Category: Tips and Tricks

Paddleboarding has become very popular over the last few years. When you see people gliding through the water it looks like a relaxing and fun activity. Perhaps you would like to join in on all the fun and you might wonder, can older people paddleboard?

Paddleboarding is a perfect activity for older people because it’s easy to learn and has many health benefits. It’s a low-impact full-body workout that improves strength, flexibility, and balance. And it’s a mindfulness exercise that reduces stress and improves your mood. You can learn at your own pace from first sitting (on your knees) to standing up. The risk of injuries is low and the only requirement is knowing how to swim.

As I paddleboard enthusiast I see many older people paddle boarding and having fun on the water. And that is why I’ve done some research into why paddleboarding is great for older people. In this article, I share in-depth information on all the benefits of paddleboarding at an older age, which paddleboard is best for seniors and tips for beginners. So continue reading. But first, some proof. Here is a vlog video of a senior paddle boarding for the first time. Make sure to continue reading below and find out why paddle boarding is one of the best exercises for older people.

Why Paddle Boarding Is Great For Older People

At first sight, paddle boarding perhaps looks like a sport for young people. But as I briefly stated above, it’s actually perfect for older people. It has become very popular amongst seniors and retirees. And that’s mostly because you don’t have to be superfit and athletic to be able to paddleboard. Anyone and everyone can do it. It’s easy to learn and this form of exercise doesn’t exhaust you, and it will gradually strengthen your body as the soothing environment of the water will make you feel relaxed too.

Retirees love to bring an inflatable paddleboard wherever they go on their retirement trips. Also, according to experts, paddleboarding is probably one of the best exercises for seniors because of the many health benefits and low risks involved. And I’m here to tell you all about it.

As you get older staying active is extremely important for your health. Learning new things and being physically and mentally active on a daily basis all contribute to a healthy and happy life. Did you know that the key ingredients for a successful retirement are the combination of daily physical, mental, and social activities? So you wanting to paddleboard at an older age is only bringing you good things in the future.

Physical Benefits Of Paddle Boarding For Older People

• Improves Balance – The main goal of paddleboarding is staying on the paddleboard. And standing on a board with the instability of the water is an exercise that will improve your balance. You might fall a couple of times in the water on your first attempt, but you quickly will learn how to keep your balance. And having a better balance and coordination helps you maintain independence as you age.

• Increases Strength – Stand-up paddleboarding is a great exercise that gradually increases your strenght. Trying to keep your balance builds abdominal and core strength quickly and paddling through the water strengthens your arms, legs, back, and shoulders. Regular strength training for older adults plays a vital role in healthy aging and preventing and treating chronic diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis, according to CDC.

• Low Impact Full Body Work Out – Paddleboarding is a fun exercising activity that gives you a total body workout at a low impact level. Every muscle in your body from head to toe is needed to stay on the board while you move through the water. The low-impact part means that you can’t do any serious damage to your body. And that’s one of the great reasons why it’s a perfect activity for older people. The risk of injuries is very low while you enhance your overall strength and performance.

• Enhances Flexibility – As you age your joints become stiffer. Paddleboarding enhances your joint support and overall flexibility.

• Weight Loss – The human body changes as we age. Even when you’re healthy your metabolism slows down and your body fat increases as you get older. And a full-body workout such as paddleboarding helps you lose weight and builds lean muscle tone. You especially strengthen the abdominal muscles and that’s usually the area with the most body fat. The dream of getting that six-pack maybe becomes true after all.

• Helps With Recovery Of Injuries – Paddleboarding is often used as physiotherapy. Many runners with an injury use paddleboarding to recover from their injury because the muscles needed for paddleboarding are similar to physiotherapy exercises. So when you’re suffering from an injury, ask your physiotherapist about paddleboarding.

• Prevents Diseases – According to the University Of Michigan, “Physical activity is one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack and stroke.” It keeps your heart and blood vessels healthy and lowers blood pressure and controls blood sugar. They suggest doing 2,5 hours of moderate exercising per week helps you to get and stay heart-healthy. Paddleboarding is a moderate way of exercising and that will help you improve your cardiovascular health and prevent the risk of relatable diseases.

• Decrease Risk Of Falling – As your balance and coordination improve with paddleboarding, the risk of falling decreases. And as you become older recovering from an injury takes much longer and is often harder as well. Not falling helps you maintain your health but also your independence as you get older.

• Increased Bone Strength – Your bones become weaker and brittle as you age. Exercising and doing strengthing activities such as paddleboarding increases bone strength and overall health according to the National Institute of Health.

• Boosts The Immune System – As you age your immune system becomes weaker. Exercising is the best cure to improves your overall immune system. But exercising outdoors boosts your immune system even greater. Exposed to sunlight you get your much-needed dose of vitamin D that is essential for a well-functioning body. It prevents osteoporosis, and it reduces inflammation according to this study.

Mental Benefits Of Paddle Boarding For Older People

• Makes You Happier – Being near water is proven to make you happier according to the best-selling book: Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being near, in, on, or under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do.

• Reduces Stress – Just as being around water decrease the stress hormones in the body, exercising reduces the stress levels of the body’s stress hormones as well. Also, the body releases endorphins during exercising, which are the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters.

• Boosts Your Energy – Breathing in fresh air and exercising gives you an energy boost that ten cups of coffee can’t do. When you want to get rid of some negative energy, go paddleboarding. The fresh air and the water alone will help you get rid of your negative attitude.

• Improves Cognitive Functioning – According to Harvard Medical School “Practicing a new and challenging activity is a good bet for building and maintaining cognitive skills.“ It even lowers the lower risk of dementia.

• Nature Improves Your Mood – You feel better emotionally after being in nature. And that is because of negative ions that are present in the mountains, at sea, lakes, and in forests. They stimulate the supply of oxygen to the brain and activating the mind and the body as well as bringing more mental energy.

• Optimal Environment For Meditation – The soothing environment of the water and the focus you need while paddleboarding is a great environment for meditation. The concentration and awareness that are needed to stay in balance will get you in a “flow” state of mind where your mind is only occupied with the present moment. It takes you away from your thought and feelings which makes you feel calmer and brings you peace of mind.

• Curbs And Prevents Depression – The combination of being outdoors, surrounded by water, exercising, and your mind occupied in the present moment are all ingredients that help to curb and prevent depression. As you get older loneliness and depression can sneak up on you and paddleboarding is a great remedy that keeps you in a positive spirit and staying socially connected.

What Is The Best Paddleboard For Seniors?

Paddleboards come in all shapes and sizes, so you probably wonder which paddleboard is best for you.

When you’re going to buy a SUP board (stand up paddleboard) there are a couple of things you need to consider first:

1. What is the primary purpose of your paddleboard?
2. What’s your height and weight?

Types Of Paddleboards Explained

You have three different types of paddleboards. The all-around paddleboards are more oval in shape and give you a combination of good balance and speed and are great for beginners and versatile use. Touring paddleboards are longer and narrower and have a sharper nose and are used when you want to go faster and make long touring trips. These boards are mostly used by more experienced paddleboarders. And there are activity paddleboards that are wider, thicker, and have a round-shaped nose for more stability which are great for yoga or other water-based fitness on your paddleboard. And when you’re looking for a paddleboard to enjoy together with your whole family, there are 10-person paddleboards available too. So knowing the primary purpose of your paddleboard helps you to select the perfect shape of your paddleboard.

What Size Paddle Board Do You Need?

When it comes to choosing the right paddleboard, size does matter. As you might understand keeping your balance as a big person is much harder when you’re on a short and narrow paddleboard. A lot of people make this mistake. They think that there is a one size fits all paddleboard. But it doesn’t work that way. You’ll have a bad experience which spoils all the fun. Depending on your size and height you can pick out a paddleboard that is between 10′ and 11′ feet and between 30″-“32 wide and 6” thick. The longer, wider, and thicker the board the more stability you’ll experience.

If you want to have more background information about how to choose the right paddleboard I recommend visiting Bluefin Website. They build award-winning paddleboards and can thoroughly explain the difference between paddleboards and guide you step-by-step in choosing the right paddleboard for you.

Best All-round Paddleboard For Older People

The best paddleboard for older people and beginners is this all-around inflatable Bluefin Cruise Paddleboard. It’s the most stable and versatile paddleboard on the market which makes it the most perfect paddleboard for older people. It’s even #1 voted as the most stable paddleboard out there. So if you worry about keeping your balance, this board makes paddleboarding a breeze especially if you’re older. This way you only have to worry about enjoy the ride as much as possible. And the 10’8″ size has a maximum capacity of 330 lbs, but with the 12′ size paddle board you have 385 lbs of maximum capacity, which makes it possible to paddleboard with your friend or partner and your dog at the same time.

Bluefin makes their paddleboards from 1000 Denier Exo Surface Laminate PVC & Pro Weave Drop Stitch which makes their paddleboards the most rigid and durable paddleboards on the market. Also, the paddle is made of ergonomic fiberglass and weighs 45% less than standard paddles, which makes paddling easier.

This paddleboard package comes with a portable and travel-friendly backpack, 2-piece paddle, center fin, leash, and a double-action pump, which means that on both you inflate the board with pumping up and down. And a padded kayak seat so you can turn the paddleboard into a kayak within seconds. And the board has an integrated GoPro mount on the nose so you can capture all your paddleboard adventures with your action camera. Want to know more about this paddleboard, click here.

Paddleboard Beginners Tips

To get you started the right way check out this video that shows you how easy it is to paddle board.

https://youtu.be/8RNPewqloNw

Is learning a new language on your bucket list? Then as a senior, you might be wondering, can seniors learn a new language?

Seniors can learn a new language because they benefit from their large vocabulary. It makes learning words in a new language easier. The learning process is longer because of slowed-down neurons in the brain. Mental and physical exercise can increase the ability to learn. Being physically active nurtures the growth of new brain cells. And mental challenges increase cognitive abilities.

Now that we’ve established that you’re never too old to learn new things. Let’s dig in a bit deeper into why you can easily learn at an older age and the best way to learn a new language as a senior. So continue reading!

Scientific Proof That Seniors Can Learn A New Language Easily

The public opinion is that learning is hard at an older age. Perhaps you’re convinced that it is impossible to learn a new language even though you dream about speaking a couple of words of Spanish, French, or another language. Maybe you’ve experienced that learning is more difficult compared to when you’re were younger. Perhaps that’s why you’re reading my article right now. Well, let me prove you otherwise.

We all know that kids are like sponges and that learning becomes easy for them, which is very true. Only that doesn’t mean that learning at an older age is impossible. The reason why kids are easy at learning is that they learn every day.

As we get older we often stop learning because we dedicate our time elsewhere. Kids spend their whole childhood at school learning new things and skills. And because life is new to them, they even continue learning outside school. For them, the whole world is filled with new discoveries. And they’re eager to discover everything. This is the key to their success. Learning is easy for them because they keep learning.

According to this research, 60-year-olds and older participants were challenged to learn at least three new skills simultaneously for 3 months. “Learning multiple skills simultaneously increased cognitive abilities in older adults by the midpoint of the intervention, to levels similar to performance in a separate sample of middle-aged adults, 30 years younger.” To sum it up: your brain will function younger when challenged thoroughly enough. Therefore learning becomes easier as you challenge yourself mentally regularly.

Also, according to a study, 60-year-olds often underestimate the power of their brain memory and ability to learn. The lack of confidence keeps them from pursuing learning new things. Then it becomes a downward spiral. Seniors don’t challenge their brains frequently, which will result in learning becoming harder. And then the confidence goes down… etc. Up to the point that you’re convinced that you can’t learn anything after 60.

To make learning easy at 60 is to keep learning as you age. Learning rewires the brain and optimizes the brain through a process called myelination, no matter the age. It’s the process where you experience becoming better at a skill with time and practice.

Best Method To Learn A New Language As A Senior

When you want to learn a new language as a senior, it’s important to choose a language that you feel related to. If something has your genuine interest, it becomes easier to spend time on this subject and learn that particular language. For example, when you have a high interest in Spanish culture, you might want to start learning to speak Spanish as well. 

There are many ways how you can learn a new language. The easiest and most straightforward way to start is by using a language learning application. Busuu is an application that’s perfect for learning a new language. Busuu was named the #1 language learning application in 2020. 

I like using an application like Busuu because you can set your learning program and schedule. When you follow the courses, you decide which is ideal for having a busy life with all the fun things to do as a retiree. You can start using the Busuu application for free. Still, when you genuinely want to become fluent in a language, I recommend using a premium membership. It will only cost you around 6 dollars a month and has many extras, like; 

• It allows you to learn up to 12 different languages, 
• Get certified with official McGraw Hill tests, 
• Learn in offline mode, and many more benefits. 

Get your Busuu premium subscription here. 

Benefit From Your Learning Skills and Experience

Using a language application like Busuu is a beneficial tool to learn a new language. But as a senior, you can benefit from much more tools and experiences you probably didn’t think of. Over the years, you’ve probably constantly been busy learning new things. You became a learning expert! There’s a good chance you’ve created a way of learning that works best for you. So, when you start learning a new language, it’s time to use this knowledge. 

Combine your learning skills and learning experience with a premium membership of Busuu, and you’ve created your own best personal growth program. 

Maybe you quickly learn by repeating words over and over again or by watching videos of others speaking that particular language. It doesn’t matter which way you choose, as long as the way of learning works best for you. 

Set out a plan for yourself. You can save your personal learning plan in the Busuu application when using the premium program. 

Another significant aspect of being a senior and learning a new language is that you’ve acquired an excellent knowledge of your native language over the years. Maybe you’re even fluent in a second language as well. Most people can speak two languages nowadays. Either way, having this knowledge about languages means you know many different words, sentences, and even things about grammar and other language-related things. 

Using this language knowledge helps you to learn a new language more easily. Learning a new language as a senior may take longer because the brain’s adaptive function decreases over time. But on the other hand, you can speed up learning by using your experience and knowledge. So, good chance that you can learn a new language as fast as a younger person, and maybe even faster! 

Stick To What Works Best For You

Choose the learning curve that works best for you. It is that simple when you want to learn new things and succeed quickly. When you’ve set your mind to learning something new, stick with it. Don’t give it. This is not different than when learning a new language. However, it is essential that you choose the learning curve that works best for you. Because when you follow a program of someone else, you probably have more difficulty to become fluent in that language and succeed. 

You have learned best what works for you (well, that’s a funny sentence now I think of it!). For example, when I start learning new things, it works best for me by simply doing it. My mind is somehow more focused on practical things, so when learning a new language, I learn the best way by speaking that language. That’s how I learned to speak Spanish, English, and French. 

My husband is more theoretical-focused. He learns best by first learning different words, grammar rules and then speaking the language. See how two people can become fluent in a language when following a different learning curve? The most important thing is that you stick to the way of learning that works best for you. Using a language application like Busuu can help you to stay focused on this learning curve. Find out more about the premium Busuu program here. 

Benefits Of Learning A New Language As A Senior

So, as a senior, you can easily learn a new language. As long as you stay determined and focused on the way you learn best. Learning a new language is not only a fun activity, but there are many health-related benefits as well.

It’s important to keep learning new things because it helps to keep your mind sharp and fit. Just like focusing on physical activity to train your muscles, you must similarly train your brain. According to this article on Harvard Health Publishing, learning new skills can slow cognitive aging. 

But just learning a few words in a different language for fun doesn’t cut it. If you really want to get the most out of these health benefits, you must get out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself, and genuinely start learning a new language. Focus on becoming fluent in that language. 

A study published on Psychological Science compared two groups of people between the age of 60 and 90. One group was assigned to learning complex activities, like learning a new language. And the other group focused on doing simple mental activities. 

The group that learned more complex activities showed more improvement in overall memory than the group that did simple activities. 

Increase Social Interactions And Activity

Learning new things often benefits your social interactions as well. When you start learning new things you often go somewhere to actually follow a course, where you’ll meet other like-minded people. Even when you’re learning from home, you probably interact with other people via online chats or video calls. 

Having enough social interactions is also related to healthy aging. According to this article, older adults with more social interactions outside their regular social circle of family and friends show fewer signs of depression and are more active. The reason for this is that people need to leave their house to meet with other people. 

Having an active lifestyle is one of the most important things you can do to prevent issues that come with age. Like we just learned, it’s just as important to focus on getting enough physical activity and brain activity when it comes to healthy aging. 

Tips For Making Learning A New Language More Easily

We covered many important things about learning a new language as a senior. One of the most important things you need to remember is that you’re never too old to learn. Learning new things like learning a new language has many health benefits, and it’s a fun activity to do! 

If you focus on the learning curve that works best for you, you probably will learn a new language effortlessly. Also, using the language learning application Busuu helps you speed up the process and become fluent in the language you want to learn. 

When you already have a basic knowledge of a language, you can start reading books in that language, which helps to speed up the learning process as well. When you read books in a different language, you pick up more about specific cultural sayings and humor. 

Some people choose to focus on total immersion, meaning that they change their lifestyle and focus on becoming fluent in a specific language. They do so by moving to that country, creating social interactions with locals, and so on. Total immersion is known as one of the best ways to become fluent in a few months. It’s something you can focus on as a senior and when you’re retired. Maybe it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, living in a different country for a while. So why not combine it with learning a new language as well?

Starting to learn a new language as a senior is a great thing you can do! I researched the benefits of learning a new language and wrote several articles about it. You might find these articles interesting to read as well; 

• 5 Essential Tips To Learn A Language At 60 or Older
• 10 Benefits Of Learning A Second Language At An Older Age

What products do seniors need? It’s a question you ask yourself as a senior or someone who’s helping out seniors with independent living. Finding helpful products to make everyday tasks easier is beneficial to stay independent and find more happiness as a senior. To help you out, I created this list of 20 products that seniors need. Let’s find out more! 

1) Personal Alarm System

Safety is important for all of us, especially when your aging. Suppose you’re alone in the house and unfortunately trip and fall. You’re not able to get up by yourself and don’t have your smartphone with you. Instead of waiting for your spouse to come home or family to visit, you can use your personal alarm system. If you wear the button as a necklace or bracelet, you always have it with you, and in situations when you need help, you just press the button, and someone is coming over to help you. 

MobileHelp is one of the best systems you can use as a personal alarm system. It’s a small device that you can use in and outside your home. MobileHelp is a personal alarm system with a built-in GPS tracker so that you can use it everywhere you go. The system connects with the MobileHelp emergency operators, who will connect you to the emergency responders closest to your location. 

MobileHelp is the perfect product for seniors when looking for a medical alarm system and more safety. Learn more about MobileHelp here.

2) Hearing Aids

Good hearing helps with staying socially active in retirement. Being able to have conversations with other seniors and people you meet improves your social contacts. For many seniors, their hearing declines when aging. Picking the right hearing aid is even more important because you miss out on the benefits when using a hearing aid that doesn’t fit right. 

Using Otofonix hearing aids might be the perfect match for every senior. Otofonix has over a decade of experience and helped more than 120 thousand Americans with better hearing. Learn more about Ortofonix here. 

3) Robotic Companion Pet

Many seniors experience loneliness. Maybe you one of them as well. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. The weird contradiction is that you’re not alone in this. A great product that seniors need if they want to fit loneliness is a companion robotic pet from Joy For All. This robotic pet has all the benefits of a regular pet, but you don’t have to worry about giving it food, take it for a walk, and other stuff. It’s the perfect product for a lonely senior who is in need of attention. Get a companion robotic pet here.

4) Smarthome Device

A smart home device makes your life even more accessible. It’s a product that everyone needs in their houses, especially seniors. With a smart home device, you can control your music and what to watch on TV. It’s possible to surf the internet, follow the news, and connect with friends and family. You can connect the device with a smart thermostat and control your temperature even when you not at home. You can also install a video doorbell so that you can easily see who is at your door without walking to the door. 

The most popular smart home hubs are Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which are both voice-based, virtual assistants. It’s a personal choice which one you prefer. Most add-on products like thermostats and video doorbells can connect with both devices. Find out which smart home device is best for you.

5) Video Doorbell  

One of the best add ons for your smart home hub is a video doorbell. A video doorbell helps you see who is at the door, even when you’re not home. And when you are at home, you don’t have to walk up the door to see who is there. Most video doorbells even have a voice function, which allows you to speak to the person at your door. Amazon Ring Video Doorbell is a great option when you use Amazon Alexa as well, you can find out more on Amazon.

6) Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat is a product every senior needs to create an intelligent home with easy access. It’s a helpful device that controls the temperature in your house and has a built-in AI that remembers the periods when you want to turn on the heating or when you want to have a colder temperature. This way, you always have the perfect temperature in your house. You can even control the thermostat when you’re not at home. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat is a great option when you’re using Amazon Alexa as well.

7) Bedroom Temperature Control Device

Having good quality sleep is related to healthy aging. Your bedroom and mattrass temperature are one of the most important factors when it comes to quality sleep. The Ooler Sleep System of ChiliSleep controls the temperature of your mattress so that you can always sleep at an ideal temperature. It is allowing you to have deeper sleep cycles, which in turn result in better quality sleep. It’s an essential product for seniors who are having trouble sleeping.

8) Prescription Glasses

Aging often comes with general, minor problems. There is a good chance that as a senior you need glasses, either for reading, sight in general, or both. If you need glasses, you want to look good wearing them. Glasses need to be both functional and fashionable. Wearing glasses is an extension of how you look. You’ll feel better when you know that you look good. It can be challenging to find the glasses that fit you the best, but if you use the service of GlassesShop, you’ll have access to a wide selection of modern glasses so that you can pick the right model that fits you the best.

9) Automatic Pill Dispenser

Taking medicine and supplements on time is essential for many seniors. However, it can be challenging to remember when you need to take your pills. Of course, there are many tools available that help you remember when it’s time for your pills. You can set a daily alarm on your phone, for example. But what if I told you that you could automate this process? 

With the Hero Pill Dispenser, you only need to add your pills every 90 days. You can set the program with the helpful smartphone app, and your pills will be ready for you every day at the same time. The only thing you need to do is take them. The Hero Pill Dispenser is an essential product for every senior with a wide variety of daily medicine. Learn more here. 

10) Vitamins & Health Checks

Taking the right vitamin supplements and using health checks are essential for seniors. Vitamin supplements help with aging and feeling fit and strong. Health checks are important to learn if you need to change something to the way your life or need to take other vitamins or change your diet. When using the service of LifeExtension, you can do health checks and get advice on the vitamins you should take all in once. It’s a beneficial product for many seniors.

11) Kitchen Opening Tool

A kitchen opening tool is something you need in every kitchen. Honestly, I use this tool myself frequently because it’s just easier to open cans and jars with it. However, many seniors mention that the strength in their hands declines with aging. So, a kitchen opening tool will be an extra helpful accessory in your kitchen. There are many different tools available, but I always like to keep it as simple as possible. For example, this easy jar opener is available on Amazon.

12) Grab Bars

When you have trouble standing up from the toilet seat or walking into the shower cabin, it’s time to install some grab bars. These handy tools help you to keep your balance when you need to take a higher step. Or stand up or sit down at a lower seat like the toilet. 

13) Grabber Reacher Tool

Sometimes I use this grabber reacher tool that my mom uses all the time. I think it’s super-handy for me when something is out of reach. For example, when a toy is under the couch. But when you have trouble with bending to reach something on the floor, this grabber reacher tool is the ideal accessory you need at home. You can buy them on Amazon. 

14) Vacuum Cleaning Robot 

Are you tired from vacuum cleaning your home? It’s something you don’t want to spend your time on, right? So, why not use a robot cleaner!? It’s the perfect way to make your life easier. It saves you time and helps keep your house clean! Learn more about the best vacuum cleaners here. 

15) Power Lift Recliner Chair

A power lift recliner chair is a perfect chair when you have trouble standing up. My mother has mobility issues and difficulty getting up out of her chair. Since she has a power lift recliner chair, she can get up much easier. The chair lifts you to a height you’re almost standing, so you can easily walk away. It’s a chair I would recommend for every senior! Learn more here. 

16) Stair Lift

When you’re getting older, it’s probably more difficult to walk up the stairs, which can become a problem if your life in a house with multi-level flooring. Living at home independently as long as possible is something you probably strive for as a senior. So, installing a stairlift is helpful and maybe a necessary product if you want to live at home and have trouble walking up the stairs. Learn more about stairlifts here. 

17) Walkers

Not only walking up the stairs but regular walking can also become more challenging when you get older. You might have difficulty keeping your balance when walking outside or at home. Using a walker can be beneficial. A walker is a helpful product that helps you to keep your mobility. You’re still able to get outside and go for a nice walk in the park using a walker.

18) Mobility Scooter

When you have trouble walking long distances at once, maybe it’s time for a mobility scooter. My mother uses one because she has difficulty walking. For her, the mobility scooter is like riding a bicycle for me. It gets her everywhere she wants. This electric scooter is comfortable and can go for long distances. It’s the perfect product if you like to go for longer trips outside.

19) Key Turner

Opening your door is essential to get inside your house. But what if you have trouble holding and turning your key. It’s something you might not think of right away, but many seniors have trouble with it. For example, when you have health issues like arthritis, it can be difficult to hold things. This easy key turner is a helpful product that helps you hold and turn your key much easier.

20) Gardening Seat

When you’ve read some of my articles about staying fit as a senior and in retirement, you probably remember that gardening is one of the best activities you can do when you get older. When you’re busy gardening, you use all your muscles, so it improves your strength. Gardening also is a mindful activity that challenges you mentally. 

However, when you find it challenging to sit on your knees and getting up multiple times in a row, you probably want to use a helpful tool. This gardening seat is perfect for that! It helps you sit low to the ground, so you can easily reach the plants and herbs, and it allows you to do your gardening activities. Get it here. 

Medicare Coverage For Senior Products

You probably ask yourself, does Medicare cover these additional products? I found this interesting and helpful article on Healthline.com that describes the different coverages in Medicare plans. They use the example of coverage for hearing aids. 

In short, Medicare parts A & B don’t cover additional products like hearing aids, vision (glasses), or dental services. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. Medicare Part B is medical insurance covering doctor services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Sometimes when there’s a medical reason for it, Medicare Part B can cover the use of medical products, which depends on your individual situation. 

Learn more about the Medicare coverage on the official Medicare site of the US government here. 

Living in a retirement community is a popular choice among retirees. You might ask yourself, what is a retirement community? Let’s find out. 

A retirement community is a living complex designed for seniors. It includes many community services and amenities, like socializing, cooking, and maintenance. A retirement community is age-restricted, often 55+. People living in a retirement community thrive and have a strong community sense, which helps them find more happiness.

Are you planning to move to a retirement community and want to learn more about what to expect? I interviewed retirees living in retirement communities and looked at the common factors you’ll find in many retirement communities. Ready to learn more? Let’s dig in! 

Benefits Of Living In A Retirement Community

My parents-in-law live in a retirement community for 10 years now, and they love it! When I asked them and their neighbors about what they like most, they all answered more or less the same. They all like that living in a retirement community means that you live with people of the same generation who have a similar view on life. 

It’s easier to get in contact with other people. Living in a retirement community helps them to stay active, socialize, and have more fun. The community members look out for each other. 

My parents-in-law are still youngsters compared to others living in their community. They’re halfway through their sixties and help the elderly do groceries, cooking, and other daily activities. The independent living retirement community where they live also offers assisted living services when needed.

They all do fun things together like going on day trips, playing fun activities like boules, sports, cooking, etcetera. Also, during holidays they make sure that no one is alone. If someone is not invited by their family, one of the other community members invites them over. It’s kind of the community life as it should be. 

Staying active at an older age is related to healthy aging. According to this article on Harvard Health Publishing, social interaction keeps older adults more active. A broader social interaction results in greater positive moods, higher physical activity, and less negative feelings. Living in a retirement community helps you stay active and socially engaged. It can avoid loneliness at an older age. 

Different Types Of Retirement Communities

When you plan to move to a retirement community, you first need to know more about the different types of retirement communities. There are many living complexes and residential areas that are known as retirement communities but offer different services and facilities. I lined up the most common retirement communities for you, so you can decide what kind of retirement community fits you the best. 

Independent Living Retirement Community

When you’re still fit and able to live independently, you probably are looking for a community where you can do everything yourself. An independent living retirement community is the one you’re looking for. 

The communities are living complexes or residential areas where retirees live independently. Still, they can rely on community services for things like socializing, sports, fun activities. There’s often also a form of maintenance included. For example, when your dishwasher is broken, you can contact the maintenance service. They will replace the dishwasher for you. Services and amenities vary per community. 

My parents-in-law live in an independent retirement community. They have a lovely apartment in a large building and have everything for themselves. However, there is a community center on the ground floor where they can join activities, go for lunch or dinner, and meet other retirees. 

Independent living retirement communities are often age-restricted, meaning that you need to be a minimum age to be eligible to live in the community. Also, these independent communities offer healthcare services when needed. These services vary in each community. 

Assisted Living Retirement Community

When you need a form of care but still can do things independently, you’re probably looking for an assisted living retirement community. 

Depending on the community, assisted living retirement communities offer different forms of daily care to their residents. You often rent or buy an apartment or condominium where you still have the amenities to do things independently. The available care varies per assisted living community and the form of care you need.

Often the different forms of care in assisted living communities focus on daily activities like preparing dinner, household activities, nursing, and wellness activities. 

Contuining Care Facilities

There are retirement communities that offer all sorts of care within the community. Depending on your needs, you can start living independently in the community and can use different forms of care if needed. 

Continuing care facilities are often large communities where seniors move in until the end of their lives. Continuing care communities combine independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes into one community. 

Services & Amenities In A Retirement Community

Of course, services and amenities can vary per community. However, there are many things that you’ll find in every retirement community. Sometimes you need to pay an extra fee for using services. This often occurs in independent living retirement communities. 

Many retirement communities offer services like; 

• Housekeeping Service
  When you don’t want to or cannot do housekeeping tasks yourself, you can opt for housekeeping services in many retirement communities. Housekeeping services help you with keeping your house clean and organized.
• Laundry Service
  Many retirees offer a laundry service where you can bring your laundry and have it cleaned.
• Meal Services
  Meal services vary per community. Suppose you live in an independent living retirement community. In that case, you often need to pay a little extra when you want to use the meal service. For assisted living communities, meal services are often included. 
  
  Most residents can decide for themselves if they want to use the meal service. For example, in the retirement community where my parents-in-law live, you need to reserve a few days in advance to join the dinner service in the community center. 
• Transportation Service
  You can use this service to go to an appointment and not able to drive yourself. 
• Activity Calendar
  The activity calendar is what sets retirement communities apart from other communities. It’s one of the most important things in the communities because it helps residents socialize and connect. 
• Common Areas For Residents
  Many activities take place in community centers, but there are also a lot of common areas in retirement communities. Often these areas are gardens to walk in or activity rooms to play games or watch television. 
• Maintenance Service
  My father-in-law refers to this service as ‘ideal!’ He loves the fact that he doesn’t have to worry about fixing things like the dishwasher, shower, fridge, heating, etcetera. When something doesn’t work, they only need to schedule an appointment with maintenance, and they come and fix it for them. It’s a perfect service if you don’t want to or cannot do the maintenance yourself.

Many retirement communities offer housing with amenities like complete kitchens, bathrooms, Wi-Fi connection. Sometimes houses are completely furnished as well. Amenities vary per retirement community. It’s important to find out what kind of amenities a community offers before deciding to move in there. 

Why Should You Move To A Retirement Community?

If you move into a retirement community depends on many factors. The most important ones are what you want to do in your retired life and your current health condition. If you still in good health and have many retirement plans, you probably do not consider moving. But maybe you want to downsize your home or live among people of the same age. There are so many reasons to think about why and when you should move into a retirement community.

The best advice that I can give to you is to make a retirement plan. Consider future healthcare. Get on the same page with your spouse and family, and then decide if moving to a retirement community is something that suits you. 

I asked my parents-in-law why they decided to move into the retirement community ten years ago, and their most important reasons were; 

• Downsizing their home,
• Live With People Of The Same Generation,
• Socialize With Fellow Residents, 
• Close To Their Children, Grandchildren, and Family,
• Possibility Of Healthcare If Needed.

Maybe you have different reasons to move into a retirement community. However, it’s important to know what you can find in a retirement community. When you consider moving, I recommend that you read my other article, What Should I Look For In A Retirement Community? | 15 Expert Tips

You might wonder about the benefits of living in a 55+ community when you consider moving. I talked with my parents-in-law, who are living in a 55+ community for over ten years and asked them about the pros and cons of living in a 55+ community. Curious about what I learned? Let’s find out! 

1) Live With People From The Same Generation

When I interviewed my parents-in-law about the benefits of living in their 55+ community, they first mentioned that they really like to live with people of the same generation. According to them, you have a better understanding of people of the same age. You can share things of the past. And are in a similar phase of your life, which allows you to share daily experiences. 

The interests are similar when living together with people of the same generations. I told them that I always love to talk with older people and always have fun talking to them. They agreed but also mentioned that it’s different when connecting with people of the same age. 

According to them, the biggest advantage is that you often have the same interests when living with the same generation. 

2) Smaller Housing – Downsize

Before my parents-in-law moved to a retirement community, they lived in a large family home. When their sons moved out, they always wanted to downsize their stuff but never got to it. My mother-in-law mentioned that moving into the 55+ community helped here to downsize. She just didn’t have as much space as before. 

So, they only kept the things they really needed and were emotionally attached to. They sent many things to charities and also sold some things they didn’t need anymore. Downsizing was a helpful thing to do. Owning less stuff means fewer things to worry about, according to my mother-in-law. It helped her to be more in the present moment instead of focusing on buying new things all the time.

3) Low Maintenance

My father-in-law likes to be busy in the house. But when they moved into the 55+ community, he was still working full-time in the Dutch police force. With my husband and his brother not always around, my parents-in-law figured it was important to have low maintenance in and around the house. Especially because my mother-in-law couldn’t do all the work, and my father-in-law was still working his regular job. 

Their 55+ community offers a maintenance service for almost all the technical things in their retirement home. If there’s something broken, they only need to schedule an appointment with the maintenance desk, and a service employee will help them the same day. For example, a few weeks ago their dishwasher stopped working, they got a new one delivered and installed within a few days! 

Many 55+ or retirement communities offer such maintenance services. Sometimes it’s included in the price, and sometimes you need to pay a little extra for the service contract. This also depends if you’re buying or renting a home in the 55+ community. Make sure to get to know the possibilities before choosing a retirement home. You can learn more about things you need to think of when choosing a retirement home. In my article, What Should I Look For In A Retirement Community? | 15 Expert Tips

4) Helpful Community Services

Living in a 55+ community means living with people of the same age, but also that you can use different community services. I just mentioned the very convenient maintenance service, but many 55+ communities offer much more services you can use as a resident. 

My parents-in-law live in a 55+ apartment building, and on the ground floor is their community center. Their community center offers services like laundry, grocery shopping, breakfast, lunch, dinner, talking groups, but also personal and healthcare if needed. Depending on the community, these services can be included or are available with extra charge. 

For example, the community where my parents-in-law live offers healthcare services, but it’s additional because not every resident needs healthcare services. 

5) Fun Community Activities

Staying active in retirement is one of the most important things you can do for healthy aging and having fun in your retirement. The fact that you can sign up and join different activities with other residents is probably one of the greatest benefits of living in a 55+ community.

Many 55+ communities offer standard activity programs, meaning activities that are scheduled every week at the same time and day. And specific activities, meaning activities that are not standard and vary from month to month. 

My parents-in-law join a boules club, playing the game with residents once a week. But they can also join a swimming group, dance group or attend a crafts group if they like. The community offers trips to multiple attractions outside the community, like visiting musea, going to the beach, or walking in the park. 

6) Focus on Social Contacts

During my interview with my parents-in-law, focusing on social contacts was something they mentioned multiple times. Staying socially active is something that’s very important to them, and you see it in everything they do in their 55+ community. They have a group of residents that they became friends with, and they all do the same activities throughout the week. 

They love spending time together, and the fun thing is that there even some people that are much older than my parents-in-law. So it’s multiple generations as well! But they are all 55+. It’s good to know that they involve older people in their community as well. I think it’s an important benefit of living with people that are more or less the same generation. You look out for each other and help each other when needed. 

7) Healthcare Options Available If Needed

Many 55+ offer some sort of healthcare when needed. It’s probably the biggest difference with healthcare or assisted living homes. When living in a 55+ community, you still live independently. However, when you need short-term care, you can often pay a little extra to arrange this. 

My mother-in-law needs to get surgery on her knee in a few months, and during her recovery, she can use the healthcare services that are available in the community. 

Before you choose a 55+ community, make sure to learn the different possibilities when it comes to healthcare services. You want to know what to expect when you need short or long-term healthcare.  

8) Amenities Included 

Living in a 55+ community means fewer things to worry about. Often homes in 55+ or retirement communities are included with different amenities and services. Things like your internet connection, maintenance, lifts (elevators), swimming pools, health club facilities are all included. Many communities also have garden facilities, offer you the possibility to work, and walk in a garden. 

There are 55+ communities available that are similar to complete holiday parks. These communities are more like small villages on their own. They offer things like golf courses, large swimming pools, bike paths, outside fitness areas, shopping centers, cinemas, etcetera. 

The 55+ community where my parents-in-law live offers several activities in the community center, but, as a resident, you also get a discount at specific amenities nearby. For example, their community offers a discount at the public swimming pool that is only a 5-minute walk from the community building. 

9) Age Restricted – Kids Free Environment

My parents-in-law and their friends in the community really like that they live in a kids-free environment. They love to have their grandchildren over, even for sleepovers once in a while, but they also love the quietness when they’re not around. Best of both worlds! 

Some people argue that living in an age-restricted place is not a benefit because you only socialize with people of the same age. However, I think it’s a benefit when you want to live in a quiet place without the noise of young families, but still can have them over for a visit or visit them yourself. It’s a unique benefit of living in a 55+ community. You can decide when, where, and for how long you spend time in a busy environment. And you can always get back to your quiet home if you like to. 

10) Ideal Location

Often 55+ communities are ideally located. 55+ communities are always close to national parks or the beach, and city centers, but always in a quiet environment. It’s perfect if you want to spend time outside or love going into the city and spending time in a more quiet environment. 

My parents-in-law mentioned the fact that they can reach all the highlights of the area within a less than two hours’ drive. My mother-in-law doesn’t have her driver’s license, so she always travels with public transport, which is widely available close to their 55+ community. 

When you want to move to a 55+ or retirement community, you must consider several things before deciding to move. The benefits of living in a 55+ community mentioned by my parents-in-law are helpful with preparing and learning more about living in such a community. 

I also recommend you to read my article How Do I Choose A Retirement Home, where you can find a helpful list of things you need to pay attention to. 

When you’re looking for a retirement home, the first question that comes to mind is, how do I choose a retirement home? I created this list with 15 tips after talking to several residents of the retirement community where my parents-in-law live. They all considered these 15 ideas as the most important to choose a retirement home. Let’s learn more! 

1) Share Ideas With Your Spouse and Family

When you want to move to a retirement home, you must share your ideas with your spouse and family. Make sure you get on the same page with your spouse first. You don’t want to be surprised when your spouse has a different idea of spending the retirement years. 

Sharing these ideas with your spouse and your close family helps you learn what you find important in this stage of your life. You can create a list of the important specifications a retirement home should have. With this list of specifications, it’s getting easier to look for a retirement home that fits your needs. 

It’s not only important to share your ideas with your spouse. You also want to share your ideas with close family members. When you’re choosing a retirement home, you want to make sure that your family is involved. Ask yourself questions like; 

• Are they able to visit you easily in the retirement home? 
• How do they feel about the fact you are moving somewhere else? 
• Can your grandchildren stay for sleepovers? And so on. 

So, choosing a retirement home is a process where you want to involve the people closely related to you. 

2) Pick The Right Location

Location is everything. You need to live in a place where you feel at home. Picking the right location when choosing a retirement home is essential for your happiness in retirement. When you live in a place where you don’t like it, you probably want to move somewhere else sooner or later. 

Picking the right location for your retirement home is something personal. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of moving abroad in retirement and live in a sunny place. Or you just want to stay as close as possible to your family or the area you live in for many years. It just all depends on the wishes of you and your spouse. 

So, before anything else, first, discuss where you want to spend your retirement. Decide on a location before choosing a retirement home. 

3) Consider Future Healthcare Needs

When you get older, the chances that you need some sort of healthcare at some point increase. So when you’re choosing a retirement home, you must consider your (future) healthcare needs simply because you don’t want to end up in a retirement home that doesn’t fit your needs. 

Discussing your future healthcare needs is probably a discussion you don’t like. You need to talk about things that could potentially go wrong when you get in a situation where you need some sort of healthcare. However, considering your future healthcare needs is essential to create a happy lifestyle in retirement. Considering your future healthcare needs doesn’t have to be difficult. You can easily make a list of things you find important when it comes to healthcare. 

Instead of only focusing on your needs, you can also create a list of healthcare organizations that need to be close by or a part of the retirement home. 

Ask yourself questions like; 

• Is there a hospital close by the retirement home?
• Does the retirement home offer healthcare at home?
• Is there a doctor’s office connected to the retirement home?

Maybe you also have some specific healthcare needs that you want to consider when choosing a retirement home. Make sure to write these down as well.

4) Create A Wish List Of Amenities & Services

Amenities and services are important for a retirement home. You want to know what’s included when choosing a retirement home. When my parents-in-law were starting looking for a retirement home, they created two separate lists of amenities and services: a must-have list and a wish list. The must-have list contained all the things that were essential for them. The wish list included things they considered “nice to have.” When you’re choosing a retirement home, you can do something similar. It will make the process of choosing a retirement home easier. 

Let me share some examples of these lists;

Must-Have List Ideas for Amenities & Services In A Retirement Home

• Community Center With Activities
• Grocery Shopping Service
• Laundry Service
• Maintenance Included

Wish List List Ideas For Amenities & Services In A Retirement Home

• Sports & Fitness Center
• Swimming Pool
• Transportation Service
• Food Delivery Service 
• Restaurant In Community Center
• Internet Connection Included

5) Make Single-Level Living A Priority

Many regular homes consist of multi-levels, which is nice when you’re living with a family, and you need a lot of space. However, when you get older, you often need less living space, and for many people, it’s getting harder to walk stairs every day when they’re aging. Some will argue that walking stairs every day is a good exercise for staying fit. However, you can do many other things to stay fit when it comes to healthy aging. Single-level living is just more convenient when you get older. 

6) Look For Easy Accessibility

Single-level living is easily accessible, but there’s much more you can think of when looking for easy accessibility. It’s not to say that every retirement home has to be wheelchair accessible. But you want to consider that everything needs to be easily accessible, even when you’re not walking that easy when you get older. 

Consider this, when choosing a retirement home, you’re probably choosing a home where you’ll live until the end of your life. You want to live as conveniently as possible. 

7) Plan For Multi-Generation Living Space

A whole different approach when looking for a retirement home is planning for multi-generation living. 

Multi-generation living is standard in many Asian and African countries. Families often live together in the same houses. It’s getting more and more popular in recent years in countries like the US as well. Probably because for younger families it’s getting more difficult to buy a new home. 

When we’re not traveling, we also live with my parents. Their house is big enough for the five of us to live together. 

Consider multi-generation living when you don’t want to move to a new retirement home. Often you can keep living at your home with the help of your children or grandchildren. 

8) Buy Or Rent Less Than You Can Afford

It doesn’t matter if you buy or rent a new retirement home. The most important thing is that you spend less than you essentially can afford. This way, you save money you can spend on other things you want to do in retirement. Retirement is all about doing the things you love to do most. You don’t want to choose a retirement home that is so expensive you need to spend your complete budget on it. 

9) Consider Maintenance

When you choose a retirement home, you want to consider home maintenance, especially when renting a retirement home. My parents-in-law are renting a home in a retirement community, and many maintenance is included in their rent. 

It’s very convenient. When their dishwasher or shower needs to be fixed, they only need to schedule an appointment with the maintenance service. 

10) Learn About Community Activities Program

Many retirement homes are part of a retirement community. Retirement communities are known for the fact that they offer much more activities than regular living communities. So, when you choose a retirement home, make sure you learn about the community program. 

It’s important to stay active in retirement because staying active is considered healthy aging. You can learn more about this in my article, How Can I Stay Active in Retirement? | 30 Activities To Do Everyday. 

The activity programs in retirement communities help you to stay fit, meet other retirees, and do things you like. Often you can choose a variety of activities from hiking, crafts, sports, cooking, etcetera. 

11) Meet and Talk To Other Residents

Get to know your future neighbors and community members before choosing a retirement home. You can ask them how they feel about living in the retirement community. When you get to know the other residents, you understand life in the community and retirement homes. It helps you to make a better choice. 

12) Learn About Community Services

We already mentioned maintenance as an important factor in retirement homes, especially when you’re renting a home. You want the basic maintenance to be included. However, many retirement homes offer different services as part of the community program. You want to know the different services that are available before you choose a retirement home. 

Maybe there are some specific things on your must-have list. These need to be included in the services of the community. Services that are common in a retirement community are; 

• Laundry Service
• Sports
• Food Delivery/ Restaurant Service
• Grocery Shopping

13) Get To Know The Area

If you plan to move to a different area, make sure to get to know this area first. You want to know what things are nearby. Is there a shopping center, a hospital, a park or maybe the beach. Learn more about the area you’re probably going to spend many years in retirement. It’s essential that you feel at home. 

14) Get To Know The Pets Policy

Do you have a dog or a cat? Many retirement homes have a strict policy for pets, so make sure to ask for this policy when choosing a retirement home. You want to be able to bring your beloved dog, cat, or other pet, right?!  

15) Transportation Service

When you don’t own a car or always travel by public transport, you want to learn more about the transportation services. Some retirement communities and homes offer transportation services for their residents. Learn about what this means. 

Also, check out which public transport is available if you like to travel on your own using public transport.