Tag: Waterstone of Westchester

We often hear that we need to prepare for retirement in a financial sense. However, did you know that it is also important to prepare for the emotional stages of retirement?

We’re here to help you prepare by:

• Identifying the stages of retirement you may face
• Sharing what you can do to make the most of your retirement journey
• Ensuring you’re ready for the emotions each step can bring

1 | Before Retirement

As adults approach retirement, they often experience a sense of euphoria. This is due to the possibilities that lay outside of their current daily life. In these retirement planning stages, seniors may be:

• Considering where to retire
• Researching their senior living options
• Touring senior living communities
• Daydreaming about how they’ll spend their time
• Imaging day-to-day life
• Assessing their long-term goals

This stage is full of optimism and excitement about everything their retirement life could hold. As they ease into Stage 2, this only heightens.

2 | Early Retirement

Often called the honeymoon phase, pre-retirement, or the vacation stage, seniors stop working their full-time jobs. They begin to make the most of their time. During this stage, seniors:

• Make new friends
• Attend classes and clubs
• Live without any specific routine holding them back
• Use their time to do what they want

As this excitement begins to fade, seniors enter stage three.

3 | Disillusionment

As retirement progresses to this phase, it becomes evident that financial planning is not the sole factor in preparing for retirement. It’s during the third stage that:

• Retirement may begin to lose its spark
• Seniors find themselves missing their routine
• They start to lose their sense of identity
• Seniors have trouble finding a new purpose in life
• Mental health issues, like depression and anxiety, may be experienced
• Applying for part-time jobs is considered
• Seniors feel like they’re just going through the motions in daily life

The good news is that with the right mindset and attitude, seniors can start to feel like themselves again.

4 | Reinvention, Reassessment and Recovery

This phase of retirement is full of trial and error, recovery, and ultimately, reinvention. Instead of living as they have been, seniors should move forward by:

• Exploring what fulfills them and what their passions are
• Letting go of their expectations of what retirement should be
• Determining what could make life meaningful again
• Taking time to do what they love to do and what they do well
• Evaluating what brings them purpose

5 | Routine

During this final stage of retirement, seniors feel happy and fulfilled. They begin to:

• Re-create their routine
• Find stability
• Prioritize self-care
• Continue learning and growing
• Define how their retirement moves forward

It’s during this point that many settle into retirement, feeling satisfied, fulfilled, and joyful at the freedom ahead.

Embrace the Stages of Retirement at Waterstone of Westchester

Seniors who choose to retire at Waterstone of Westchester may still go through all the stages of retirement. This is a natural transition. However, we make it easier for older adults to move through these stages and enter the realm of reinvention and routine. In fact, some merely graze through the third retirement stage because they’re so busy enjoying everything life has to offer.

Here, seniors create their ideal retirement routine through our activities and events, robust lifestyle, and wellness opportunities. When all this combines, life at Waterstone of Westchester makes navigating the stages of retirement easier.

We’re Here To Help Through Every Stage

Schedule a visit to learn more about Waterstone of Westchester. Additionally, you can get more resources about preparing for retirement both financially and emotionally by contacting our team today.

COME HOME TO WATERSTONE OF WESTCHESTER

Learn more about our premier independent living community. Here, you’ll thrive in a beautifully appointed apartment with designer finishes. You’ll also enjoy connecting with friends in our stunning common areas. Come home to Waterstone of Westchester.

Creating a Winning Senior Exercise Routine

We all know that getting enough physical activity is a critical component of healthy aging. However, if you don’t know the best techniques for exercising as a senior, we can help.

Check out some of the many benefits of meeting your CDC-recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week and techniques to make it safe, simple and fun.

Achieving Healthy Aging Through Exercise

Regular physical activity is essential and provides benefits to our bodies, but the benefits of exercise are more notable with older adults. Here are just a few of the ways that exercising later in life can enhance your overall health, help you stay active, and prevent chronic conditions.

Enhanced Independence

Seniors who exercise regularly are more likely to remain independent longer. Various studies show regular exercise helps older adults maintain the ability to walk, dress, bathe, cook and perform other activities of daily living independently longer.

Improved Balance

Falling is a significant hazard for older adults. It’s estimated that a senior is admitted to the emergency room for a fall-related injury every 11 seconds. Falls generally result in health issues, meaning that avoiding falls is essential for healthy aging. Regular exercise helps improve seniors’ muscle mass, strength and balancing ability.

More Energy

Even though you may feel worn out after a good workout, exercise actually boosts your energy. Any form of movement or physical exertion releases endorphins, boosts metabolism, promotes healthy sleep, reduces pain, and increases one’s sense of well-being.

Lessened Risk of Chronic Conditions

Seniors are more prone to diabetes, heart disease, depression and hypertension. Fortunately, a more active lifestyle is one of the best ways to help prevent or manage these conditions.

Higher Brain Function

A healthy body can, indeed, mean a healthier mind. Seniors who exercise regularly have better cognitive health and a lower risk of developing dementia.

The Best Exercises for Seniors

When building an exercise program, it’s a good rule of thumb to stick to the recommended 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week strategy while focusing on strength training, flexibility, and balance. Depending on your fitness level and doctor’s opinion, see below for some excellent exercise options for you.

Walking

Walking is one of the easiest forms of exercise. All you need is a good pair of shoes and a place to walk, and you’re ready to get going. Whether you stroll around the block or do a more challenging hike on a favorite trail, walking is an excellent exercise to help improve your health in every way. A 30-minute walk will get you well on your way to a healthy lifestyle.

Water Aerobics

Water aerobics is a popular form of exercise for older adults – and for good reasons. Exercising while in the water is perfect for individuals who have joint pain or difficulty moving around since water buoyancy lessens the impact on joints. Water also has a natural resistance, which provides strength training without using weights.

Because being in the water is more forgiving than being in the open air, it’s a great way to improve flexibility, balance and strength without stressing your body or worrying about falling.

A sample 30-minute water aerobics routine:

• Aqua jogging (5 minutes)
• Flutter kicking (5 minutes)
• Leg lifts (5 minutes)
• Standing water pushups (5 minutes)
• Arm curls (5 minutes)
• Aqua jogging/cooldown (5 minutes)

Chair Yoga

Yoga is a great low-impact exercise, and chair yoga is even more gentle. Yoga focuses on flexibility, balance and muscle strength in a calm, controlled environment. As an added health benefit, chair yoga has been shown to help reduce the risk of mental health problems, including stress, anxiety and depression, in older adults.

Try this 30-minute chair yoga routine:

• Neck rolls (2 minutes)
• Side stretches (3 minutes)
• Cat/Cow (2 minutes)
• Half sun salutations (3 minutes)
• Forward folds (2 minutes)
• Ankle rolls (3 minutes)
• Warrior sequence (One and Two) – (10 minutes)
• Savasana (5 minutes)

Resistance Bands

These stretchy strips of rubber are an excellent way to add resistance without increased stress. They’re also good for strengthening your core and can be used to increase mobility and balance.

Add these exercises to your 30-minute aerobic activity routine:

• Lateral raise
• Triceps overhead press
• Leg press
• Band pull-apart
• Bicep curl

Bodyweight Workouts

Muscle loss can lead to a slew of health issues, such as hormone problems, difficulty walking, and more. Bodyweight workouts use the body’s weight to help strength train naturally and easily – no fancy equipment necessary.

Here are some exercises that use body weight to help safely build muscle and endurance:

• Squats to chair (Squatting over a chair and then lifting to standing)
• Step-up
• Lying hip bridges
• Side-lying circles

Remember, before starting any exercise routine, be sure to consult with your physician.

WATERSTONE OF WESTCHESTER: A WELLNESS-FOCUSED LIFESTYLE

Waterstone of Westchester provides a lifestyle where overall wellness and healthy aging are always within reach. Our team of professional trainers lead a variety of fitness classes and wellness programs that help our residents reach their goals.

Learn more about our lifestyle and schedule a tour to see what your future holds today.

As children, we are able to make friends from the simplest of conversations, but as we age and life gets busier and more demanding, it becomes more difficult. By the time we hit our senior years and retirement age, we may find ourselves with only a couple of close friends – and much more free time. It’s when this happens that many find they’d like to widen their social circle and make new friends.

Benefits of Friendship

Why is it important for older adults to make new friends? One of the biggest reasons is to prevent social isolation. Beyond this, there is an increasing list of benefits to friendship that can make retirement more enjoyable.

• Decreased risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, dementia and high blood pressure
• Improved mental and physical health
• Enhanced social support and emotional support
• Fewer feelings of loneliness
• Better cognitive health
• Increased happiness and joy

Making Friends as a Senior

If you’re among the many older adults who want to make new friends but aren’t sure where to start, we’re here to help.

Get out of your comfort zone.

It can be nerve-wracking to make new friends, but it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Try hanging out in common areas where you’re likely to chat with others nearby, try new things, or hang out with your friends’ friends.

Join new clubs and groups that interest you.

One of the best ways to create social connections and strong friendships is to just spend time doing things you love. Whether you decide to revisit an old hobby that you haven’t enjoyed in quite some time, join a new group that you’ve been considering or try something entirely new, you’re sure to meet others who could become your good friends.

Try joining an exercise class.

Finding a class that enhances your health and wellness doesn’t just provide many physical and mental health benefits. It’ll also introduce you to those who want to remain active and healthy, too. Take up a yoga, tai chi or a group fitness class to ensure you’re surrounded by others with the same goals as you.

Set up weekly get-togethers and meetings.

Whether you join book clubs, hold recipe swaps, attend brunches or begin hosting cocktail hours, these weekly meetings can be a great way to get to know new people.

To enhance connection or to help you stay involved when you aren’t able to meet in person, create a social network via Facebook groups or hold virtual meetings. It might not feel the same as meeting face-to-face, but it can provide a short-term solution.

Chat with those you see frequently, or say hello to a stranger.

Do you notice you see the same people in passing every day? Stop to chat, or simply say hello; you never know, it could spark a new friendship.

Say yes to unexpected invitations.

Have you been invited to an event you wouldn’t usually attend? Instead of declining the invite, choose to accept! Has an acquaintance asked you if you’d like to join them for dinner or an outing? Go with them. Not only can turning your usual “no” into a “yes” introduce you to new things you might enjoy, but this can help you meet new people, too.

Join a cause you’re passionate about or volunteer.

By focusing on the things that are most important to you, you might find yourself making new friends quickly. Consider volunteering at an animal shelter, helping out at a soup kitchen, volunteering to teach a class, or mentoring others. No matter what you choose, giving back can be a great way to gain new friends while increasing your involvement within your community.

Make New Friends at Waterstone of Westchester

When seniors make a move to Waterstone, they don’t just open the door to a world of possibilities. They open the door to endless opportunities to make new friends and expand their social circle.

With a range of programs and social activities, wellness classes and a walkable location, there are plenty of chances to make new friends. Enjoy one of many cultural or social programs offered daily, try a new class in our mind-body studio, explore the surrounding area, or dine with someone that you’ve just met. No matter what you decide, the choices are all yours.

COME HOME TO WATERSTONE OF WESTCHESTER

With an array of activities and events, a focus on a robust lifestyle, and a commitment to wellness, life at Waterstone of Westchester takes the idea of home to an entirely new level.

Learn more about our premier independent living community where you’ll thrive in a beautifully appointed apartment with designer finishes and enjoy connecting with friends in our stunning common areas. Come home to Waterstone of Westchester.