Displaying items by tag: senior happiness

There are many simple ways for an older adult to make, and keep, a New Year’s resolution. Whether you want to exercise more regularly, drink less soda, or learn how to draw, the following tips can help you be successful with your resolution for 2024.

Resolution Making: Getting Started

First, kudos to you for recognizing it’s never too late to make a change, try something new, or otherwise enhance an area of your life.

Perhaps the most important thing to know is that change is a process. The more ready you make yourself for it, the easier it can be to follow through to successfully keeping your New Year’s resolution.

A few things to keep in mind:

Know Your Why. Write down why you want to make a particular change. Motivation is an important predictor of behavior, so be honest about your why. If your motivation for change isn’t important enough to you, you are less likely to stick with your 2024 resolution. Make note of how you want to feel when you achieve your resolution. 

• Connect emotion to your why to strengthen your motivation and commitment to it: I’ll feel healthier and stronger and more confident when I strength train three days per week. 
• Another strategy for strengthening your why is to link it to something (or someone) of importance to you: Taking this art class will teach me new skills and I’ll be able to socialize with my friends—and maybe make a new one!

Grant Yourself Patience and Kindness. Whether you’re adding a healthy habit like eating more fruit throughout the day or trying to reduce a poor habit such as smoking or watching too much TV, making a change takes about 6 weeks before the behavior becomes routine for you. Be patient with yourself. If you slip-up, intentionally or on purpose, be kind to yourself. Every moment, every day, is a chance to begin again and do better. Berating yourself will only make you less motivated to stick with your resolution. Be kind to you!

Do Set Goals. Don’t Aim for Perfection. Of course, you’ll set goals to guide your process during those six weeks and beyond. It’s also important to understand that making a behavior change involves more than just good planning. There will be emotional ups and downs, progress and setbacks that will be different for each person. Plan for success and be realistic about challenges you may encounter. Try to anticipate how you will handle challenges that pop-up (our list below can help with this). If you are moving toward your goals 80% of the time, you are doing great! 

4 Tips to Help Older Adults Keep Their 2024 New Year’s Resolution

1. Find Your Tribe. Enlist the support of loved ones, friends, and co-workers or a health/wellness coach. Working toward a New Year Resolution together provides social support that makes it easier (and more fun) to stick with making the change. When asking for support, you might start by talking with the people closest to you and letting them know what you are doing and why. You also can ask for specific help:  When you see me reach for a third cookie, say something to me. Tell people what you need as you start and keep them updated as your progress toward your goal. 
2. Be Aware of Social Cues. If your bongo/board game buddies typically eat sweet snacks and your goal is to cut back on your sugar intake, you’ll need to make some changes to reduce temptation. Bring your own healthier alternatives to your games and invite everyone to take a 10 min walk between games. 
3. Have a Plan and Be Flexible. Anything you want to achieve isn’t about finding the time, it’s about making the time—and that’s a choice in your power. Look at your daily and weekly routines to identify blocks where you can exercise or prepare meals in advance. Making the time may mean waking-up earlier or reducing social media screen time to get moving. Block off those times in your schedule. Of course, life happens and there will be things that get in the way. Those are temporary shifts. Get right back to your routine the following day or as soon as possible. 
4. Celebrate Success! Incorporate a small reward for weekly successes and a bigger reward for milestones (e.g., 3 weeks of exercising daily, or sticking with a new art class) Rewards need not be expensive; rather, just them meaningful for you such as buying a new workout outfit or a higher quality set of paints and brushes). 

5 Great Ideas for New Year’s Resolutions for Older Adults

The Golden Years can be a time of adventurous change for many older adults—and the New Year is the perfect time to embark on a specific change for yourself… check out these ideas:

1. Move joyfully. Daily physical activity that you truly enjoy is easier to stick with and it is important for older adult health: moderately vigorous movement supports heart health, strengthens joints, and reduces the risk of injury from falls.
2. Learn something new. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time for? A language, pickleball, bowling, or calligraphy? The New Year is a great time to learn something new. 
3. Make new friends, or spend more time with old ones. For older adults especially, loneliness and isolation has serious health concerns, including increasing risk of heart disease and stroke. Let 2024 be the year that you focus on friendship—making new ones or strengthening ties with current friends. If you’re struggling to meet people in your same stage of life, you might consider the benefits of living in a senior community.
4. Sleep better. Sleep is essential for good health at every age. For older adults, a sound sleep routine supports the health of the immune system, the brain and nervous system (including concentration and memory), and metabolism. Getting restful sleep begins with your pre-bedtime routine and talking with your healthcare provider about any difficulties you are having with sleep. 
5. Get tech savvy. If you feel lost in the maze of new technology, help is out there! Try to learn and keep up with today’s tech by attending a program at a local library or asking a tech savvy grandchild to show you around a smart phone. With modern tech in hand, you have more opportunity to stay connected with family and friends, learn new things, and even make daily tasks a little bit easier for yourself.

Resources

Young, S. “Healthy Behavior Change in Practical Settings.” Perm J (2014, Fall) 18:4: 89-92. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4206177

NIH.gov “Changing Your Habits for Better Health.”

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diet-nutrition/changing-habits-better-health

Medium.com “10 Science-backed Tips to Making a Health Behavior Change that Sticks.” Posted by Paige Brown Jarreua;https://medium.com/lifeomic/10-science-backed-tips-to-making-a-health-behavior-change-that-sticks-8655c3bbde50

APA.org “Making Lifestyle Changes that Last”https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/lifestyle-changes.aspx

Recently, one of our Everbrook Senior Living team members shared a unique encounter she had had while vacationing in southwest Florida. It’s a story we want to share in celebration of National Senior Citizens Day, which has been observed on August 21 every year since 1988 when then President Ronald Regan signed Proclamation 5847 to salute “older people have achieved much for our families, our communities, and our country… throughout their lives and for all they continue to accomplish…” as citizens of the United States.

Upon exiting the beach, she encountered a group of a dozen or so people surrounding an older woman who was telling stories from under the shower, rinsing sand from her silvery hair. She was so animated, it was impossible to just walk past. The 78-year-old shared stories of her youth: She was born in the Philippines and her family of origin hailed from Japan, Hawaii, and other island nations (places where she had lived as a girl and young woman). What caught our staff member’s attention was not only the way this spry older woman spoke about her history and her life now, but the rapt attention from the onlookers. There was a reverence and admiration for her as she spoke about: 

Her “big collection of thousands of shark teeth” found while snorkeling off the coast. Of growing pineapples and tangerines in her backyard; of competing across Florida as a senior champion pickleball player. Of sharing hardships and adventures with her now 80-year-old husband “who I force to retire 15 years ago, or he work both of us to the grave!” Most days, she started her day “playing pickleball for 2 hours before the sun rose to bake the courts” then cooled-off in the Gulf of Mexico followed by bringing treats from her garden to the lifeguards. The rest of the day was for making time to mingle with tourists and locals around the beach town and “doing good deeds.” Fondly known as ‘Granny Kau’i’ (ka-OO-ey), she is living life true to the meaning of her Hawaiian name: ‘the youthful one.’

Thinking Differently About Aging

Kau’i is enjoying a ‘second youth’ in the prime of what we Americans typically refer to as the Golden Years. It’s a time in life that, as one astute teenager in the sandy-toed group observed, “Usually, people my age just ignore older people. Most older folks I know aren’t active like you. You don’t act old. You’ve made me think differently about what being older looks like and can be.” Many of the adults in the group, who hailed from various parts of the U.S., Europe, and Canada nodded agreement and shared similar sentiments.

Sadly, she’s right; phrases like “old man” and “granny” aren’t titles of respect and love in many societies. Instead, they conjure images of older adults who don’t engage much once careers come to an end. This can be for several reasons:

• Lack of preparation for how to use one’s retirement years can lead to getting stuck in simple, yet unfulfilling routine that is devoid of meaningful relationships, community engagement, or ways to feel useful and involved, such as sharing of skills and talents honed during employment.
• Chronic health problems derailing intended plans and an inability to pivot plans or find support for living life differently than anticipated.
• Age related mental decline, grief, and shrinking social outlets as friends and spouses pass on can lead to emotional health problems in the absence of proper supports.

Social & Cultural Factors Behind National Senior Citizen’s Day

Another crucial factor affecting how older adults function in society has to do with social and cultural biases on aging: what it means to grow older and to be a senior citizen. One of President Regan’s intentions with declaring National Senior Citizen’s Day was to combat such misperceptions of older adults and the aging process in our youth-centric American society. 

Regan understood two things about aging and society: 

• scientific data pointed to an exponential growth of the older adult population. By 2060, there will be about 95 million older adults in just the U.S., rapidly outpacing growth in any other age group. 
• There were, and continue to be, stark differences in how Americans perceive old age compared to citizens of many other societies. Older adults are revered and appreciated in many other societies, such as Asian, Pacific Islander, Norwegian, Scandinavian and many parts of the Mediterranean.

National Senior Citizen Day served as a way to draw attention to these issues and to ensure that “our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older — places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity.” 

From this proclamation, came the growth of organizations, services, and living options (and more legislation) to address the evolving needs of older adults. Since 1988, many more older Americans, like Granny Kau’i, are able to live their best lives in ways that suit their interests, health status, financial resources, and personal preferences. This is the quality of living every older adult deserves and which we, at Everbrook Senior Living, devote ourselves to providing for our residents every day, 365 days a year.

Bringing the Best Solution to Seniors in Later Life.

From your first contact with one of our senior living advisors, you are considered family. We understand that every older adult has unique needs and our living arrangements, programs, and health services are intentionally designed to support those needs from active, independent living to various levels of assisted care. 

Each of the Everbrook Senior Living communities is nestled within a community that affords residents the opportunity to take life at the pace they desire…

• Surrounded by the beauty of nature
• Opportunities to explore sites of historical, cultural, and social interest
• Year-round activities such as gardening, biking, walking, fitness, hobbies, and clubs
  Points of interest within the local community, for exploring when family/grandkids visit
• Ability to travel locally or further afield with easy access to major airports and train stations

Everbrook Senior Living embraces the unique needs and qualities of each of our residents. We are involved in every aspect of the design of exceptional, elegant, and affordable residences. We offer first-in-class recreation and wellness programs that are backed by the latest research. And we have a carefully selected team of professionals who are devoted to older adults, seek to learn from them, and nurture their interests, personal needs, and sense of community. 

At Everbrook, you live among like-minded peers, experience new adventures, and enjoy the simple luxuries of an active, independent ‘second youth’. Come see for yourself: schedule a visit, today.  

When you were a kid, did you have a hobby? Whether you collected stamps, dolls, or comic books, repaired bikes or dabbled in model cars, you can probably recall your hobby ‘getting you in the zone’. Being so fully immersed in what you were doing that it was hard to break away to even eat dinner. When your former hobby comes to mind, it may bring up feelings of joy, satisfaction, and accomplishment. No matter your age, the positive feelings that arise from being engaged in a hobby contribute to emotional and physical well-being. Even if you haven’t had a hobby for many years, it’s never too late to find a new hobby and experience the health benefits.

Hobbies are a simple yet profound way to support an older adult’s health and happiness. A hobby can provide an outlet for creativity, an intellectual challenge, pure fun, and social engagement. When engaged in a hobby, we are immersed in a state of pleasure and detachment from the drama of daily life.

Some of the ways hobbies contribute to an older adult’s well-being include:

• Boost feelings of personal accomplishment, which supports self-esteem
• Foster connections with others, which reduces loneliness
• Reduce stress by providing an outlet for creativity and emotional management
• Mental engagement, which protects brain health
• Lower risk for depression and anxiety
• Contributes to meaning & satisfaction in life

4 Tips for Finding a New Hobby in Older Adulthood

Now that you know hobbies are good for your health—what if you haven’t engaged in a hobby in a while—where do you begin? There are some very simple ways older adults can discover a new hobby. Before we tell you how to find a new hobby, let’s talk about your mindset with starting something new: The key is to not be afraid to experiment or to try new things. Step outside your comfort zone. For example, if you tend to be a homebody, consider a book club to get you out of your home and engaged with new people who share a common interest. Additionally, keep an open mind. Don’t give up after one try—remember that a hobby should be about the process, not the outcome or product (that would make a hobby feel like work!) Finally, don’t put pressure on yourself; give yourself permission to fail, and to start over again. Give it the good ole "college try" before you walk away from a hobby that just doesn’t feel like a good fit for you.

1. Consider the feeling or experience you’re missing in your life. Ask yourself how you want to feel when engaged in your new hobby. Is it a sense of calm, exhilaration, curiosity, mental engagement, or social connection? A combination? Identifying your needs particularly emotional needs, can point you toward your next hobby.
2. Start with simple steps, slowly taken. If you’re on budget, as most older adults, don’t jump into the deep end with a new hobby. If you’ve always wanted to learn to oil paint, don’t invest in the most expensive set of brushes and paints. Take a class where you can use materials, learn about products, and be sure it’s something you really like and can have fun with.
3. Keep a hobby interest list. This can be an index card posted on your fridge or a notebook you carry with you—where you can jot down things that are interesting to you, that you want to learn. Maybe you read an article about
   keeping bonsai trees and add that to your list. Every month check your list—what still interesting to you on that list? Why did you put bonsai tree on that list? Does it still resonate with you? If so, is now a good time to learn what’s involved? Then get started researching online or...
4. Talk to your local librarian. Librarians aren’t just a wealth of knowledge about books. They can help you research new hobbies—from books to online resources to local classes. A librarian can help you take those first small steps on the path to a new hobby.

If you happen to live in an older adult community such as Everbrook Senior Living—or if you are thinking of moving to such a community—you’ll be glad to know there are many resources available to help you discover a new hobby in later life. From board game clubs to yoga classes, art studio to music or film appreciation... you’ll be amazed at the opportunities offered by a senior living community. And, as a bonus, if you’re already proficient with a particular hobby then make sharing your skill your next hobby! Many senior living communities love to have a resident volunteer to introduce and teach a skill to other residents with the same interest.

Are you looking for a senior living community with a robust social community, wellness program, and affordable luxury? Come visit Everbrook Senior Living to see all that we offer—and the sense of belonging our residents experience as they live, play, and thrive in our older adult communities across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Resources

National Institutes of Health: Participate in Activities You Enjoy As You Age

Penn State University, “Social Trends”: How Hobbies Boosty Your Health