By Greg Pascucci
January offers a fresh, new opportunity to reflect on your life and the changes you’d like to make. While resolutions are encouraged, it’s important to make your goals measurable and quantifiable in order to stay motivated.
Older adults listed the following goals among their top 5 things to accomplish in the new year:
1. Stay Fit and Healthy
Studies have shown regular exercise and staying physically active provide many health benefits. Even moderate exercise has been linked to improved overall health. In fact, the National Institutes of Health found that exercise is beneficial to seniors, regardless of age!
Many senior living communities offer a variety of fitness and wellness programs designed specifically for residents – whether they are lifelong fitness enthusiasts or just beginning a more active lifestyle. At The Carlisle Naples, a senior living community, a state-of-the-art fitness center offers one-on-one instruction and specialized fitness equipment. Additionally, with classes ranging from water fitness to virtual fitness games such as Wii bowling, residents can choose from programs that best meet their fitness objectives. Our new partnership with ONR, also offers onsite access to specialized programs, including rehabilitation, wellness, and fitness education.
2. Learn Something Exciting
Just like a fitness program for your body, your brain needs to be stimulated with challenging workouts. Scientific research has proven that taking a class in just about any subject can improve one’s cognitive abilities, rejuvenate memory and slow the onset of dementia-related disorders.
At The Carlisle, the monthly activity calendar is filled with interesting educational programs and classes. Local instructors often visit the resort-style community to share their knowledge on a variety of subject matter. Plus, our One Day University program offers college-level courses, taught by professors. This month, for example, residents can delve into “Women in the Civil War,” The 1920 Presidential Race,” and “Twelve Extraordinary Greek Gods and Goddesses.” Ongoing weekly classes such as Current Affairs, Investment Club and Tech Time also provide opportunities for educational pursuits.
3. Socialize With Friends and Enjoy Life
Recently, there has been increased attention on the importance of maintaining and forming new social circles. Experts on aging have long suspected that socialization improves physical and emotional well-being, increases mental alertness and encourages a more active lifestyle.
Retirement communities offer residents the perfect environment to engage with neighbors. At The Carlisle, meeting new people and continuing friendships are made easier with a variety of social and recreational events. Weekly card and board games offer a more intimate setting for friends to gather while holiday-themed events and special celebrations involve the entire community. There are also meetups geared to residents’ interests, enabling The Carlisle’s newest residents to quickly forge new friendships.
4. Volunteer and Help Others
Findings by “The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research” found adults who volunteer had a more active lifestyle—both physically and mentally—which reduced the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and depression.
A senior living community provides the perfect complement of peace of mind for the future while affording residents the opportunity to continue to be engaged in charitable and meaningful endeavors. The Carlisle’s maintenance-free lifestyle means residents can spend each day as they wish. Many choose to volunteer within the community by serving on the Resident Council or Welcome Committee, while others prefer to be involved in the greater community, volunteering with local nonprofit organizations.
5. Complete Household Renovations/Repairs
Seniors often find the new year may be the perfect time for home renovations and repairs. They want to retrofit their homes to meet their changing needs. However, renovating is like layers of an onion. One thing can be overlaid and is dependent on another. What might begin simply as the installation of grab bars in the shower can easily turn into the widening of doorways or the lowering of kitchen counters.
Residents at retirement communities don’t spend time worrying about repairs to their residences. It’s all included in the monthly fee. From replacing light bulbs to fixing a leaky faucet, it’s all taken care of by a professional, courteous staff. At The Carlisle, residents’ days aren’t planned around repairmen; therefore, they can continue their daily activities without interruption.
“Seniors wanting to discover new experiences, innovative surroundings, extraordinary health and fitness opportunities and the ease of a maintenance-free lifestyle need only visit our community,” said Executive Director Bill Diamond. “For everyone resolving to make 2023 a year of change, I say, it’s a new year; discover a new you today.”
Located at 6945 Carlisle Court in Naples, The Carlisle offers independent and assisted living lifestyles featuring spacious one-and two-bedroom residences, weekly housekeeping and flat linen services, basic cable TV, all utilities except telephone, and delicious dining with daily, chef-prepared specials. The community is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an important distinction that provides residents with the assurance that the highest standards of quality care, services and safeguards are maintained. For more information about the community, please call 239-221-0017 or visit www.TheCarlisleNaples.com.
Luxury Rental Retirement Living
6945 Carlisle Court, Naples, FL 34109
239-221-0017 . www.TheCarlisleNaples.com