Greta does water aerobics on Thursday afternoons. Celeste meets her friends for nature walks most mornings. Ernie prefers guided yoga at home. Everyone’s exercise routine looks a little different because everyone has different goals, preferences, and starting points. Most experts recommend 2.5-5 hours of dedicated exercise each week for seniors, but few experts are picky about how you go about it. If you exercise half an hour a day, you’ll be well on your way to building a healthy and active lifestyle, no matter what activities you choose. Remember, anything that gets you moving counts as exercise. You can get your steps in doing housework or yard chores!

Tags: Senior Health, Senior Living 101, Retirement Tips

“This isn’t anything like I thought it would be.” If we had a dollar for every time we heard someone says that to us after moving in.  We’re all susceptible to negative stereotypes about unfamiliar things. Many people expect all sorts of unpleasantries when considering a senior living community, and are shocked to find a home that adds value to their daily life.

Tags: Senior Living 101, Retirement Tips

Pamela knew it was time to retire. Where she once joyfully juggled mothering three young children and a bustling teaching career, she now came home to an empty home and felt overwhelmed by the chaos of her classroom. Many older adults increasingly report loneliness, mental stress, and depression. As circumstances and seasons change, it is normal to feel disoriented. Retirement and old age bring a new string of challenges and losses. We all know how much humans typically like change. Making choices to support your mental health may look different in your senior years than it ever has before. Permitting yourself to take good care of your mental health and arming yourself with knowledge are great first steps to staying well.

Tags: Senior Health, Senior Living 101, Retirement Tips

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks healthy tissue.  The average age of onset of rheumatoid arthritis is about 50 years old, so many older adults find themselves challenged by new pain and mobility limits as the years stack up. Aging bodies present different challenges than their younger counterparts. From changes in hearing and vision to new joint aches, many older adults are interested in natural ways to combat natural changes before seeking medical treatment.

Tags: Senior Health, Senior Living 101, Retirement Tips

Have you always wanted to learn Spanish? Take a pottery class? Archery, anyone? There is never an expiration date on opportunities to learn something new. In fact, you likely have a little extra time in the day after retirement. Why not fill your time with engaging and enriching learning opportunities?

Tags: Things To Do, Senior Living 101, Retirement Tips

Memory loss occurs in all aging adults to varying degrees. You aren't the only one who can't find your wallet or remember your new neighbor's name. These forgetful moments can be alarming for anyone on the lookout for memory lapses. Luckily, research has demonstrated that education, support, and simple tools, like memory notebooks, produce protective effects against cognitive decline for those on the memory loss continuum.

Tags: Senior Health

You aren’t the only one who wonders if your nose is growing or your ears are getting bigger. (They aren’t. The difference is real, but it’s actually due to deteriorating cartilage and cruel gravity.) Aging bodies present new challenges and questions for everyone, and we don’t do ourselves any favors by ignoring them. These changes come for all of us, and you’re likely in good company, no matter what you’re experiencing.

Tags: Things To Do, Senior Living 101

Have you tried goat yoga? What about Bikram? Yoga is more popular than ever before, leading to a broad offering of styles and intensities. Yoga doesn’t have to be an intense and exclusive club. More seniors are turning to yoga each year. The number of seniors who report yoga as part of their daily routine has been steadily increasing for decades but has blossomed into increasing popularity, according to the 2016 Yoga in America Study.

Tags: Senior Health, Senior Living 101

Whether you’re focusing on your health in the new year or addressing specific health concerns, it’s always a good time to add healthy habits! If you’re looking to add vitamins to your daily routine, you’ll quickly notice that there are enough options to fill an entire pharmacy aisle. Luckily, that means that you are able to find just the right product for you! Everyone’s vitamin needs depend on their age, gender, and other individual factors, which means it is important to discuss any supplements you are considering with your doctor.

Tags: Senior Health, Senior Living 101

You've done it! You have committed to a new, smaller place and you're ready to start moving your things. For many people who have recently retired and decided to downsize, the most daunting thing about moving into a retirement community is sorting through the physical stuff. Deciding what goes with you will depend on where you're going, but everyone who downsizes is challenged to sort through and part with the items they will no longer need.

Tags: Making the Move, Retirement Tips