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You’ll find endless articles, books, videos and blogs devoted to the art of living with less—not just in terms of material goods, but in treasuring only the people, the pursuits, and the parts of our lives that bring us happiness and freedom to live the way we want to live. But there is also another way to discover a simplified life: it comes in the form of a retirement residence, where simplicity—and freedom—are built right in.
Maintaining, expanding, or deepening social connections in your daily life can help to prevent or ease depression and anxiety, protect your heart, and strengthen your immune system. Studies show that strong social ties and support also boost brain health and may reduce the risk of dementia, lower the risk of physical disability, and are associated with greater longevity.
Retirement living is an option that addresses all of those concerns. There is a home-like environment that is safe, provides meals and housekeeping, as well as the opportunity to socialize and have friends right where you live. Easy socialization is one of the best aspects of retirement living. No one should spend their later years isolated and lonely.
It’s a common question: why would I consider retirement living unless I need nursing support or 24-hour care? While personal support is conveniently available in retirement residences, and can be customized to your specific needs—including a spectrum of light services, such as medication management, to the more substantial, like assistance with your daily routine, an escort to meals and activities, and other assisted living services—senior living communities are also designed for active, independent older adults.
Health and Wellness
Osteoporosis affects two million Canadians and 4 out of 5 injury hospitalizations among seniors are due to falls. Improving balance through tai chi and dancing, doing regular weight-bearing and resistance exercises, and getting enough calcium, vitamin D and protein through diet and supplements can strengthen bones and help prevent falls. Checking vision and hearing regularly, wearing sensible footwear, and using appropriate mobility aids can also reduce the risk of falls.
It’s time to say a fond farewell to sipping gin and tonics on the patio and move into fall’s warm and spicy libations. Think apple cider cocktails with bourbon or an espresso martini. Pair them with prepared snacks or hors d’oeuvres, invite friends from your senior living community or neighbourhood, and you have an instant fun and easy get-together. Check out what’s popular in drink trends for the fall:
Lower back pain becomes more prevalent with aging and professional medical guidelines recommend nondrug treatments as the most effective first line of treatment. You can help prevent back pain by practicing back-healthy habits, along with daily stretching and core strengthening exercises. Studies show yoga, tai chi, physical therapy, massage, and appropriate use of cold and heat therapies may ease lower back pain, speed recovery, and improve quality life.
Feeling gratitude and expressing appreciation have a positive impact on your physical and mental health because these emotions and attitudes lower stress, foster strong social connections, and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Studies show thankfulness strengthens and heals the heart, increases empathy, and eases depression. A grateful disposition also bolsters immunity, improves sleep, and promotes healthy habits.
Many factors contribute to healthy aging, including staying physically, mentally, and socially active, and nutritious eating. Retirement communities support healthy aging by offering residents opportunities to connect socially with peers, engage in mentally stimulating activities, and do physical activities that build or maintain endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Participation in the arts and volunteering also enhances and enriches the health and well-being of residents in their daily lives.
Regular physical activity helps to prevent chronic disease and promote brain health in older adults in multiple ways. Studies show that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise boosts episodic and short-memory, lifts mood, sharpens thinking, and improves decision-making. Engaging in various kinds of physical activity, including yoga and tai chi, also helps to ease stress and anxiety, increase deep sleep and sleep duration, and relieve chronic pain.
People who feel and see themselves as younger than their chronological age tend to experience better health and longevity. A positive view of aging bolsters brain and heart health, builds psychological resilience and preserves hearing. A youthful outlook is also associated with lower depression and hospitalization risks, fewer aches and pains, and less frailty.
Older adults who do volunteer work to help others, such as mentoring children in need, aiding refugees or addressing climate change enjoy better health and find meaning and purpose in daily life. Doing good through formal or informal volunteering lifts mood, protects the heart, preserves memory, and reduces dementia risk. Volunteering also helps to ease stress, anxiety, and chronic pain, reduce disability risk, and add years to life.
You’re never too old to become a plant parent – no green thumb required, and the health and happiness benefits are many and varied. Check out these plants with purpose, each one offering a specific benefit while also being easy to grow and maintain.
If you‘ve fallen into believing your individual efforts to go green won’t make a difference, think about your grand- and great-grandchildren, and the kind of world they will inherit. Also consider that there are over seven million people over 65 in Canada today*; if every senior were to implement even one of the following eco-friendly suggestions, think of the difference it would make!
Summer is the perfect time to bring nutrient-rich elements of a healthy, Mediterranean-style diet into your daily eating patterns. Consume colourful vegetables and fruits for their many phytonutrients, eat a variety of healthy protein foods, and grill fish for essential fatty acids. Season foods with herbs and spices, and dress salads with olive oil to add flavour and boost heart health, while enjoying chilled soups to keep cool and hydrate.
Health Canada advises older adults get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity each week, in sessions of at least 10 minutes at a time. They also recommend adding bone and muscle-strengthening exercise twice a week,* especially useful for balance and preventing falls.