The sociability of seniors who reside in assisted living communities may be impacted by certain aspects of community design. Researchers from The Gerontology Institute examined the relationships formed by elders in several different communities. They identified different community characteristics that influenced how socially engaged the residents were. These characteristics included things like: the number and variety of structured social activities offered each day, how involved the staff was in encouraging residents to mingle with one another, and whether the physical layout of the community was designed in such a way as to promote spontaneous resident interaction. Scientific evidence consistently points to the positive impact of social interaction on the physical and mental health of seniors. Discover how you can help a loved one become more engaged in the social life of their senior living community.