How to Observe Senior Citizens Day

Did you know that August 21st is Senior Citizen’s Day? Established in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, this day provides an opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedication, accomplishments, and services of senior citizens. The day also serves as a reminder to support senior citizens in living their lives fully and independently. The team from our senior living community in Newton, NJ has put together a few ways to show appreciation to the special senior citizens in your life today and every day.

#1 – Spend quality time together

Spend quality time with the seniors in your life, whether they’re a parent, relative, family friend, or even a neighbor. Let them know that they are appreciated and loved and that you’re there for them, no matter what. If you live far away, you can send cards and gifts, plan a family video call, or a simple phone call.

#2 – Learn a new skill

Seniors have so much experience to share and can become the perfect mentor for you or your child! Spend some time with seniors in your community learning to knit, quilt, make jam, bake, or anything you’d like to learn together. This is a wonderful way of showing seniors that they are valued and have a purpose in our community, and you’ll be preserving useful skills and knowledge to pass onto the next generation.

#3 – Share your skills and passions

Work with senior networks in your community to set up an event for seniors in your area if you have a skill you’d love to share. Get local music students to set up a little concert, teach a fun painting or craft lesson, set up a storytelling session for seniors with dementia, or host a talent show. Sharing your skills is a great way to give back to the seniors in your community and the entertainment and interaction are sure to be appreciated!

#4 – Share your time

You can also volunteer your time for local seniors who need a little extra help, whether you spend time being a companion at local continuing care retirement communities or help out a neighbor. This is a great way to celebrate senior citizens by giving back because anyone can do it – even kids! You can do a grocery run, bake something special, perform handyman tasks, do garden maintenance, play a game of chess, or make nutritious dinners – anything you like!

#5 – Reminisce together about their past

Take the time to find out about the interesting times your senior loved one has lived through – you’ll be amazed at the rich and fascinating stories you’ll hear! Get your family together to learn about your family history, share a lovely meal and settle into the past. You can also watch their favorite movies growing up, recreate favorite treats, or even drive around the neighborhood they grew up in and talk about what’s changed vs. what’s stayed the same.

Abundant living for seniors in New Jersey

UMC at Bristol Glen is one of the leading continuing care retirement communities in NJ. We offer a beautiful and welcoming space for seniors, whether you have just retired or are looking for additional care. We also offer a wonderful program for residents with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia called Tapestries Memory Care. Tapestries provide tailored support to seniors with memory challenges. Our experienced associates work tirelessly to meet the social, medical, and wellness needs of every resident, to promote a happy and abundant life. 

For more information on Bristol Glen, our senior care services, and how we support independent style living for seniors in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/

Original blog posted on https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/bristol-glen/how-to-observe-senior-citizens-day/

5 Ways to Deal with Senior Loneliness

 

Senior loneliness is a very real and serious issue. Especially over the winter months and during the COVID-19 pandemic when isolating at home is safer than traveling, seeing loved ones, or even going to the grocery store. Here is some helpful advice from the team at our independent living community, Bristol Glen, on how to manage senior loneliness and why it truly matters to us.

How to manage senior loneliness

#1 – Introduce new, social hobbies. Whether they bring back an old hobby or develop a new skill, hobbies bring a sense of purpose and enjoyment into life. They keep people busy and help to form strong social connections that fight off loneliness. There are endless hobbies available to seniors of all abilities, from knitting and crocheting to yoga, tai chi, and dancing.

#2 – Passing on skills. Seniors have rich histories filled with successful careers and useful skills that can be passed onto younger generations. Mentoring programs (even ones online) are a great way to share that knowledge, feel a sense of purpose, and take part in the community. Teaching is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. It will reinforce a senior’s sense of worth in the community, while passing on skills to people who actually want to learn them.

#3 – Light therapy. The winter months, especially after the holidays, can get anybody down! With dark, short days, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can easily make you feel tired, unmotivated, unenergetic, and sad. It’s an easy disorder to treat – all they need is a little bit of light therapy! Going into the sunlight for as little as 20 minutes a day boosts serotonin (the happiness hormone) and increases Vitamin D production, which is important for bone and general health. It’s a bit cold outside for older adults at the moment, but sitting in a sunny spot indoors has the same effect. You can also get a SAD light that has a special lightbulb that emits the same light as gentle rays.

#4 – Adopting a pet. If your senior loved one is fairly fit and mobile, adopting a pet is a fantastic option. There are so many benefits apart from companionship. Seniors with pets have healthier blood pressure levels and pulse rates, report 21% fewer trips to the doctor, suffer less with depression and are more motivated to live healthier lives for their fur babies. Pets are also a great way to meet people, and to help someone through the loss of a loved one.

#5 – Creating a Support Network. Creating a network of family, friends, and neighbors will help keep your loved one to be an active part of your social group. Everyone has busy lives these days, but having a support network will help everyone stay connected more easily. Great ideas include a daily check-in call or text from a neighbor, nearby family member or friend, and weekly family video meetings to catch up on the latest news in everyone’s life. 

As a senior living community, we know the importance of connection and take steps to manage senior loneliness. It’s one of the reasons why the social aspect of a senior community is every bit as important as the medical aspect. Here at Bristol Glen, we do everything possible for seniors to live a life that enhances them – mind, body, and soul. 

For more information on our senior care services in Bristol Glen, please contact us today or visit our website at: https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/assisted-living-sussex-county-nj/

Originally posted: https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/bristol-glen/5-ways-to-deal-with-senior-loneliness/

2 Important Tips for Maintaining Healthy Lungs as We Age

Enjoying your Golden Years to the full means taking great care of yourself, from eating a healthy diet and having regular check-ups with your health specialists to getting enough exercise. As we age, our lungs start weakening and becoming less flexible, which can quickly compromise health and daily life. Here are a couple of tips for keeping your lungs healthy and strong, from our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey, in honor of National Senior Health Fitness Day (May 27).

Why Lung Health Changes as We Age 

 

From about the age of 35, our lung capacity and health can begin to decline even if we don’t suffer from lung disease. This is because the structures around the lungs, such as the muscles and cardiovascular system can become weaker, rather than the lungs themselves developing issues. Common examples of this include a weakening of the diaphragm, weakening of the ribcage bones and muscles, and even a weakened immune system. 

Of course, lung health itself can become compromised by health conditions like asthma and cancer. So, it’s important to take a two-pronged approach to lung health by combining exercise with lifestyle choices that reduce health risks.

Avoid Health Risks to Your Lungs

 

Lung health conditions are the third leading cause of death in the USA, with conditions like lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease resulting in 235,000 deaths each year. Steps you can take to prevent these conditions and improve your lung health include:

• Give up smoking. There are many practical and effective programs that your doctor can direct you to for assistance in quitting this dangerous habit.

• Avoid secondhand smoke and air pollution.

• Wear a safety mask when dealing with harmful fumes and contaminants like home cleaning chemicals, oven cleaner, weed killers and fungicides, ash, and the like.
• Prevent infections by ensuring vaccines and flu shots are up-to-date, practice good hygiene (especially the frequent washing of hands and the use of hand sanitizer), and practice social distancing in the flu season.
  
  

Boost Your Lung Health Through Exercise

 

Cardiovascular exercise is a great way to keep lungs fit and healthy, giving your heart and lungs a good workout. Remember to speak to your doctor to help find an exercise regime that will work for you and that won’t put you at risk of injury. Great exercises to consider include:

• Walking. Join a local exercise group, rambling group or hiking group,
• Swimming or water aerobics,
• Cycling
• Dancing
• Gardening

For less mobile seniors, there are still effective ways to promote your lung health through exercise, including seated exercises, yoga, and physical therapy. Many physical therapists and gyms offer programs specifically for less mobile seniors that can be tailored to your needs and ability, helping to slowly and safely build lung strength and capacity. Again, you can ask your doctor and local facilities for guidance before getting started.

Independent Living for Seniors at Our Beautiful CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey 

 

Bristol Glen is a CCRC and assisted living community, which is based in Sussex County. It aims to provide seniors with comfortable, serviced living options as well as rehabilitation care for seniors recovering from illness or hospitalization. And, it also offers expert memory care and support. Founded on a philosophy of ‘aging in place’, our continuing care retirement community residents enjoy a less restrictive care model where they do not have to move from their residential apartment to access additional services as their needs change.

Contact us to find out more about our CCRC and our assisted living in Sussex County, New Jersey, or visit our website at https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/ and book your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/2-important-tips-for-maintaining-healthy-lungs-as-we-age/

4 Tips for Celebrating Aging!

We live in a culture that’s so focused on youth that we often forget to celebrate something that’s equally impressive and wonderful – getting older! Reaching our senior years is an accomplishment that we should all do more to appreciate. Here are some tips from the experts at Bristol Glen, our

CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey.

1. Be proud of your loved one’s age (and your own!): In Native American, Greek, Indian and African-American cultures (as well as many more) people are respected for reaching their senior years – but the positive attitude starts with you! Encourage your senior loved ones to celebrate their birthdays with friends and family and treat it like the accomplishment it is. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be filled with love and laughter.
   
   
2. Follow a passion: For many seniors, one of their biggest challenges is finding a reason to get up in the morning. Not having a purpose can make a person feel lonely and compromises their sense of worth. But being a senior means you have so much to give, from both your work and life experience! Celebrate by sharing it with others by joining a mentoring program or making use of your skills by volunteering your time for a cause close to your heart.
   
   
3. Start a new hobby: The saying that you can’t teach an old dog a new trick is wrong – as a senior, you can learn to do anything you want! It’s healthy too, as the act of learning provides the mental stimulation that every brain needs to stay fit and help fight off cognitive disorders. It doesn’t have to cost a lot either – there are plenty of organizations that offer courses that are free for seniors or offer a discount. Learn the piano, start dancing lessons, get involved with board games or learn computer skills and show off your new skills!
   
   
4. Have fun: Too often, seniors are criticized for not acting their age, but life is all about having fun. Dress up, look your best, play with the grandkids, make a mess, sing along to your favorite music, go to the movies or a concert – whatever you love best. Being a senior isn’t about always staying home and living a quiet life – after all, every day is worth celebrating your own way.

Full, Independent Living for Seniors at Our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey

Bristol Glen is a CCRC and assisted living community based in Sussex County that aims to provide seniors with comfortable, serviced living arrangements that free up your time to enjoy life. Founded on a philosophy of ageing in place, our continuing care retirement community residents enjoy a less restrictive care model where they do not have to move from their residential apartment to access additional services as their needs change.

Contact us to find out more about our CCRC and our assisted living in Sussex County, New Jersey, please visit our website at https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/ and book your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/4-tips-for-celebrating-aging/