Posts

Why Consider Active Adult Communities

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Sometimes, when people talk about aging, they come up with negative connotations instead of all of the positive ones. Instead of saying living in a senior community frees up one’s time from burdensome chores, people say living in a senior community is synonymous to being too old to be able to do their daily chores. Instead of saying one will get the help they need when they need it, people would say being in a senior home means giving up the independence to do things on their own. If anything, it actually gives you more independence to do more of the things you like. The infrastructure of living in a independent 55+ community affords many benefits under one roof, and sharing it with new friends! It’s similar to the concept of insurance an employer gets for their employees. Continue Reading ...

Outsmarting Scammers and Avoiding Scams

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Scams targeting seniors are popping up left and right, so it’s best to start preparing than be sorry when it happens. Eighty percent of telemarketing scam are found to have targeted those over 65 years old specifically and these fraudsters are getting more sophisticated.  The most common means they conduct their illegal businesses are through phone, email, and even software. Given that seniors who regularly use technology spend most of their time online compared to other age groups, it may be worthwhile reading and learning more about the possible dangers they may encounter online. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may be the best source of information regarding the latest scams. Among the most recent scams reported is a new twist to the Social Security Administration (SSA) scam. Continue Reading ...

Spending the day with Grandkids

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“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them,” that’s what Paulo Coelho says in the Alchemist. These things can be as small as meeting up for coffee with close friends or making the mailman smile when you offer them some homemade jam. But we can all agree that nothing can beat spending time with grandkids. The last few weeks of summer are near so this may be the time to get out and enjoy it with your loved ones. Kids love being outside so going for a hike or taking them to the park will be a great idea. It will be a good time for both of you to appreciate nature and explore the outskirts of your city. If you are in one of the senior apartments in Kansas City, KS, check out Powell Gardens. It’s only 45 minutes away from the downtown area. You can also take a walk at the David T Beals III Woodland & Stream Garden, where you can try to guess various flowering plants in the area. Bottlebrush buckeye and Virginia sweetspire, anyone? Kid...

Technology's Role in Helping Seniors Participate

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Common stereotype says that seniors are very hesitant to use technology, but if you look at the data, it actually is the other way around. Pew Research Center found that almost 60 percent of American seniors regularly go online, and almost half of them says that they even have high-speed internet connection at home. Their northern neighbors also exhibits a similar behaviour with Statistics Canada reporting that Canadian seniors are the fastest growing segment of internet users in their population. However, it is still undeniable that there are challenges associated with the new toys that they have. Among which is a portion of the senior population’s difficulty to physically use technology. Disability and chronic illnesses is not uncommon and that prevents from using the devices to participate in the online world. Furthermore, the lack of confidence and hesitation among seniors never seem to go away. While half of the seniors surveyed says that they experience what young people call...

Be the Perfect Summer BBQ Host

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Summer is on its last legs, but it’s never too late to enjoy grilling in the open. Whether you’re in one of the Retirement communities in Warsaw Town, NY or those in senior apartments in Kansas City, KS, we can all agree that it is a great way to not only get full but also have some company over and socialize. However, one has to be mindful that those hamburgers and bratwursts will not make one’s cholesterol go up. Dietary restrictions and flavor are the top two things that should be considered when choosing what to serve for a BBQ cookout. The best meats to use are those that are easy to chew or tender, such as short pork ribs. Some seniors are wearing dentures or may have weakened jaws that will prevent them from enjoying the food you have. If one of your guests is on a low-sodium diet, reduce the salt on the barbeque marinade. There are a variety of options to choose from your local grocery store nowadays, like the Bernard Low barbeque sauce. Continue Reading ...

Creative Thinking for Senior Housing

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More people are moving towards the senior bracket of 75 years and older, 33.6 million in just around a decade. Less than half will be part of the middle-income group, and as we all know, retiring can be costly making the transition more difficult than it should be. Retiring is mostly associated with living life how you intend it to be, but it’s not always pretty. Retiring also means expensive housing and healthcare among other things. Not everyone is prepared to put out that much, even if they need the support from such facilities. Mobility, physical, cognitive, and even mental services will be required as they age, however, the facilities to provide them those may not even be built yet. Continue Reading ...

Slowing Down Aging and Keeping your Heart Healthy

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Avid Netflix fans will be familiar with Grace and Frankie, two seniors in their 70s who are living their life to the fullest. In their early 70s, both went through divorce and picked themselves up to kickstart not just their romantic lives but also their careers as well. As Grace Hanson, played by Jane Fonda, says it best, “Before when I was young, there was this big oak tree in the backyard, I could shoot up that sucker faster than any boy in the neighborhood, the best part was getting to the tippy top and looking down at the world. When I was up there, I feel like I could do anything. Inside, I still feel like that little girl.” So how can you also imitate the same feisty and youthful attitude that both Grace and Frankie exude? Science explains us both the why and the how. Continue Reading ...

Seniors' Summer Blues

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When school is out, families go out of town too. With families gone on trips and vacations, seniors in care homes may soon find themselves missing their loved ones. It also does not help that some seniors cannot tolerate the heat of the sun so they end up staying indoors more than they wish. Their limited means of transportation also does not help, as they cannot drive anymore nor do they have access to vehicle at their most convenient times so they are limited to go in places they can get to by foot. This may not be a problem for those living in one of the many senior apartments in Des Moines, IA, especially those of a Calamar’s, as theirs is close to amenities, shopping, and dining. What are signs of a senior’s longing for a companion? It commonly starts with subtle hints with one mentioning feeling “lonely” or wishing to see people they haven’t or talk to someone they know well. Caregivers should not dismiss these one-off comments, as they may signal a more serious longing tha...

Preparing For The Summer Heat

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With spring ending in a month or two, temperatures will start going up and everyone will start heading out. Before taking an entire day off to explore and spend your days outside, make sure to know your limits. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two things caregivers and patients need to watch out for as they try to enjoy the summer heat. Compared to other age groups, seniors are hit harder by the heat. In 10 years from 1999 to 2009, approximately 40 percent of heat-related deaths were adults over 65 years old. As one ages, so does the body’s ability to regulate temperatures decline, therefore, their natural cooling processes also become more difficult. Seniors do not sweat as much and fat storage also changes, which makes heat regulation more complicated.  Continue Reading ...

Gardening Benefits For Spring

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When the days are getting longer and the weather’s getting warmer, what better thing is there to do aside from gardening? It is an activity one can consider to be holistic, as it helps nurture multiple facets of one’s well-being. Most people garden for the fresh produce, but unbeknownst to them, they are also harvesting the physical, mental and social benefits that gardening brings. Gardening can give you a serious aerobic exercises with all the movements and switching around that helps you work on your strength and flexibility. In fact, if we can even narrow down each activity when you garden that resembles the same exercises you do in the gyms you go to. Mowing, raking, and digging can be alternatives to cable exercises that work your arms and shoulders. Gardening also involves some lifting that may be good for your back muscle and quads. Weeding by itself involves squatting that works out your bottoms. It can also be great for your back if you weed while on your hands and k...