Blog Posts

How to Design Your Apartment with Color Therapy Principles

"Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions." Pablo Picasso “Colors are the mother tongue of the subconscious.” So said the late Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, who believed colors and our response to them play a vital role in psychotherapy. But he was hardly the first to associate colors with our emotional health. The psychology of color dates back thousands of years to Egyptians who studied the effects of color on our moods and used them as holistic tools to influence wellbeing. When it comes to design for the elderly, integrating the principles of color therapy might be the difference between blah and blissful. Using colors known to influence our outlook may help create peaceful, spiritually uplifting environments that positively impact the lives of seniors, especially those living on their own. The lack of officially published research in this area has not stopped color psychology from becoming a force in interior design. The evidence is anecdotal but indicates that while our visceral responses to color are based on personal and cultural experience, there are certain colors that are associated with specific moods and emotions. Red The color red is just what the interior designer ordered to pump up the heart rate and boost excitement. A full red wall, if it works with the décor, or even red accents can infuse a space with positive energy. Splashes of red and orange dishcloths, vases, placemats or plates around may help improve your appetite. Blue When considering calm bathroom colors, blue should be at the top of the list. With the relaxed ocean vibe, soft blues create tranquility and peace and are often seen in luxury spas. It’s also a perfect bedroom color especially for seniors who complain of restless sleep. Blue surroundings may help seniors fall asleep more easily and sleep better. Green With the connection to nature, deep greens bring the outdoors in, adding a little springtime all year round. Green is a great color for a room meant to relax and inspire. A lighter green with pops of soft yellow creates an atmosphere of comfort and brain stimulation for reading and puzzle-solving. White White walls are known to be calming, purifying and cleansing. It is an especially appealing apartment color as it opens up a space, making it feel larger and lighter than its actual square footage. Yellow Soft yellow brings sunshine to a space. It is particularly uplifting during the winter months when natural light is in short supply. Splash yellow on the walls in the kitchen and wake up to sunshine every morning. No matter what the weather, surrounded by colors that bring out the best in us, home is a brighter, happier place every day.

The Perks of Getting Older

Your spirit still feels 19. But that person looking back at you from the mirror looks significantly, well…more seasoned. Clearly, something is wrong with the mirror! Right? Aging does have its challenges but those who reap the most benefit from this stage of life understand its secret: This is a glass that is not just half full, it is overflowing with perks unavailable to those who have not yet earned their half-century stripes. Don’t let the fear of getting older keep you from maximizing this special time of life. Here are but a few of the many advantages of old age. Free Time Galore When you were raising the kids and juggling work and family responsibilities, there was not much opportunity to pencil in free time on that busy calendar. Now that you’ve transitioned into retirement, your time is your own to pursue adventures and experiences you never could before. Take a class that interests you, read that book that you never had time for, take a trip, or just meet a friend for coffee. Free time is a 24/7 commodity just waiting for you to take advantage of it. Wisdom of Experience Experience is the best teacher and who has more experience than those who’ve been around the longest? Older adults have an empathy and richness of wisdom that gives them a much broader perspective on life and makes them a valuable resource to the young. Oh, Those Grandkids! Is there anything more amazing than cuddling with a grandchild—and then giving it back to its parent when it’s time for Social Hour or a yoga class? It’s all the perks of having a baby without the responsibility. Drop in for a few hugs and then drop back out when you feel like it. Or, sit back in the calm tranquility of your active adult space and blow kisses to that gorgeous baby via facetime. Watching them grow will keep you young. Grandkids are the gift that keeps on giving! Senior Discounts Too bad your grandparents never had Groupon Senior Discounts Club! Senior discounts help people on a fixed income stay active and engaged. From transportation to dining and entertainment, senior discounts offer a great incentive for making the most of retirement. I Don’t Care What They Say Anymore…This is MY Life! With age comes a startling revelation: Other people’s opinions just don’t matter as much as previously thought. Breaking free from worrying about the judgment of others erases negativity, opening doors to new experiences. Those with the perspective of years often look back and wonder why as young people they allowed themselves to be trapped by the opinions of others. You may not run as fast as you used to, or rock that bikini like you did back in the day, but don’t think of aging as getting older. Think of it as your ticket to new-found freedom and happiness. And remember, you can get older, but you don’t have to get old

The Surprising Health Benefits of Acting for Older Adults

The theatah, the theatah. Who hasn’t belted out “Defying Gravity,” ala Wicked’s Idina Menzel in the shower, or practiced a little “To be or not to be?” in front of the mirror? Lest you think your dreams of center stage are way past their expiration date, thou dost need to think again. Whether you are an extrovert who loves the limelight or would sooner bungee jump off a bridge than get up and recite a soliloquy, senior theater could be your next adventure. The older we get, the more we can derive the benefits of acting. It’s not about trying to become Hugh Jackman. It’s about connecting with others while creatively expressing yourself. Before you start listing all the reasons you should not become involved in a senior theater program, check out a few health benefits that may help you seek the spotlight. Join the Group One of the biggest risks to a senior’s mental and emotional health is isolation. It is imperative to interact with others to stave off depression and keep the mind sharp. Becoming part of a theater troupe is a great way to develop a sense of belonging and purpose. You will be contributing to the creation of something larger than yourself while being an integral part of a team of players. Improve your Communication Skills Engaging with other students and working to bring characters to life will help you develop stronger listening skills and create an opportunity to share points of view. Close collaboration will give you a more empathetic approach to absorbing the opinions of others and help you to more effectively express your own. Build Confidence The more you practice in a safe, non-judgmental space, surrounded by supportive peers, the less fear and inhibition will get in your way. You will gain confidence that will spill over into other facets of your life. Keep Your Brain Active Crossword puzzles may be great. But studying lines that must be memorized and delivered is an even better exercise for your brain. Nothing improves the memory like memorizing! Set Your Emotions Free This chapter of life may come with a variety of challenges—like mobility issues, death of a spouse, or children leaving town. Acting can be a huge stress reliever as you unleash your emotions and get in touch with your true feelings. Creative movement and vocal exercises can release tension and make the world look a little brighter. It’s FUN! Best of all, senior theater is fun. You’ll have plenty of laughs as your group mounts their production. And don’t forget the Happy Hour afterward! Connect with new friends and find your inner Broadway star. It’s never too late for your close-up. If you were an Overture resident, you would have access to art classes and activities , including Drama Club at some locations. It’s just one of the ways Overture invests in the holistic health of its residents!

The Benefits of Using Ride Share Apps For Older Adults

Why Is Lyft A Great Tool for Older Adults? It may not always feel like it when you’re trying to figure out which way is upload, but technology can be an active adult’s best friend. There are so many great apps to assist seniors in every aspect of life, from keeping in touch with family, to organizing finances, to managing health and wellness. But the hands-down winners are the ride-sharing apps like Lyft , that provide ride service for seniors, guaranteeing a ride to wherever life takes them, any time day or night. No other app can so profoundly enhance active adult independence. Whether you need a ride to a doctor’s appointment, lunch with a friend, a quick trip to the grocery store, or a fabulous night out at the theater, your transportation is at your fingertips. Using the app on your phone, you can order your car and watch its progress as it makes its way to you. Unlike public buses or trains, which may provide great senior discounts but require you to travel on their schedules, your ride will be there to pick you up at your convenience. Simply put, ride-sharing apps like Lyft for seniors are the key to freedom. If you don’t like to drive at night or are fed up with traffic and worrying about getting lost, just tap the icon on your smartphone, and away you go. You’ll no longer have to depend on friends and family members, who of course love you, but are not always available to be your chauffeur. Learning to Use the Lyft App Setting up the drive share app is pretty straightforward but it if causes you angst, any tween can get you going. You know the old saying, summon a driver for a senior and they get one ride. Teach a senior to use the app, and they have rides for a lifetime! Your sixteen-year-old grandkid will be thrilled to teach you how to use the app, especially if it means they don’t have to miss hanging with their friends to schlep you around. If you just don’t feel like wrangling with the tech, not to worry. Overture Active Adult communities are partnering with Lyft to have your back. All residents have to do is call the front desk and a friendly staff member will help you arrange your ride. Ridesharing puts the active in active adult! Now that you can easily get anywhere you need or want to go, what are you waiting for?

Holiday Travel Tips for Active Older Adults

Holiday travel: The best of times and the worst of times. The good news is you’re either planning a journey to spend some quality time with those delicious grandkids—and, of course, their parents—or you’re booking the vacation of a lifetime. The bad news is you won’t be alone on the trains, planes, or automobiles of your choice. Talk about a gross understatement. Between seasonal crowds and potential weather-related delays, travel at this time of year is not for the faint of heart. Here are a few tips to help ease holiday travel stress. Travel Insurance When it comes to travel for seniors, a little travel insurance goes a long way. It’s a small price to pay for financial protection in the event of last-minute cancellations, delayed or lost luggage, or emergency trip interruption. The peace of mind is worth the investment. Senior Services Being a senior comes with the advantages of wisdom and experience. And that is great, but not as important to your travel experience as airline services for seniors. As you plan your holiday excursion, contact your airline’s special needs representative to find out if you qualify for perks like pre-boarding that can make your day less stressful. If you are over 75, you’ll enjoy breezing through security without removing shoes or jackets. Also, be on the lookout for great senior discounts. From plane and Amtrak tickets, to hotels, to entertainment venues, there are lots of special senior rates to be had—if you ask. The Early Bird Takes Off on Time Even though getting to the airport at the crack of dawn is a pain, the earlier your flight, the better chance you have of taking off as scheduled, especially at this time of year. This is particularly important if you are booking a connecting flight. Watch the weather for a week before your departure date. If bad weather is on the horizon, the airlines will usually work with you to reschedule your flight at no extra charge. If you download your airline’s mobile app to your phone, you’ll get helpful info and updates immediately. To Carry On…or Not? These days nobody likes to check a bag if they don’t have to. But the carry-on situation has become a bit like musical chairs. If your boarding zone is one of the last groups, chances are you will find all the overhead bins taken. This means scrambling to take medications and valuables out of the carry on so it can be checked. Even if there is a bin, these rolling suitcases are heavy and you may require assistance lifting it overhead. All things considered, it may serve your purposes to bring a small under the seat tote for your medicines and jewelry, and deal with the heavy luggage at the other end. Hitting the Road? If this holiday season involves a road trip, you will have to pack your patience as well as plenty of water, and snacks. No matter when you leave, if it’s close to Christmas, you will face traffic. So, give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going. Make frequent stops to stretch your legs and regroup. An audiobook can be a lifesaver when traffic is at a standstill. Here’s hoping your smart travel planning and sunny attitude will keep your holiday travel excitement from turning into bah humbug!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Active Retirees

As the holiday season looms, it’s time to make sure you and your well-intentioned, gift-giving kids are on the same page. You could be subtle, and gently remind them that age is just a number and you would love a gift that reflects your energy and young at heart attitude. Or you could try a more direct approach and tell them to take their rocking chair and … put it on hold for a few more decades. The best gifts for seniors are all about supporting the fun, active adult lifestyle. Items can include introductions to potential new passions, shared experiences, fitness and tech gadgetry, or games and activities that keep the brain in high gear. Whether you’re looking to surprise your significant other, or give the kids a helpful hint, maybe the list of gifts below will inspire. Digital Photo Frame A digital photo frame is an easy way to keep the family close, even if they are physically far away. Images of kids and grandkids can be easily uploaded to bring precious memories to life on a continuous loop. For your own wish list, or on your gift list for friends and family, a digital photo frame makes a great gift for seniors. Get Back to the Garden With features like ergonomic handles, gardening tools geared for seniors who want to get down in the dirt—and be able to get back up—are popular gift items. The Age Proof Garden, 101 Practical Ideas and Projects is a perfect gift for retirees who finally have the time but don’t know where to start. Filled with ideas to inspire creativity, this colorful and instructional gardening guide is geared for people of a certain age who want to expand their horizons and explore the world of flowers, herbs or vegetables. Fun and Games If you are an avid card player, the Casino 6 Deck Automatic Card Shuffler is a must-have at your table. This device can shuffle up to six decks in seconds. It runs on a battery, so it is easily transported to a friend’s house or the card room at the club. Throw in a deck of cards and this gift will be a hit for sure. For Mah Jongg, chess, scrabble, Uno or checkers enthusiasts, there are games designed in larger easier to read format s that will keep you and your friends happily engrossed at play. This is a perfect opportunity to start something new. Buy a chess set for a friend and let the checkmating begin! Motivate to Movement The best gifts for older people are whatever gets them up and moving. Buy your significant other a new gym bag to motivate more visits to the fitness center. Transform it into a walking tool kit by including a water bottle, pedometer, and maybe a gift certificate for new sneakers. Or consider a Fitbit to monitor progress. For Yogis or those who have been threatening to try Yoga, a new reversible, non-stick Yoga mat will be just what the yoga teacher ordered to put new zip in their downward dog. Dog lovers will love a hands-free leash with a zipper pouch that makes it easy to go jogging or power walking with their pooch no matter how big the dog is. The Gift of Time When your kids ask what gift you might like for the holidays, tell them the best present they could give you is the gift of their time. Plan a special day to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to have a lovely lunch and then schedule a tour of the Overture active adult community of your choice. This could be a transformative gift that changes your life for the better.