VMRC’s Philosophy of Living Well: The Eight Dimensions of Wellness
“In the heart of a vibrant community, a philosophy of living well unfolds.”
Enhancing the lives of VMRC’s residents is the focus of our Wellness and Enrichment team. Borrowing from the eight dimensions of wellness, we are able to create programs and events that target our residents’ holistic well-being. Many of our programs are cross-disciplinary, focusing on multiple areas of wellness at once, but above all we strive to make sure that each and every one of our residents’ overall experience at VMRC is as vibrant and interesting as they are, allowing them to pursue what interests them and cultivate what brings them joy. Below, we will take a look at how VMRC accomplishes all eight of these dimensions every single day.
Physical Wellness: VMRC’s on-campus fitness facility, the Wellness Center, is equipped with state-of-the-art Keiser resistance training machines, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, free weights, cardio equipment, and a hot tub. Any wellness center member has full access to these amenities, in addition to the various land and water group fitness classes offered each week. Each class is taught in a non-judgmental environment where residents are encouraged to complete the exercises to the best of their ability, and instructors are happy to recommend modifications to include all levels of ability. Classes get the heart rate up, stretches out the body, and improve our members’ strength and endurance.
Environmental Wellness: Thanks to our neighbor Eastern Mennonite University, VMRC residents have access to Park Woods, a 10-acre forest filled with many wheelchair-accessible walking paths, vibrant blue jays and robins, and even a couple of 200-year-old oak trees. The trails allow our residents to reconnect with nature in a convenient and safe environment.
Social Wellness: At VMRC, we prioritize events that are on campus that bring people together, allowing them to build new connections and maintain existing ones. Our monthly newsletter, the Junction, highlights workshops, concerts, club meetings, contests, jam sessions, movie nights, and more that our residents are encouraged to participate in.
Intellectual Wellness: Due to our close relationship with many of the academic institutions in Rockingham County, we are able to stimulate our residents intellects through intergenerational book clubs that allow residents to learn alongside EMU college students, providing an avenue for connection and understanding for everyone. VMRC also hosts a variety of educational talks held on campus and trips to both JMU and EMU campuses for special events.
Occupational Wellness: Volunteering remains a pillar of VMRC culture. We are so happy to extend our opportunities to our residents. Volunteering allows residents to employ their talents and build relationships with the entire VMRC body: fellow residents, staff, and other volunteers. It’s overall a great way to give back to the community and discover new meaning in the everyday, exemplifying occupational wellness.
Spiritual Wellness: We at VMRC are so lucky to have two on-campus chaplains serving the independent and assisted living communities here. Every Sunday, residents who so please may join us in the Strite Auditorium for Sunday Worship. We also support weekly Bible studies and monthly Vespers, allowing residents to come together and worship as one.
Financial Wellness: At VMRC, we proudly provide access to the institutions and approaches that enable sound money management through our Foundation and our community financial partners Everence and ParkView Credit Union.
Emotional Wellness: At the heart of everything we do is emotional wellness. We strive to create an environment for our residents that is welcoming to all walks of life, giving everyone who walks through our doors the opportunity to explore, grow, change, love, laugh, and have fun. It’s why at VMRC we have made the choice to live fully, whatever life throws at us.
