Page 13 - Mid Valley Times 6-2-22 E-Edition

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Independent Living Assisted Living
Assisted Living Memory Care
Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation
Wiebe Center Memory Care
Continued from Previous Page
use of joints affected by arthritis without worsen- ing symptoms. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also notes that swimming can lead to improved health for people with diabetes and heart disease. Seniors can reap these benefits by going for a dip in their own backyard pools or a local body of wa- ter, such as a lake or ocean. Many swim clubs also offer discounted memberships to seniors, making these another great and afford- able way to reap the ben- efits of swimming.
• Fishing: Of course not all outdoor activities need to make seniors huff and puff. Fishing provides a great reason to get out- doors, and many individu- als devoted to fishing re- port feeling less stressed after a day spent casting for their favorite fish. Indi- viduals who consume what they catch also can benefit by improving their diets, as the American Heart Asso-
vides a great workout and an ideal opportunity to spend time in an idyllic setting. The U.S. National Park Service notes that hiking helps individuals build stronger muscles and bones, improves their sense of balance, has a positive effect on heart health, and can decrease the risk of cer- tain respiratory problems.
Hiking is an especially attractive outdoor activity for seniors, as many parks feature trails with varying degrees of difficulty, ensur- ing there’s a trail for seniors whether they’re seasoned or novice hikers.
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• Water aerobics: The
Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention notes
that water-based exercises
can be especially helpful
individuals with chronic
diseases, a category many
seniors fall into. The CDC
notes that one study pub-
lished in the journal Ar-
thritis & Rheumatology
found that improves the ciation notes that consum-
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Thursday, June 2, 2022 | A13 | Mid Valley TiMes
Health &Fitness
Health &Fitness
Should I move to Independent Living while I can still take care of all my needs?
By Jim dueck
Many seniors, and their families, feel there is no reason to move into a Re- tirement Community and
Independent Living, while they can still take care of their needs. Their thinking is that as long as they’re in good health, they should stay in their own homes.
There are thousands of seniors living in Inde- pendent Living who will happily dispel that line of thinking. Aside from health considerations, there are many reasons to make the move before you actually need assisted liv- ing. Here are a few:
You will no longer have the constant worries and
expense of home mainte- nance. Take an inventory of your home. Is every- thing in good shape, or are there things that have been put off and repairs that need to be made? If there are, that could mean you no longer have the energy to keep your home in tip- top shape. It might be time to move, before your home, which is most likely your biggest investment, begins to lose value.
Cooking becomes op- tional. Do you find you are eating out frequently?
ing certain types of fish has been linked to a lower risk for heart disease and obe- sity.
• Volunteering: Local en- vironmental groups often sponsor cleanups at parks and waterfront attractions
If you live alone, preparing meals for one can be chal- lenging. When you live in Independent Living, some meals are included and you only need to cook when you want to. Many seniors liv- ing in Independent Living say the food is the one of the things they enjoy most along with the many se- niors available to socialize with. You may enjoy cook- ing but cleaning up after- wards is becoming a chore. You will love the delicious meals served daily that are included in Independent
like beaches and lakes. Vol- unteering with such orga- nizations is a great way to get outside and give back, and working with like- minded individuals can be a great way for seniors to meet new people. In addi-
Living.
Your social life will in- crease. Are there fewer seniors in your circle of friends and are you living alone? You might enjoy making some new friends. And one of the best places to make those new friends is in Independent Living.
The residents already liv- ing there are in your age group. There are more ac- tivities in independent liv- ing than you have time to participate in. There are ex- ercise classes, table games, crafts, movie nights, lunch
tion, a national study spon- sored by the Corporation for National and Commu- nity Service in 2019 found that 88 percent of Senior Corps volunteers who ini- tially reported a lack of companionship reported a
and dinner outings and other trips and adventures to enjoy.
You may not fully ap- preciate this lifestyle un- til you’ve made the move. With Independent Living, you don’t give up your free- dom and independence, you enhance it. Indepen- dent living can mean more convenience, enjoyment, peace-of-mind and inde- pendence.
Independent Living resi- dents at Palm Village often say, “I should have done this years ago.”
decrease in feelings of iso- lation after volunteering.
The opportunities for seniors to enjoy the great outdoors are endless. Tak- ing advantage of such chances can benefit seniors in myriad ways.
Levels of
Residential Retirement Living
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