Tips For Keeping Your Mind And Body Active As A Senior

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Bonaventure Senior Living believes that it is important for seniors to stay active and to continue to use both their minds and their bodies in order to remain healthy. Challenging your brain can help you to keep your mind sharp and to minimize the risk of Alzheimer's or dementia, while keeping your body moving can help you avoid common senior ailments including diabetes and heart problems. Bonaventure Senior Living also knows that it can be hard for seniors to find activities to keep active. Fortunately, these tips can help.

Fun Activities for the Mind

Your brain begins to age along with your body and both the loss of brain cells as well as chemical changes in your brain can affect your cognitive ability. However, studies suggest that the more you use your brain, the less you'll lose as far as function and sharpness. Bonaventure Senior Living suggests that seniors who want to keep their mind active consider the following fun activities for seniors:

·         Puzzles: Soduku and crossword puzzles can both be done on your own or in groups

·         Board games: Whether you play with friends or with grandchildren, board games can be an enjoyable way to help keep your brain going. This is especially true for more challenging board games like Trivial Pursuit that draw on your memories

·         Book club: Joining a book club not only means that you'll need to read and think about books but is also a great social occasion where you can have interesting conversations with like-minded individuals

·         Art openings or cultural events: If you are still mobile, Bonaventure Senior Living recommends taking advantage of cultural activities and events in the community. Many museums or even theatres offer senior discounts and attending these cultural activities can be a fun and enjoyable way to spend your time as a senior.

·         Craft projects: While it may seem as though crafts have little to do with keeping the mind sharp, many craft projects require intense concentration. Consider knitting a complicated pattern, learning to sew or perfecting your sewing skills, taking up pottery or learning needlepoint.

Fun Activities for the Body

While keeping your mind active is essential, Bonaventure Senior Living wants to remind you that you also need to keep your body moving as well.  Getting out and exercising can help you to keep weight off and retain mobility. Some examples of fun activities you can do as part of an exercise routine include:

·         Swimming: This is a great exercise activity for a senior that is both fun and safe to do since it places no stress on the joints.

·         Fitness classes like Yoga or Pilates: By taking a fitness class, you will not only be able to stay in shape but you'll also meet other people who share the goal of staying healthy.

·         Biking or hiking: As a senior, it is your chance to finally stop and smell the roses. Go on a nature hike or a bike ride and enjoy nature and beautiful scenery.

Bonaventure Senior Living knows that all seniors will have different passions and activities that excite them. The key is to find something that you enjoy doing and to make a commitment to do it regularly so you can stay happy, healthy and socially connected as a senior.

 

 

Exercise Tips For Seniors

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Bonaventure Senior Living understands that exercising, as a senior can be a challenge. Retirement can be a major change for most people and it can be hard to get into an active routine and easy to become sedentary and stagnant. Further, aches, pains and problems caused by aging or arthritis can also make exercise difficult.

However, while exercise can seem like a burden, Bonaventure Senior Living wants to stress just how important exercise is. With 20.9 percent of Americans 60 and older suffering from diabetes and an estimated 84 percent of deaths in those 65 and over caused by heart disease, exercising is essential to living a long and healthy life.  Fortunately, these exercise tips from Bonaventure Senior Living can help you get your exercise program started and help you to keep it going.

Starting an Exercise Routine

Bonaventure Senior Living knows that the hardest part of exercising for seniors is the process of actually getting started and getting into a comfortable routine. These tips can help:

·         Get cleared by a doctor first. You never want to enter into an exercise routine that does damage to your body. Make sure you speak to your doctor about what your capabilities are and what you should and should not do before you begin any exercise routine.

·         Focus on diet as well as exercise. Exercising when you are overweight can be very difficult. Combining good nutrition with an exercise program can help you to lose weight and cut your risk of diabetes. Losing weight can also make the process of exercising easier.

·         Start slow: You aren't going to run a marathon the first time you try to exercise. Ease into an appropriate exercise program, beginning with exercising for just a few minutes at a time. Eventually, you should try to increase your program to 30 minutes or more of mild to moderate exercise, but if you have been sedentary for a while or are suffering from health problems, you may need to work up to this.

·         Choose something you enjoy. Bonaventure Senior Living believes that exercise doesn't have to be a chore. There are plenty of types of exercise from water aerobics to taking nature hikes that can keep your body in shape and be enjoyable at the same time.

Choosing the Right Type of Exercise

When you are starting your routine, remember that not every kind of exercise is appropriate for all seniors. Your doctor will help you to identify what is appropriate for you, but some examples of possible exercises that Bonaventure Senior Living can recommend to seniors include

·         Water exercise: Water aerobics, swimming laps or otherwise doing your exercise in the water can put less stress on aging joints.

·         Yoga or Pilates: A low-stress yoga or Pilates program can allow you to exercise and stretch to retain mobility without putting excess stress on your body.

·         Programs for those with limited mobility: Shows and videos like Sit and Fit are designed to cater to those who are no longer able to walk but who still want to remain healthy.

Bonaventure Senior Living knows that getting started with an exercise program is hard but choosing the right kind of exercise and following these tips can help you to keep your mind and body in top form as you age.

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Bonaventure Senior Care Talks About Aging

Aging by Bonaventure Senior Living.  The United States is facing an unprecedented epidemic of aging.  Sure, it is inevitable that we are all going to grow older someday, but with the Baby Boomer generation entering their Golden Years coupled with longer life expectancy, the U.S. has an elderly population that is larger than at any time in history.  Bonaventure Senior Living takes an active approach to the senior years.  Retirement doesn’t mean sitting on your behind in front of the television or playing cards for hours on end. Today’s seniors are healthier and more active than ever because they’ve engage in some form of physical exercise for most of their lives. It is a proven fact that exercise keeps the mind, body and spirit young, so if you are not doing it, why ever not?
 
While it is true that most senior citizens cannot perform tasks at the same level as they could 20 years ago, there is no reason why an age modified workout regimen cannot be undertaken by those healthy enough to do so.  The key, like everything else, lies in moderation.  Once you are over the age of 50, physical limitations and chronic diseases – and the toll these things take on the body – can make needs and abilities different than those of a person even just ten years younger.  Before beginning any new exercise program it is important to get a checkup – but if you are a senior citizen embarking on a new regimen, it is doubly important.  Your doctor may be able to help you assess your specific physical limitations as well as clear you to participate in specific exercises such as yoga.  Bonaventure Senior Living takes the health of its residents seriously, and therefore makes sure all exercise programs are suitable for the age of the residents.

Finally, once your doctor clears you for exercise you’re ready to decide how you want to approach physical fitness in your later years.   Pick a program or class that appeals to you – being engaged and interested will keep you going back for more.  Some people like the structure that comes with going to a gym. Others like simply going for a brisk stroll around the neighborhood, the park, or even a shopping mall.  Many establishments have cropped up that teach yoga, and you wouldn’t have to look too hard to find a beginners class and even a class aimed at older yogis.  The point of all of this is – your age doesn’t limit your options all that much. Sure, you’re not bench pressing 300 pounds like when you were a high school football player and you’re probably not running 15 miles a morning – but from swimming, to walking, to jogging – from yoga to aerobics to pilates – you are only limited by your own self.  Bonaventure Senior Living seeks to offer freedom of choice in physical fitness to the senior citizens in their programs.

Dental Tips | Bonaventure Senior Living

Bonaventure Senior Living Oral Health Care Tips.  There are a lot of changes to our bodies as we get into our senior years and that includes our teeth.  Advancing age can put many senior citizens at risk for a number of oral health problems, but there are steps that can be taken to improve a senior’s dental outlook.  Old age alone does not cause poor dental health, but certain medical conditions, such as arthritis can set up situations that do lead to dental decay.  People with arthritis, for example, may find brushing and flossing difficult.  Other seniors may be taking medication that changes the healthy balance of the mouth, leading to a host of dental issues.

Daily brushing and flossing is the key to good dental health no  matter what your age is.  People who reside in senior communities and assisted living facilities may find that oral hygiene is somewhat neglected, leading to the buildup of plaque, tooth decay and gum disease.  Using fluoride toothpaste at least two times per day can help avoid these issues and can even eliminate them altogether. Brushing twice daily can be difficult for seniors who have arthritis, tremors or the after effects of a stroke. Help should be enlisted if necessary to maintain the oral health of the senior citizen.

Seniors are prone to some dental health issues like darkened teeth, dry mouth, gum disease, root decay and tooth loss. Stains and discolorations of the teeth may be caused by changed in the dentin as well as the effects of a lifetime of consuming foods and beverages that stain the teeth.  But most of the changes to the dental health of the elderly are simply normal changes associated with aging like a reduced sense of taste and a reduction in saliva production.  Cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy can trigger the condition known as thrush, which is an overgrowth of fungus in the mouth.

Basically, as we age, gum tissue recedes and decays, causing the roots of the teeth to be exposed to acids that cause tooth decay.  This, combined with other natural effect of aging, medical conditions and medications can speed up tooth decay and loss. Seniors should stick to the plan to visit their dentist at least twice per year for cleanings and checkups. This dental intervention can make all the difference in the world in preserving the beautiful smiles of our senior citizen long into their senior years.  Bonaventure Senior Living.

 

Tips To Help Improve Your Memory - Bonaventure Senior Living

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TIPS FOR IMPROVING MEMORY - Bonaventure Senior Living

The truth is that memory loss can affect anyone, but the elderly are more prone to memory loss and forms of dementia that any other age group.  There are steps you can take and activities you can participate in that will aid in improving your memory. Brain cells can be regenerated at any age, and there are some simple, fun and easy things you can do to make that happen.

1.       Games are good  - Schedule a weekly game night for mind stimulation combined with fun with your family and/or friends.  Get a few friends together once a week and you will find that by making this mental work out social, your spirits will improve alongside your memory.  Board games like Scrabble, Chess and Boggle require a great deal of mind activity – making them ideal for memory improvement!

2.       Learn a new language – Learning a new language has been proven to wake up areas of the brain that regenerate brain cells. Staying active mentally through learning new things also reduce the effects of aging on memory.  Also, performing an old skill in a new way such as trying to eat or brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand can wake up your brain and lead to new connections being made in your brain.

3.       Take your vitamins – Medical professionals cite the memory restorative properties of B vitamins.Bonaventure Senior Living

4.       8 hours of sleep – As we age, we sleep less and while 8 hours of sleep may no longer be possible, getting good, solid, deep sleep will help increase the attentiveness and alertness of your brain.

5.       Exercise – Regular physical exercise increases circulation to the brain, which is helpful for memory and alertness. Exercise is also good for your bones, joints and muscles and can ward off a host of age related maladies.

6.       Memorize –  Some short-term memory problems can be helped by taking immediate action.  If you find yourself becoming forgetful, consider using a voice recorder or leaving post-it note reminders for yourself.

7.       Dark Chocolate is good for your brain -  This isn’t just a chocoholic’s excuse to get more chocolate into their life! Recent scientific data backs up the fact that the flavonoids in dark chocolate are natural antioxidants that boost memory.

8.       Sing a Song – By memorizing the words to your favorite song you are challenging the brain to remember new material over a period of time, which aids in the brain developing the ability to learn new skills.

9.       Green Tea for Memory – Drinking green tea is soothing, relaxing and good for your memory.

10.    Play a card game – The simple task of matching and the repetition of counting and adding numbers in your head is a great memory enhancing exercise. Plus, it’s fun!

Try these fun and easy memory tips and see how much the help your brain become more alert and less forgetful!  Bonaventure Senior Living.

Heart Health Tips | Bonaventure Senior Living

Bonaventure Senior Living Heart Health.  The human heart is a truly incredible mechanism designed to operate at an astounding efficiency for a lifetime. Immensely complex and still a mystery to many, the heart is a testament to the remarkable intricacy and power the human body possesses. It is the lifeline, the engine of human existence, an instrument so magnificent, its presence and health is often taken for granted and not attended to. In youth many live oblivious and carefree, without concern for this vital organ, as everything appears to be operating flawlessly. As one ages, attentive care and diligent maintenance is crucial, with heart disease and irregularity beginning to present greater risk. At Bonaventure Senior Living, caring, knowledgeable experts work to help residents build and maintain the healthiest heart possible. Through exercise, proper diet, and a variety of prudent precautions, seniors can live and thrive to their full potential, enjoying the years that lie ahead.
           
The heart is a muscle, and just like any other muscle it needs to be used and trained consistently to function properly. By exercising daily the heart is strengthened, made healthier by aerobic activities. At Bonaventure Senior Living, experienced specialists guide residents through possible activities, providing invaluable health benefits while also serving as a leisurely, pleasing experience. All too the often the elderly disregard physical activity, accelerating the deterioration of their body’s capabilities and health. Dedication to staying active is imperative and will go great lengths in preserving and enhancing the heart’s functionality and effectiveness.
           
Equally important in maintaining proper physical and cardiac conditioning is the diet one consumes. Excess weight places an unhealthy burden on the heart. Extra abdominal fat often results in a variety of ailments, from elevated blood pressure to inflamed arteries. Limiting portion sizes is crucial, but far from the only dietary restriction necessary. Increasing dietary fiber, eating healthy fats, and reducing sodium intake facilitates efficiency and strength, while helping prevent several nutritional related diseases.
           
In addition to consistent exercise and balanced dieting, seniors must abstain from certain habits detrimental to their health. Smoking depletes the system’s oxygen supply increasing the risk of heart disease. Along with smoking, excess or binge drinking can also prove dangerous, especially for seniors with a history of heart troubles. With age the heart has greater difficulty dealing with stress, leading the staff at Bonaventure Senior Living to establish a relaxing, stress free environment catered to resident’s desires. Also, personnel make sure correct, effective medications are supplied to meet individual necessities, while remaining careful not to over-prescribing.
           
Senior citizens of today are able to live life with vigor unmatched in history. Advances in medical, exercise, and nutritional sciences provide greater opportunities to a multitude of elderly. At Bonaventure Senior Living, experienced professionals understand the crucial role the healthy human heart plays in a passionate, productive, joyful life. Through proper dieting, consistent physical activity, and an avoidance of harmful habits, residents at Bonaventure strengthen and preserve their hearts, leading to a greater and fuller life than otherwise possible.