Everyone has a different definition of happiness. Some of us love to be at the beach, while others prefer to be in the mountains. Some people like a wide variety of friends, while others prefer a small, close-knit group of friends. However, when it comes to making the most of this next phase of life, a few things appear to be critical to everyone's satisfaction. Here are several elements to living a fulfilled life in a senior living community.
2022 is officially here, and with a new year comes setting new resolutions and new goals to strive towards in the coming year. For seniors, particularly, embracing a new year can be a challenge, especially if you're settled in your ways and aren't that receptive to change ordinarily. If that's you, we're happy to share these great tips on how to be your healthiest and happiest in 2022.
As we get older, many things can happen to us. For some, it's arthritis, and for others… like me… it is from a serious horse riding fall. When that happens, it can feel like we are doomed to stay at home for the rest of our lives; venturing out only when necessary.
Fortunately, things have changed a lot since I was a youngster. Now we have electric carts in many places. Some are free to use and others, such as those at theme parks, have to be rented. This can mean the difference between watching your grandchild's first roller coaster ride and just sitting at home hoping for pictures.
Here are a few of the things that we can do with our wheelchairs that weren't always available in the past:
Retirement is a time in life when people can finally enjoy all the fruits of their labor. It's a time for relaxation, comfort, and leisure. After spending decades in the professional field, you are now living a content life in retirement at home. You might be getting a pension, but it will not be as much as the salary you were drawing from your job. So you have to try and cut costs when you are retired. How can you make or save your money to cover living expenses during retirement? Well, we have got some practical tips for you.
Unfortunately, elder abuse is a pervasive problem in this day and age. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that 1 in 6 older people experience some form of abuse. Unfortunately, a lot of abuse goes unreported, so we don't really know the full extent of the problem. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the signs to watch out for to be able to recognize if someone you care about has been abused or neglected (and how you can help).
Retirement often has the effect of separating us from the community we know or that we have spent a lifetime building. The community we once had may no longer be in our lives, for whatever reason. And, as we age, many people experience a lessening desire to get out and meet people. If this is something you've experienced, you're not alone. You're also not alone in the feelings of loneliness and the awkward feeling that comes along with the realization that you need to find some friends. This can be a difficult proposition for some.
With that said, retirement can also be a time when we finally begin to take on new roles that our careers and families previously pushed to the backburner. There are some really fun and easy ways to find community at any age. For many, retirement presents an opportunity to spend time how you have always wanted. If you're looking to make new friends and find new communities now that you are retired, consider the following ideas!
Are naps a good thing? If so, what are the benefits? Leonardo da Vinci was a renowned artist, inventor, and observer of the natural world. He was also a man with incredibly odd sleeping habits. Purportedly, da Vinci never slept for more than twenty minutes at a time every four hours.
Over the years, many experts have recommended such a sleep schedule, but the question is something like this healthy? Beyond this, are there any health benefits to taking an afternoon nap? What might be some of the downsides to taking naps? This article will provide some answers to these questions and hopes to shed some light on this dilemma.
Slip, trip, and fall hazards are things to think of at all ages. With small children, we spend lots of time 'baby-proofing the house and making sure that floors are picked up. So why don't we spend the same kind of time managing and maintaining our adult spaces?
Much of this is because we become 'experts' at designing our spaces in such a way that we don't have a lot of hazards to avoid. We know where things are. The problem with this mentality is that we really don't. As adults, we're tough enough that bumping into things a little bit, stubbing our toes, or any number of smaller bruises collected throughout the day are no big deal. However, for small children, these things can be potentially lethal, not to mention injury-prone.
The harsh reality is that we all make mistakes and have accidents. The older we get, those accidents can be increasingly more hazardous. A simple bump on the shin in your 20s may leave a bruise, but as we get on in years, those bruises become more colorful and can turn into more painful injuries. Getting rid of the coffee table and buying more plush sofas is an easy way to address this issue in the living room. Other indoor spaces can be kept free of slip, trip, or fall hazards more easily than something like your outdoor space.
Taking time out in nature is a wonderful way to relax and reconnect with the things we love. Therefore, a comfortable and safe outdoor space is a must. Unfortunately, our outdoor spaces are the hardest to manage due to the exposure to the elements and the propensity for things to move around outside. Maybe you had the family over for a barbecue, or you were entertaining friends and enjoying a cool evening. Either way, the patio furniture is often not exactly where you remember it. As fall comes, so too do leaves begin coating your deck. For these reasons, we've put together a few reminders on what to look out for to help avoid these extra dangers.
Obesity in the U.S. is an increasingly prevalent problem. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicated 42.4% of the population were considered obese during 2017-2018. This compares to 30.5% in 1999-2000. As a result, Americans are increasingly obsessed with finding ways to shed pounds.
My own battle of the bulge started early. Our family moved from Texas to Minnesota in February when I was 8. Before then, my siblings and I were active outside much of the year. However, upon moving to Minnesota in the depths of winter, we huddled around the TV eating Oreos.
My first realization of being overweight was when my clothing size began to include the word "husky," and one of my school friends nicknamed me "Tubby." It was the start of a lifetime weight control journey.
Over the years, I tried several diet plans. I was an early adherent of the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet. I remember feeling it was a bit leary about testing my urine to see if I was in the fat-burning ketosis state. I also tried fasting and grapefruit-centered diet, among others. Alas, my experience was typical. Any weight that came off eventually came back on.
In my 20's, I joined the running craze and eventually completed five marathons over the next two decades. Yet, despite the higher exercise level, I was still weighing in 20 to 30 pounds over the "ideal" weight for my age and height.
However, through trial and error over the years, I discovered some helpful techniques and ideas that have helped me lose and maintain a good weight. While I'm not perfect at following these guidelines, I've been reasonably successful in keeping the pounds off when I stick to them.
Anyone who has been in a 'relationship' with another person has experienced an effect known as the honeymoon phase. The honeymoon phase is often referred to in terms of romantic relationships, but it applies to all relationships. However, for the purpose of this article, I'll keep it in the realm of the romantic.
Most people would agree that there is nothing like falling in love. The first time you saw him/her. Your first date. Your first kiss. Your first fight and the subsequent make-up after that. These milestones are exciting and can often be quite turbulent. Question marks keep the spark alive. Does he love me? Will she like these? Should I, or shouldn't I? These questions and many more rarely garner any answers without time invested into the relationship. The trouble is when all your questions seem to be answered, where then does the relationship go?
In every relationship, there is a cooling period. For many, it happens once you've gotten married, moved in together, or had children. But, problems with the house, the dog, the kids help to keep relationships interesting. When all the distractions are gone, it's just you and your partner you've been with for 30, maybe even 40+ years, and all the kids have moved on, how do you keep the love alive? The following list will attempt to provide inspiration to make your time together more enjoyable, more meaningful, and keep the spark alive.