Spring Activities for Seniors

With spring in full bloom, many retirees are looking for fun and exciting things to do in the beautiful warm weather, even in retirement community living. As children and grandchildren look for things to do with their parents and grandparents, you don’t have to go very far to enjoy these fun activities with your loved ones. A few of these fun and simple activities can keep you and your family enjoying the springtime weather on your next visit home.

Flying Kites: Activities like this can be fun for the whole family, not just the children! You can feel like a kid again with this exhilarating activity, all while also engaging in a little exercise and getting fresh air!

Gardening: Gardening goes hand-in-hand with spring time, making it an ideal activity to enjoy spring time blooms. This productive activity can give you a bit of exercise, and kids love to participate because they get to play in the dirt. Reap the fruits of your labor throughout the year with this excellent activity.

Biking: Any type of outdoor sport can be beneficial for senior living, and biking is one of them. Biking is a low-impact aerobic sport that puts less stress on your knees than walking or jogging. Just because you’re growing older, doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying some of your favorite outdoor sports.

Drawing and Painting: Luckily this can be done outside, and inside when the spring showers come around. Take some time to observe what’s around you, or just take a look outside your window and re-create the beauty of nature. It not only keeps your mind active, but it’s a fun activity in which you can immerse yourself.

Swimming: The weather in Florida tends to get a little warm, so why not take a dip in the pool while enjoying the outdoors? Swimming is beneficial for your health, and can keep you cool in the spring and the upcoming summer as well!

The beautiful springtime weather can encourage you to become more active while spending time with the ones you love. Whether you live at home or in a retirement living community, keeping active is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Oakmonte Village senior apartments will keep you living the life you want while engaging in a comfortable active lifestyle. Call us at 407-732-5800 to learn more about our amenities and how we can help you enjoy a healthy life!

Tips for a Smooth Transition to a Senior Living Community

Change is often hard and sometimes it’s difficult to know how to have a smooth transition from something you’ve always known to something new. Well here are a few tips to help you make that smooth transition to a Senior Living Community:

1. Call to schedule a tour, tour the community and get a feel for the environment. Does it feel right? Do you feel happy or excited at the idea of living there?

2. Visit the units, attend an event and explore the grounds. Even buying lunch and having it on the property will give you an idea of how it would feel to live there.

3. Bring up any questions or concerns you have, and if possible, ask a few residents. They can tell you first hand their experiences and if it’s the right lifestyle for you. Meeting residents, building friendships and exploring can help make the transition more comfortable and easy.

4. Make sure your finances are in order and if your family members are helping you out talk to them openly about it. It’s important to feel safe, secure and check that everyone is on the same page.

If you have any other questions or concerns about a senior living community,  please contact Oakmonte Village at http://oakmontevillage.com/index.html

Springtime Activities for Seniors

How Facebook Helps Improve Cognitive Performance in Seniors

Recent studies have shown that seniors who use Facebook, a popular social networking website, have seen improved cognitive skills and performance. It has always been said that social communication is one of the biggest keys for seniors to live a healthier and more active lifestyle, and Facebook does just that, by helping seniors feel more socially connected. Whether you live in an Orlando retirement community or in the comfort of your own home, you can instantly connect to friends and family through the convenience of social networking.

It is often stated that learning something new and staying active both mentally and physically leads to better cognition, reiterating the hypothesis of “using it or losing it.” In this case, it’s using your brain that keeps you connected. With the influx of information being posted every minute on Facebook, there is always new information that your brain will be constantly focused on. Staying connected and regularly updating their profile also made seniors feel less lonely, while improving social engagement and social support that leads seniors to do better cognitively.

Our Orlando retirement community at Oakmonte Village offers a variety of amenities that can also help contribute to a healthier and active lifestyle. Healthy senior living doesn’t have to stop as you transition to an independent senior living Orlando community! Call us today at 407-732-5800 to learn more about our senior living community and amenities offered at our residences.

4 Financial Mistakes to Avoid Before Retirement

Dealing with money when it comes to retirement and investing can give us a headache, and can often be a stressful thing to deal with. As we grow into retirement, we begin to worry more about how we will pay for our lives while being comfortable at the same time. Whether you are looking to retire and move into an Orlando retirement community or you want to save money and travel during retirement, keep in mind a few mistakes to avoid as you are planning your financial future.

1. Not planning your senior living costs. Many of us hope to stay in the comforts of our own home as we grow older, but things often don’t go as we planned. We always hope for the best, but it’s always a good idea to plan for long-term care, even if it means saving to move into an Orlando retirement community.

2. Not managing your money properly. Too many people live paycheck to paycheck, and fail to adequately save money or invest into something that would help them in their retirement years. It might take a little time, but it’s very important that you get into the habit of saving, budgeting and investing money for your future.

3. Falling victim to scams. More than one million seniors are scammed each year for deals that are often too good to be true. This costs the senior population nearly $3 billion annually! It’s important to be much more cautious with your money and learn fraud prevention tips to avoid damaging your financial future.

4. Expecting a short retirement. Seniors often underestimate their longevity and how much they will actually need during their retirement years. It’s always a safe bet to save more than you think you need, especially now with lifespans reaching into the 80s and 90s for seniors.

Plan your retirement efficiently so you won’t have to worry about your financial future and whether you can afford living in an Orlando retirement community. Call Oakmonte Village today at 407-732-5800 to learn about our active senior living and how it can benefit your future.

6 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia

It’s a common belief that dementia is unavoidable as you grow older, but researchers are now suggesting that lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk for developing dementia as you age. Dementia isn’t necessarily a disease, but a set of signs and symptoms that affect cognitive areas including memory, language, and attention. Many Orlando retirement communities are beginning to incorporate dementia care centers into their services, but there are several ways to reduce the number of seniors who suffer from dementia. Here are a few ways that can reduce your risk of developing dementia and its symptoms.

1. Use your brain. It’s necessary to keep your brain active by engaging in mental activities like crosswords, card games or learning something new, like a language. Just like physical exercise protects your body against deteriorating health, mental exercise protects against deteriorating cognitive health.

2. Get out and exercise. The benefits of exercise include weight maintenance, low cholesterol, improved cardiovascular health, and now protection against the onset of dementia. It can also be a social outlet and stress reliever, both which improve mental health.

3. Reduce your consumption of alcohol. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is a big risk factor for memory loss, and can accelerate the onset of dementia. Alcohol has a direct effect on brain cells which can ultimately damage the brain and affect judgement.

4. Get enough sleep throughout the night. Sleep deprivation can have a negative effect on your mood and reaction time. Sleeping helps clear the brain of amyloid plaques that are believed to cause Alzheimer’s. Symptoms of dementia may appear from sleeping poorly.

5. Part of having a healthy mind is experiencing positive feelings. It is thought that social and mental stimulation from happiness can help the brain similar to when you use your brain for other mental activities.

6. Eating heart healthy foods also contributes to your mental well-being. This includes fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grain food, low-fat dairy products and food containing omega-3s like fish. Pair this with exercise and you can live a healthier life that contributes to a better well-being.

Orlando retirement communities can help contribute to a seniors’ well-being and active lifestyle by offering a variety of activities for seniors to enjoy, including dancing, arts & crafts, swimming and much more. If you or your loved one are interested in Oakmonte Village and our Orlando retirement communities, call us at 407-732-5800 to learn more about our active community.

Music Therapy for Seniors with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Many studies have taken place that suggest seniors with memory loss, especially those who suffer from Dementia and Alzheimers in an Orlando retirement community, are able to remember and respond to music in a number of different ways. Several clinical studies of seniors living with Alzheimers and dementia had shown reduced depression, increased sociability, movement and cognitive ability when exposed to music that had been familiar to them. Music therapy is being introduced in many alzheimer’s and dementia care communities to help recall memories and remember new information.

The idea behind using music therapy with dementia and alzheimer’s patients is to see if it can invoke any type of response or link between the music and familiar memories. Although an Orlando retirement community may offer musical events and entertainment, some may specifically offer music therapy for memory loss residents. Music therapy doesn’t reverse the effects of memory loss, but it does help improve a resident’s quality of life.

Our brain stores the memory of music deeper than anything else, and can evoke emotions that bring with it memory. Many music therapy programs improve the wellbeing of seniors, including:

•    Improving the recall of memory

•    Reduced signs of depression

•    Elevated moods

•    Lower aggression

•    Exhibits social interaction

•    Stimulates interest

Many cases involving music therapy have evoked instances of speech or singing along, and can even have physical benefits. If patients aren’t using their hands much, they can be engaged to clap or drum their fingers along with the music they are listening to. For seniors with dementia or alzheimers, it can be a very strong stimuli for emotions and communication.

Oakmonte Village is an Orlando retirement community that offers our residents an exciting and active life with a variety of activities that promote healthy living. To see if our Orlando retirement community is right for you or your loved one, call us at 407-732-5800 and stop by for a visit.

Can Coffee Help Fight Diabetes?

Many Americans can’t go the day without their daily cup of coffee thanks to the energy boosting benefits it provides us. Recently, more studies have been showing the increased health benefits that come from coffee, including reduced heart failure, and now diabetes. A senior living in an Orlando retirement community with a fear of diabetes may be put at ease knowing that drinking three to four cups of coffee a day can help prevent the disease.

According to a recent study, individuals who consumed three to four cups of coffee a day have an approximately 25 percent less risk of developing diabetes. It is suggested that certain compounds in coffee can help inhibit hIAPP (human islet amyloid polypeptide), which is found in those who have diabetes and can increase the risk of developing the disease. Although you shouldn’t be drinking sugary coffee drinks like frappuccinos and lattes, drinking regular coffee on a daily basis offers a number of different health benefits for seniors.

If you’re looking for other ways to decrease your risk of developing diabetes, it’s recommended that seniors exercise or walk a majority of days during the week, engage in a healthy diet, and lose weight. Coffee can also reduce risk factors that contribute to heart disease and stroke, and lowers the risk for heart arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat).  This is something we definitely encourage at our Orlando retirement community, but only in moderation.

Many people have suggested that the caffeine in coffee is what helps decrease health risks, but studies have also shown that decaffeinated coffee also contributes to lowering your risk of diabetes. Coffee also contains antioxidants, which have been linked to health benefits including protection against cancer and heart disease and could be a factor in reducing the risk of diabetes.

Oakmonte Village is an independent Orlando retirement community that contributes to the well-being of our residents and promotes healthy and active living so you can live life to the fullest. Call us at 407-732-5800 to learn more about our amenities and how we can help you transition to our active senior living community!

Vitamin D and Exercise Can Help Prevent Falls

Seniors are more prone to falls and fractures more than any other age group, but it’s becoming more common for them to engage in activities to improve fitness. We can develop a number of bone deficiencies due to lack of nutrition, which can lead seniors to be more likely to break or fracture a bone. Studies have shown that lack of Vitamin D can cause osteoporosis, cancer, muscle weakness, and can increase the risk of falling. At Oakmonte’s Orlando senior living community, we promote healthy living so you can avoid complications later down the road.

Vitamin D has been known to prevent bone loss, and it’s suggested that maintaining healthy bones helps promote better balance. Vitamin D also helps absorb calcium that essentially supplements the strengthening of bones. A report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that elderly women who took Vitamin D and calcium for several months reduced their risk of falling by almost 50 percent.

Vitamin D can be found in a number of different foods that we often eat, including whole eggs, fatty fish, and fortified milk. Even just a few minutes under the sun can boost your production of Vitamin D. Increased exercise has also been shown to decrease the risk of falling by building strength, balance and coordination.

Oakmonte Village a senior living Orlando community that offers a variety of activities that promote healthy and active living. Our Orlando senior living community lets you live comfortably and independently while enjoying the number of amenities that we have to offer. Call us today at 407-732-5801 to learn more about our active senior community.

6 Ways to Avoid Senior Identity Theft

Seniors are unfortunately a large percent of individuals who become the victims of frauds and scams across the country. Scammers often believe that seniors may be unaware of their finances or assume that they may not remember or are coherent enough to realize that they are being scammed. Orlando senior living communities help seniors avoid the potential for fraudulent transactions, but there are still opportunities for scams and identity theft to happen no matter what.

Many seniors are used to carrying around their social security card, but this can be dangerous. It’s best to try to memorize your number or store it in a safe place at home so you don’t run the risk of losing it.

Store important documents in a lockbox; if you are throwing away documents that have personal information on them, invest in a shredder to make sure they are getting properly disposed of.

Avoid giving out any type of information over the phone. If someone calls claiming to be a credit card company, hang up and call the number on your statement. Real companies won’t ask for personal information over the phone.

Always look over your credit card statement and credit reports and make sure there are no suspicious charges or activities that look unusual.

Make copies of your drivers license, credit cards, and anything else important that might be in your wallet. If your wallet is stolen, immediately cancel any existing credit card and contact your insurance company.

Limit your online purchases and instances on the internet where you may be prompted to enter important and personal information such as credit card numbers or your social security number.

Oakmonte Village’s Orlando senior living community understands the importance of avoiding these identity theft dangers and by surrounding yourself with friends and neighbors at Oakmonte Village you can maintain a stress-free living. Call us today at 407-732-5800 to learn more about our active senior lifestyle.