New Year’s Resolutions: How V!VA Retirement Communities Can Help Seniors Meet Their 2020 Goals
Published on January 10, 2020
It’s a new year and a new decade, which means many people are excited to make positive changes to their lives and start fresh. Even if you are in your retirement years, it’s still a great time to take on new hobbies, get more active, and take charge of your life in a more positive way. If you’re wondering how to make the most of 2020, here are some New Year’s resolutions for seniors to consider.
Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Seniors in 2020
Improve Your Diet and Understand Your Nutritional Needs
As we get older, our nutritional needs change. Many seniors may require less calories from their diet but more specific vitamins and nutrients to stay strong. Seniors may need more vitamin D and B12 than their younger counterparts, so adjusting your diet to meet these changes is very important.
Declutter Your Space
Another great New Year’s resolution for seniors is to declutter your space. Over the years, we can amass a lot of stuff and holding on to all of it can hinder our quality of life and make us feel stressed out and overwhelmed. Take some time at the beginning of this year to go through your possessions and only keep the items that hold significant sentimental value or purpose. As for the rest, you can give them away to family and friends, donate to a shelter, or sell them online. Make a commitment to begin reducing what you have so that you can have a clearer and more organized space.
Reduce Stress in Your Life
Recognizing when you are feeling stressed or anxious is very important. In fact, about one in five older adults suffer from depressive feelings or anxiety, which shows how common these feelings really are. If you notice that you have been experiencing lingering sadness, constant exhaustion, loss of appetite or pleasure in long-time hobbies, sleep issues, irritability, and wanting to be alone, you may be suffering from depression. Speak with your healthcare provider to find out how you can reduce the stress in your life. It’s also important to share how you’re feeling with friends and family to get the support you need.
Grow and Strengthen Your Social Circle
Another important goal for the New Year is to build upon existing friendships or develop new ones. Friendships are especially important as we get older because they help us cope with life’s ups and downs and strengthen our mind and spirit. Having friends who like to share hobbies and travel can also help us stay active and engaged. It is far better to build friendships that help you get the most out of life rather than spending your retirement years isolated and alone.
Stay Active and Moving
Even if aging has brought on conditions like arthritis or diabetes, it is still important to stay active. Finding ways to move your body can help you manage these chronic health conditions and can lower the risk of falls and injuries. Even lighter exercises like walking, yoga, swimming, and mild resistance training are highly effective in building core strength, balance, and stamina.
Understand and Lower Your Risk of Falling
Did you know that one in every three seniors fall each year, and that falls are the leading cause of injuries amongst older adults? Understanding the high risks and making lifestyle changes to avoid them should be on your priority list this year and going forward. It is important to try to increase your strength, balance, and flexibility, so that your body is more equipped to avoid falls. You should also speak with your healthcare provider to find out if any of your medications make you more likely to get dizzy and fall.
Keep Your Brain Active
Your brain works better the more you use it and there are plenty of activities you can do to engage your mind. Consider how to keep your brain busy this year by adding hobbies like reading, crossword puzzles, playing solitaire, or doing sudoku. You can also explore social opportunities in your area to help your brain stay active such as clubs or book and movie discussions. Or, you can volunteer, take a short course, or pick up a new skill like knitting.
How the V!VA Difference Can Help You Fulfill Your New Year’s Resolutions
There are many benefits to moving into a retirement living community. In fact, when you live at a retirement community in the GTA, achieving these resolutions is considerably easier and more convenient. Here are some of the benefits of living at V!VA Retirement Communities and how our services and amenities help seniors get the most out of life.
Fitness Facilities
You can stay fit, feel your best, and have fun when you move into V!VA Retirement Communities. With the V!VAfit program, seniors can improve their cardio, balance, flexibility, and strength through personalized programs like stretch classes, strengthening classes, AquaFit, massage therapy, golf, and much more!
Activities
Having an active life goes beyond just the body—it also includes brain activities and opportunities to support your emotional and mental wellbeing. Through our Brain Gym and activities hosted in the community, you can spend your day any way you want. Some activities include lectures, shopping trips, library trips, excursions to museums and galleries, cooking classes, and more.
Healthy Diet
The saying “you are what you eat” is true, which is why V!VA Retirement Communities strives to provide healthy and nutritious meals each day via the V!VAlicious program. Plus, with quality and experienced chefs, you can enjoy professional dining that gets you excited about food!
About V!VA Retirement Communities
If you or your loved one is considering moving into a retirement community in the GTA, look no further than V!VA Retirement Communities. We have eight operating locations, including Barrhaven, Mississauga, Pickering, Thornhill Woods, Meadowlands in Ancaster, Waterside in Carleton Place, Oakville, and Whitby.
To learn more about what makes us different and to find out if V!VA Retirement Communities is right for you or your loved one, email us at whitbyshores@vivalife.ca or call us at 1-888-984-8482.
