people live unusually long and healthy lives. They found these areas in places as diverse as Italy, Costa Rica, California, and Greece. Intrigued, they dubbed these areas “blue zones” and along with others explored the combination of factors like diet and lifestyle that contributed to such positive outcomes.
Painting Southwest Florida Blue
The idea turns out to not be particularly exotic for Naples residents. The Blue Zone Project, an organization Dan founded to promote the concept, declared Southwest Florida itself to be a blue zone just last year.
Nestled in the heart of this blue zone are three communities which strive to be the “bluest of the blue”: Moorings Park, Moorings Park at Grey Oaks, and Moorings Park Grande Lake.
“The concept of ‘aging successfully’ — and using science to help people enjoy the happiest and healthiest retirement they can — has always been at the very heart of the vision for Moorings Park Communities,” says Celeste Lynch, Executive Director of Moorings Park at Grey Oaks. “It underlies nearly everything we do, from our design decisions to the programs we offer to make it easy for our residents to stay informed and active.”
An Acclaimed Lifestyle
Moorings Park Communities’ successful efforts have drawn acclaim. The Blue Zone Project certified the Moorings Park flagship campus as a blue zone. And all three campuses routinely win Beacon Awards from the International Council on Active Aging and NuStep for being among the top campuses in the country in fostering wellness and promoting active aging.
“Much of what makes our communities so popular are things you can see right away, like our beautiful views, spacious residences, state-of-the-art fitness centers and elegantly-designed common areas,” Celeste says. “But there is so much more to our communities than you can take in with a single visit.
“For example, we just recently hosted a symposium of leading surgeons and professors from Johns Hopkins who are at the forefront of the science of aging,” she points out. “They shared their insights with an audience of eager residents. They explained things like what tests you do and don’t need, how to make the best medical decisions, and how to stay in the best shape possible. It was great to hear their behind-the-scenes perspectives on the challenges of keeping people well.”
The partnership with the esteemed Baltimore institution includes a Johns Hopkins/Moorings Park Geriatric Fellowship that provides a unique on-site resource for residents.
The Importance Of Fun
“We’ve known for a while now how important it is stay active both physically and socially to age successfully,” Celeste says. “We provide resources that help our residents have fun doing just that, whether they’re long-time fitness enthusiasts or relative newcomers to the game who want to improve their well-being.
“And I think it’s important to point out how much our residents themselves make our communities special,” she continues. “We often hear from residents that our communities are warmer and more welcoming than other places they’ve experienced, and I think that’s a real testament to the kind of atmosphere we work hard to promote!”
Crème De La Crème
“It doesn’t surprise me that Naples and the rest of Southwest Florida have been recognized as being a ‘blue zone,’” says Tom Mann, Vice President and Senior Living Expert for Moorings Park Communities. “The stress-free outdoor living really bolsters your spirits.
“I like to think Moorings Park Communities represent the peak of the blue zone approach. Our residents enjoy busy, active lives, and luxurious residences,” he explains. “They can stroll over to a neighboring golf course in the morning, come back and enjoy an afternoon poolside chatting with friends, and take in a riveting live musical performance in the evening.
“We support them with a complete spectrum of health care services ready to help them if they need it,” he continues. “We provide superb concierge physician services, fitness classes, and personal training. The highly personalized Care 360 healthcare program is included in the monthly service package.
“I’ve been reading Outlive by Dr. Peter Attia, which just made the New York Times best-seller list, and much of what he is recommending our concierge doctors and wellness team have been preaching for years,” he notes. “Our team draws on the latest scientific research to provide our residents with actionable advice on diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and other lifestyle factors that can help them live longer and healthier lives.
“Our residents also have the added comfort of knowing that should it ever be necessary, the very best assisted living and memory care is available to them at no additional cost,” he adds.
You’re Invited: Appetizers And Information
Tom continues, “I’ll be giving a talk about this extraordinary lifestyle on Thursday, June 1st, at 2:30 p.m. at our flagship campus, Moorings Park. I’ll be happy to answer questions about all three of our beautiful campuses, and attendees will be able to sample some of our chef’s creative culinary delights.”
Unable to join us? Interested boomers and seniors may also want to learn more by enjoying a webinar on Friday, June 2nd at 10:30 a.m.
To register for either of these educational events, please visit MooringsPark.org/Events, or call 239-232-3903.
