Looking to take advantage of warmer temperatures and longer days? If you are a senior in a fitness rut and you are looking for more fun in the sun, don’t miss this quick spring fitness guide:

Spring-Inspired Fitness Ideas

While you may feel like a rock climbing or surfing adventure is out of the picture at your age, there are still loads of outdoor activities that are fun and can help you stay in shape including:

Hiking – not only has walking in nature been shown to boost moods and alleviate stress, the very nature of hiking offers several health benefits for seniors. Hiking over uneven terrain exercises your strength, coordination, and agility skills. It also can burn over 400 calories in one hour, and serve as a fun social activity in which to interact with friends.

Outdoor Yoga – connect with the fresh air, sights, and sounds of vibrant spring scenery with an outdoor yoga session in a nearby park. Yoga practice continues to prove to be a key instrument in promoting senior longevity, improving flexibility, strength, and breath control. [Read more…]

By Steve Kardian

Seniors may be statistically less likely to be the victim of a violent crime than younger age groups, but the fall-out of a violent crime against a senior can be much more devastating. Reaction times are reduced as we age, and seniors may not have optimal health, so a physical attack can take longer to recover from, cause more injuries and be more life-threatening. Conditions like diminished vision and hearing or dementia can also make seniors more vulnerable to crime. A few ways seniors, their friends, families and caregivers can enhance personal safety include:

Fortify Residences – Seniors who are still living independently in a single-family home should make sure that bushes and trees are trimmed back from the home. This will help eliminate hiding places for criminals. Bright landscape lighting can also help to deter burglars and motion-sensing lighting should be installed in dark corners of the yard or near access points. Never allow anyone into your home even if they have a work uniform. Check ID and if unsure call the company, especially if you didn’t schedule any service.

Enhance Security – Security systems and personal emergency response devices can help seniors reach help if a break-in occurs or if there is a medical emergency. Some devices have features that will also notify family or caregivers if something is wrong so if for some reason a call is not responded to by the alarm company, loved ones or caregivers can follow up to ensure everything is ok.



[Read more…]

The generation of Baby Boomers is approaching their golden ages – retirement, which means that they can finally leave behind all those worries and duties and start indulging themselves. A great number of them choose to spend their retirement exploring the world and discovering its beauty, leaving a huge impact on the travel industry. If you yourself are planning to spend the upcoming years traveling, your travel adventures should be authentic, engaging and comfortable. This brings a lot of different considerations and the means of transportation, both to a country and around cities, is one of the most important things to keep in mind.

First things first: planning

Not only should you spend some time planning your travel adventure, different attractions and activities, but you should also plan your mode of transportation. The most important question to ask yourself is whether the very trip to a certain destination will be part of your adventure. For example, if you’re planning to travel by car, the very act of driving can be exciting. You get to be on the road, make unexpected stops and turns and explore a country as you go. On the other hand, if you just want to get from one destination to another, traveling by plane is one of the easiest options. [Read more…]

Among people over 65, falls are not quite inevitable, but they are very common. A quarter of these individuals suffer a serious fall at least once a year. Many of these people are repeat fallers, which indicates that they may not have fully recovered from the prior incident.

Fall recovery involves a lot more than standing back up because falls involve more than a physical cause. If seniors don’t adequately address all three areas, the risk of a repeat fall increases significantly. So, it’s important to know how to protect yourself.

Emotional Issues

Fear is usually a very bad thing. Many fall victims are so afraid of a repeat fall that they alter their lifestyles in ways they hope will reduce this risk.

For example, many individuals cut back on their social activities. They may hardly leave their houses or apartments for days or weeks at a time. While the decreased movement also decreases the risk of a future fall, it also invites sedentary-based conditions and loneliness. Both these problems are significant issues for seniors.

An inactive lifestyle, on top of obesity and other effects, reduces muscle mass and impairs a sense of balance. So, too much time in the living room actually increases the risk of a fall and serious injury. [Read more…]

As they slowly enter their retirement age, still doing their best to stay socially integrated into their communities and travel the world, the generation of Boomers is experiencing numerous difficulties in their transitioning years. From using public transportation, keeping their bodies as nimble and healthy as possible, to continually sharpening their cognitive skills, seniors of the world are facing many challenges to remain as wholesomely mobile as ever.

So, what can our rapidly changing society do to make the switch easier, safeguarding Boomers’ health without putting too many restrictions on their mobility? And what can you do to stay active in every sense of the word and lead a lifestyle that supports and protects your vigor? [Read more…]

There are specific areas of the house that become hotbeds for danger and accidents for an older person. Seniors who still happen to live independently, or even those who are living with family members, may cook, prep meals and navigate the kitchen numerous times a day. This is why the kitchen can be a prime environment for accidents, falls and other catastrophes that may severely injure senior citizens. To prevent these types of accidents from taking place, follow these tips and safety measures for your kitchen:

Clean up

Many slips and falls take place in the kitchen because of slippery spots or too much clutter that is left around the kitchen unnecessarily. Falls happen when the refrigerator leaks water and the senior doesn’t realize it, or when something is dropped, and they forget to pick it up, or can’t because of their physical health. These things can be very troublesome, alarming, and could potentially end in a dangerous fall.

It’s essential to make sure all clutter is removed from the kitchen and that even the littlest of spills and drops are taken care of right away. Installing bright lighting can help this process as sometimes lack of adequate lighting can contribute to a senior being unable to see things throughout the kitchen, including on the floor. Install mats in front of the sink and the refrigerator to prevent any type of unforeseen spills or leaks by absorbing them when they occur. [Read more…]