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The Benefits of living in a 55+ community

You are no longer tripping over the kid’s toys. There are no more soccer practices to run to. Work is winding down or already in the rearview mirror. All the food in the fridge is yours. Your online searches are all about travel and adventure. Hellooo? Clearly, the universe is trying to tell you something. The message: It’s time to begin the new and exciting next chapter of your life! And so, the question. Sell your home that no longer serves your purposes and go where exactly? For those who have already taken the plunge, it’s a no-brainer. The only logical choice for rightsizing at this stage is a 55 & over community. Specifically designed to support and enhance the active adult lifestyle , 55 & over communities are focused on maximizing all aspects of your health and wellbeing. The Benefits of an Active Adult Community Living Spaces Designed with You in Mind Whether it’s an apartment, townhome or single dwelling, the living spaces in 55+ communities are designed to be architecturally correct for active adults. Design details that consider long-term comfort and safety make life for residents easy and worry-free. A Busy and Active Social Life Isolation is the single biggest cause of depression in older people. When the kids have moved out and friends and neighbors are not as abundant as they once were, loneliness can become a serious issue. The best part of living in a 55+ community is the community. A built-in network of enthusiastic similarly aged friends and neighbors are steps away. In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, by the time you unpack the boxes, your neighbors have become close friends. Active adult communities offer full schedules of activities purposely designed to encourage relationships with others who share your passions and interests. You don’t have to be alone—unless you want to be. Safety in Numbers 55+ communities make your safety a priority. Many properties are gated. Whatever safety features are provided by the management are enhanced by members of the community looking out for each other. The spirit of comradery and community makes both residents and their families feel secure. Resort Worthy Amenities Each 55+ community offers slightly different amenities, but no matter where you go, you won’t be disappointed. Expect full-service fitness centers, Olympic-sized pools, chef-worthy kitchens for classes and demonstrations, theaters, game rooms, and well-manicured outdoor spaces. It’s an entire lifestyle right outside your front door. Live and Learn 55+ communities take your fun very seriously. Daily schedules are packed with a wide variety of activities to enrich and enlighten. From fitness and cooking classes to crafts, organized local outings, and continuing education to broaden your horizons, the unending list of opportunities will keep you physically, socially and emotionally fit. Turnkey Living Not only will an active adult community get you out from under the piles of home maintenance bills and chores, you’ll also be able to pick up and go wherever, whenever you choose without having to worry about leaving your home unattended. Simply, lock the door and be on your way to whatever adventure beckons. It is low maintenance, turnkey living at its best. From unlimited social opportunities to state-of-the-art fitness facilities, to continuing education and special interest activities, the benefits of living in a 55+ community make it the perfect choice for your next act.

Keeping Your Heart Healthy as You Age

Did you know that adopting simple lifestyle changes can help prevent heart disease and help you have a healthy heart? According to the American Heart Association , walking at least 20 minutes a day can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. The older we get, the more vigilantly we must pursue a lifestyle that supports our heart health. Here are a few tips aimed at keeping your heart healthy and helping you make some easy lifestyle changes. It’s a Numbers Game Understanding your cholesterol and blood pressure levels as well as your body mass index is the first step toward establishing heart health goals. Talk with your doctor about your numbers to see where you currently stand. According to the experts, ideally you want: Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL HDL (good) cholesterol 50 mg/dL or higher LDL (bad) cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL Triglycerides 150 mg/dL Blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg Body Mass Index less than 25 kg/m2 Your Heart is What You Eat A heart-healthy diet packed with fruits, veggies, lean meats, fiber-rich whole grains, skinless chicken, fish rich in omega-3s and fat-free dairy products will help maintain heart health as it positively impacts your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. If this means completely changing the way you eat, consult a nutritionist for guidance. Keep It Moving If fitness has always been a priority, keep it that way. If not, there is no time like the present to start putting one foot in front of the other on a regular basis. The AHA recommends at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Before you embark on any new fitness regimen, consult your health care provider to help you develop an activity plan that considers any chronic conditions or limitations you may have. Personal trainers can also be an excellent resource. The idea is to create a routine that minimizes risks while maximizing rewards. Before you take that first step: Remember that anything is better than nothing. And if nothing is what you’ve been doing, be sure to begin at a low intensity and increase gradually. Don’t worry about attaining high levels of activity. Instead, focus on creating endurance by adding time to your moderate exercise program as you get stronger. The best way to take steps to keep your heart healthy is to actually take steps. No other exercise can be integrated into your day as safely and easily as a good walk. You will work those large muscles in a continuous manner while improving your cardiovascular system. Start slowly and work your way up to 30 minutes or more around the track, through the neighborhood or on the treadmill. Join a walking club and you will look forward to a regular social outing. Wherever you choose to walk, be sure it is a smooth surface in a safe place. If you walk in the evenings, avoid areas that are not well lit. Whichever exercise you choose, wear comfortable clothing that is appropriate to the temperature and be s ure not to become overheated. Your exercise shoes are an important piece of athletic equipment that must fit properly and be up to the task. Warming up is an important part of any workout especially for older adults whose muscles need a little jump start to get ready to work. Gentle stretching before exercising can go a long way to preventing injury. If you are a swimmer , laps in the pool are just what the cardiologist ordered. It is one of the best aerobic exercises available. That said, any water activity can get the blood flowing and contribute to keeping your heart healthy. Take an age-appropriate exercise class that you really enjoy and dance, or yoga your way to heart health with your buddies. Celebrate your success at happy hour with the group later. It is never too late to make changes and adopt habits focused on keeping your heart healthy. The right information and a little discipline will go a long way toward supporting heart health and reducing your risk of becoming a statistic. If you go the extra mile for your heart, it will return the favor. **Feature image depicts actual Overture resident(s).

Active Adult Communities — What Are They?

Bob Dylan or Frank Sinatra? Whether the wisdom of Dylan guided your formative years or Sinatra made you or your favorite lady weak in the knees as a teenager, the question of whether the joyous, carefree, stimulating lifestyle of the active adult living community was designed specifically for you is easily answered. When defining Active Adult Community living, it’s important to clarify that it is not assisted living. Independent Living communities typically provide daily dining and transportation as part of their monthly fees, while Assisted Living communities can provide other services such as medication management, assistance with daily living (bathing, dressing, eating), and emergency call systems. For those who are independent and active, not in need of these additional services, but seeking a lifestyle that includes unlimited opportunities for intellectual enlightenment, physical activity and social interaction with those 55 and over, Active Adult Living Communities offer the best of all 55+ worlds. More Than Just a Place to Live Active Adult Communities are committed to providing state of the art amenities and facilities in which to pursue resort worthy activities relevant to this exciting chapter of life. Residents can spend their days involved in an unending variety of on-site programs or exploring nearby cultural and culinary attractions, then return home to upscale luxury. But the surroundings and accouterments are only part of the story. Active Adult Living Communities are much more than a great rightsizing option. They are a lifestyle enhancing choice that promotes total health and wellbeing. Encouraged to embrace this phase of life with open arms, community members are enthusiastic about creating new and meaningful relationships as they find inspiration to broaden their horizons. New arrivals are not strangers. They are simply friends you haven’t made yet. So Many Benefits Virtually No Maintenance Active Adult Communities are all about stress-free living. Now that you finally have that leisure time you’ve been waiting for, it should include some serious fun—not the headaches of home maintenance. Carefree living means freedom from the responsibilities of home ownership; freedom to use your time in the pursuit of happiness. You’ve earned it. No More Stairs Enjoy one-story living instead of running up and down stairs, use your energy playing a sport or taking a workout class you love. Great Neighbors Not only will you no longer have to worry about screaming teenagers whizzing by on skateboards, but your neighbors will also become an integral part of your social life. Instead of complaining about the noise, you’ll be mixing and mingling with contemporaries from all walks of life, many of whom will share your passions and interests. Still Working? You may have retired from your long-term employment but are continuing to work in some capacity. Active Adult apartment homes can easily accommodate a dedicated workspace. Something for Everyone No matter what your interests or activity level , the emphasis in Active Adult Communities is on living life your way, on your terms. Playing mah-jongg or training for a marathon, the perfect schedule and pace is whatever works for you. A rich, full, inspired and inspiring life awaits at the Active Adult Living Community of your choice. This is your time to shine. Don’t waste another minute. **Feature image depicts actual Overture resident(s).

Nutrition as We Age: What Changes

Quality over quantity. It’s a recurring theme as we strive to create an active adult lifestyle that maximizes health and happiness. Dietary concerns are no exception. As we age, our metabolisms slow and our bodies require fewer calories to function. But, even as our appetites decline, our need for more of certain nutrients increases. So, when we fill up the tank, we need to make sure we are choosing the fuel that gives us the best nutritional bang for the buck. Here are some active adult nutritional tips recommended by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) A Healthier Plate Remember the old food pyramid? Well, forget about it. The revised USDA guidelines for balancing food groups on the plate calls for more generous portions of vegetables, fruits and grains and smaller servings of protein and a side of dairy. According to today’s experts, these are the building blocks of a healthy diet. A Rainbow of Nutrition If your plate is filled with a variety of colorful foods, you are more likely to be getting a better mix of the nutrients you need. The deeper the colors, the more loaded these foods are with vitamins and antioxidants. Blueberries, raspberries, dark cherries and dark leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and swiss chard are a few choices packed with the right stuff. The dairy portion of your plate is critical for the calcium and vitamin D that supports healthy bones. When you are meal planning, think high fiber and low fat and sodium. Read labels to avoid items that have added sugars. Make sure to include: Lean protein (lean meats, seafood, eggs, beans) Fruits and vegetables (orange, red, green, and purple) Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta) Low-fat dairy (milk and its alternatives) Keep Drinking As we age, we may lose some of our sense of thirst which can lead to unwitting dehydration. Be sure to drink small amounts of liquids consistently throughout the day. Drink tea, coffee or just plain water to stay sufficiently hydrated. Keep fluids with sugar or salt to a minimum unless directed otherwise by a physician. Spice it Up Though life at this stage can be full of zest, unfortunately, often food is not. It may be a result of diminished senses of smell and taste or a side effect of a medication. Whatever the reason food is not knocking your socks off, adding extra herbs and spices may be just what the chef ordered to keep your palate happy. Be Social Creating social occasions around meals will make eating both nutritionally and emotionally satisfying. Pooling resources and sharing healthy entrée ideas will make meals a fun, informative time to look forward to. Be Safe Food-related illnesses can be fatal for older adults. If there is even the slightest fear that food may be spoiled, throw it out. Avoid unpasteurized dairy foods, as well as raw and undercooked eggs, fish, shellfish, meat, or poultry. Maintaining a diet rich in vital nutrients such as potassium, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, minerals and dietary fiber will keep you energetic and help reduce the risk of chronic issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Bon Appetit! **Feature image depicts actual Overture residents.

Rightsizing...One Year Later. Was it the Right Decision?

A year ago, Dan and Bonnie Carlson took the plunge and joined Overture Ridgmar, one of Overture’s exceptional active adult communities. The decision to “rightsize” after retirement was not made lightly, but as they considered all options and weighed the potential benefits, they found an overwhelming number of reasons to pack up and move. One year into their active adult adventure it’s clear they are loving every minute of their new turnkey, stress-free, socially charged lifestyle. Wow, that year certainly went by quickly! It is hard to believe my wife Bonnie, and I just passed the one-year anniversary of our effort to “rightsize” our lives. That being so, we got to wondering how we might measure the results of our endeavor. We had high hopes, of course, that the move from a house to an apartment would be a good one but, now that we are fully settled in, what is our level of satisfaction? Naturally, before we finalized the decision to sell our house and move to Overture Ridgmar , we discussed what we wanted our new lives to look like. For example, one of our goals was to live in a comfortable and maintenance-free environment. Our quiet, comfortable, roomy, well- appointed apartment more than surpasses this criterion. Further, over the past year, on the very few occasions that a maintenance issue did arise, it was handled quickly, professionally, at no cost, and—the best part—the work was done by someone else! Moving to a new community always presents a range of potential social concerns. We wondered: How will we connect with people? Will our new neighbors compare favorably with those we left behind? Any worries were erased immediately by the warm and welcoming reception we received from everyone we met. We now find ourselves among folks from a demographic niche similar to ours and, to our delight, many of our new neighbors have interests and life experiences much like our own. Individually, Bonnie and I have joined groups that bring us enjoyment and growth. For instance, once each week I go to breakfast with a band of ten-to-fourteen men whose backgrounds and accomplishments are amazing. Bonnie has connected with a group of women who enjoy a variety of activities and interests. Together, we have befriended several couples with whom we enjoy going to lunch, dinner or area entertainment venues on a regular basis. Having helped out for several years at a charity in our old neighborhood, we were hopeful that similar volunteer opportunities could be found near our new home. Soon after our move, we connected with a nearby food pantry, and are pleased to report that many of our new neighbors have joined in as well. As a matter of fact, Overture Ridgmar now conducts a quarterly food drive through which folks can pitch in to help others in some tangible way. If asked to assess our level of satisfaction with the “rightsizing” of our lives over the past year, we would rate the experience as “exceeded expectations” in every respect. The result has been far better than we had any right to expect, and our level of contentment can best be measured in this very important way: We just renewed our lease for another fifteen months! Needless to say, we celebrate having made this transition and what it has done for us. At the same time, though, we struggle with one nagging question: Why didn’t we do this sooner? As they eagerly take advantage of the unlimited activities and daily opportunities to expand their social world, the Carlsons are yet another Overture success story. This is their time and they are making the most of it. Check out the Overture community of your choice. You’ve already missed today’s activities, don’t miss tomorrow's! ABOUT AUTHOR Daniel Carlson Daniel Carlson is a retired police officer, former law enforcement educator and present-day active author. He and his high school sweetheart Bonnie, have been married for over half a century and have recently co-authored a book titled, “Home Sweet Apartment…Getting Rightsized in Our Seventies.” The young at heart couple are currently loving life at Overture Ridgmar , which is in the Great State of Texas, and in purposefully close proximity to their three children and seven terrific grandchildren. Connect with Dan via: Website: www.danbonbooks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/danbonbooks Blog: www.danbonbooks.blog

How Social Interaction Impacts Emotional Health

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.” —Jeanne Moreau As we age, it’s not how we pass our time, but with whom. Developing and nurturing meaningful social relationships with other active adults is not a luxury. Beyond bringing smiles to our faces, social interaction at this stage of life is a critical component to our overall well being, especially essential to our emotional health. In fact, research over the years confirms that social relationships and group activities are the keys to successful aging and happiness. Participating in social activities not only challenges us and helps sharpen our cognitive abilities, it also eliminates the single most serious threat to a senior’s mental and emotional health: Isolation. Isolation Hurts Isolation can come on suddenly with the passing of a loved one or as children and grandchildren pursue out of town opportunities. It may be a gradual process that sneaks up on us as we transition out of daily employment and have more time on our hands. Research suggests that chronic isolation and a higher frequency of a myriad of health issues, including depression, go hand in hand. Conversely, cultivating friendships and participating in activities and events with peers is not only life-enhancing but life-extending. Socially active older adults report stronger immune systems, better sleep, increased productivity and a more positive outlook on life. Join the Club Whether it’s joining a Zumba class, taking the plunge at water aerobics or signing up for a computer class, the key to meeting people and engaging in new relationships is to get out there and join a group. In addition to keeping participants active, the social connections will be enriching and uplifting. Give Back Using your skills to help others is a great way to be both productive and social. If you are musical, teach lessons. Or volunteer for your favorite cause once a month. You will be rewarded with increased self-esteem as well as the opportunity to mix and mingle with others who share your interests. Reconnect Thanks to technology, the ability to reach out to people far away or those we knew when is at our fingertips. FaceTime with the grandkids or send a message to your old roommate from school. Interacting electronically can help mitigate loneliness and may also inspire you to get out and seek more hands-on, in-person experiences. Socializing Made Easy Often the problem is a living situation in which opportunities for socialization have become scarce. With time and change of circumstances for friends and neighbors, you may find your once-robust social circle has dwindled. The good news is there are active adult communities committed to providing the social outlet you seek. Designed specifically to support the physical and emotional health of the 55+ set, these upscale, state-of-the-art, resort-style complexes have unlimited options for keeping your mind, body and spirit active and nourished. Surrounded by a welcoming community, the social adjustment is easy and natural. By the time you unpack the boxes, your neighbors will be new friends. Continue expanding your social world and the golden years will truly be golden. **Feature image depicts actual Overture resident(s).