Columbia Pacific Communities Articles

Driving gives people a sense of freedom. However, various physical issues linked to ageing can take their toll on a senior’s driving ability. As  one of the leading retirement communities in India, we have curated safe driving tips for seniors: Get regular medical checkups done  Seniors must consult a doctor to ensure they are fit to drive. They should talk with a doctor about their ailments and the medications they are currently prescribed. Seniors need to ensure that their corrective lenses are current. Also, seniors should get their hearing checked annually. If they need hearing aids, they must wear them while driving. Certain medications may have side effects such as drowsiness and nausea. Seniors should not drive after taking such medications.  Mobile phones should be on silent mode </strong Regardless of age, people get distracted by mobile phones while driving. Seniors must keep their mobile phones on silent mode to prevent distraction while  driving. In case of confusion regarding driving directions, seniors should use GPS navigation systems. However, it should be used carefully, seniors should pull over to check the GPS rather than using the phone while driving. Understand physical limitations and adjust the driving schedule  Seniors should understand their physical limitations and work around them to ensure that they are driving safely and comfortably. Those who struggle with night driving should schedule driving for daytime only. Those who are not comfortable with heavy vehicles should avoid them.  Use driving aids, if needed Certain accessories can make it easier for seniors to drive safely. Key extenders, brake, and accelerator hand controls for the steering wheel help make driving more convenient. Seniors can make use of these aids.  Adjust your car Wearing a seatbelt is a prerequisite for driving. Seniors should adjust their seat belts as per their comfort level to prevent injury and have an improved view while driving. It is also important to  adjust the mirrors for a clear view. Windows should be kept clear and clean, inside and out. Also, talking to co-passengers while driving should be limited as much as possible as it can draw their mind away from the task at hand. It is also important to ensure that the car is safe to drive in adverse weather conditions.  Drive during ideal conditions If a senior has an issue with taking left turns and the route requires multiple left turns, it is better to choose a different route. If seniors find driving at rush hours a problem, they should opt for either less busy routes or drive at a time that is convenient to them. Explore our retirement communities in India that help you enjoy your retirement your way. With fitness facilities on the premises and an active social calendar, there is a lot to look forward to every day within the community.  To know the cost of senior living communities, calls us at  +91 8884555554. Watch this space to read more such articles!

Congratulations! Finally, you are entering the phase of your life that you have been working hard for and looking forward to. However, with no professional commitment, you may be wondering what to do after retirement. Well, new retirees, fret not. As a leading senior living operator, we share with you 15 retirement ideas that are fun and meaningful:  Spend quality time with friends and family: Plan for dinner parties with your friends, schedule weekend outings with your grandkids and catch up with school and college friends over a cup of coffee. When you are retired, there are ample opportunities to have fun with your near and dear ones.  Volunteer in the community: Volunteering is a great way to contribute to society in a meaningful way. Not just that, it is a great way to meet new people and increase social interactions after retirement.  Start a business: Why not work for yourself? Use your years of experience and wisdom to start your own business. From financial consultation to starting your own baking business, there are immense opportunities to pursue after retirement.  Learn a new language: Learning a new language is not just good for your cognitive development but also helps you make friends from different cultures. Join a photography class: If you love getting behind the lens, joining a photography class can be a good idea to learn new techniques.  Travel near and far: This is something that all retirees wish to do after retirement. When you have all the time, you can explore new destinations. You can live in a foreign country for a while or visit places nearby.  Connect with your spiritual self: Including some spiritual activities in your day can deepen your sense of meaning and purpose. Meditation, deep breathing exercises, being part of a spiritual community or simply getting out in nature can help you appreciate the small moments of joy and happiness. Find your inner artist: Tap into your creative side through drawing, painting, sculpting, and woodworking.  Start gardening: Gardening is a great way to get some exercise and connect with nature. Start with low-maintenance plants and then up your game.  Start a blog: Writing can be quite therapeutic. If you enjoy writing, start writing a blog and share your thoughts with others.  Write a book: If you love putting your thoughts into words, write a book. You never know, you could be the next best-selling author! Participate in sports: Participate in swimming, cycling, table tennis, badminton, squash or any other sport activity that interests you. It is a great way to remain active and have fun with friends.  Sign up for a dance class: Dancing is one of the most enjoyable ways of moving around and keeping fit. Kathak, Salsa, Ballet, and Jazz are some of the great dance forms to learn. Dancing also helps you stay fit.  Mentor students: With the wealth of knowledge and wisdom gained over your lifetime, mentoring less-privileged students can be a great use of your time.  Start a hobby group on social media channels:  Whether you love quilting or collecting stamps, starting a hobby on social media is a great way to meet people who share similar interests. You can share your work with others and get inspired by others.  If you are looking for independent senior citizen apartments, explore our retirement communities in India. At our retirement communities, you will get to enjoy a worry-free lifestyle as daily and periodic cleaning, maintenance of individual living spaces and common areas daily housekeeping, and 24×7 electrical and plumbing maintenance are all taken care of. Our retirement communities give you the perfect opportunity to enjoy your retirement years the way you wish to.  

Fitness trackers are not just for the young. Many senior  are turning to fitness trackers to stay healthy and active. Fitness trackers help seniors keep a tab on their daily fitness goals and stay on track. As one of the leading retirement homes in Bangalore, we have curated some of the benefits of fitness trackers for seniors:    Personal accountability: Using fitness trackers can motivate you to get moving. You get to monitor your progress against your greatest competitor – yourself! Self-tracking can not only make you stick to your workout routine, but also follow a healthy diet and sleep better. Daily notifications encourage you to increase your fitness goals. Remaining physically fit can have long-lasting effects on health and wellness — this includes helping seniors to remain independent for longer. Tailor your fitness goals: Fitness trackers allow you to set daily goals as per your personal preferences and mobility. The goal could be training yourself for a half marathon or doing 30 minutes of cardio every day. Creating your own fitness plans and routines specific to your goals help you stay motivated in the long run. The best way to make the most of your fitness tracker is to set a realistic goal at first and gradually increase the goals.  Sleep monitoring: Seniors need 7-8 hours of sleep each night to feel rested and refreshed. But many seniors often struggle for good sleep. A fitness tracker can help you know exactly how well you are sleeping. Many fitness trackers monitor your sleep and can let you know how much time you spent in deep sleep and how many times you woke up at night. The information provided by the fitness trackers will help you know whether you need to improve your sleep hygiene or not.  Group encouragement: Many fitness trackers allow you to compete with your friends and family. Knowing that someone is tracking your performance and even competing against you can help you stay motivated. You can create weekly competitions with your friends and family members and enjoy the healthy spirit of competition while staying active.  Different workout ideas: Many fitness trackers are connected to an app where you can find personalised workouts or personal trainers. Doing different workouts every now and then can prevent your exercise routine from getting monotonous. At our retirement communities in Bangalore,  residents are encouraged to stay physically active. We have a clubhouse with facilities for indoor games and a senior-friendly gym. There are group yoga and aerobics classes that help our residents to stay fit. These also present our residents with a great opportunity  to build meaningful friendships with those who are dedicated to their health. To find out the average monthly cost of staying in one of our retirement homes, call us at +91 8884555554.

Exercising is good for your physical and mental health. It plays an important role in helping you stay physically independent as you age. However, as people retire, life starts to slow down. Many people gradually stop being as active as they once were. If you have just turned 60 or passed that milestone and are planning to get back to exercising, you are on the right page.  Here are some useful insights on getting back to exercising after 60 curated by one of the leading retirement homes in Chennai:   Consult a doctor: Before you start any new exercise regime, it is important to consult your doctor, especially if you have not been exercising for a while. Your doctor will check your fitness level or if you have any medical conditions that may need you to avoid certain exercises.   Do not let negative emotions hold you back: If you have never exercised or have not done it for a long time, it can be challenging at first. Do not let negative thoughts stop you. Remember, exercising is good for your mental and your overall health.  Find something you love: Doing physical activities that you love can make it easier for you to follow an exercise regimen. You may love taking long walks in the open or doing yoga in the morning — start with what you like the most. You can also experiment with different types of physical activities. This will prevent your daily workout routine from getting monotonous.  Work out with a fitness buddy: Working out with a friend can be both fun and competitive. When you work out with a friend, you hold each other accountable – which brings a healthy level of motivation and competition.  Join a beginner’s class: Learning to exercise with the help of an experienced instructor can be quite helpful in understanding the movements that suit you individually. Also, joining a class can help you stay motivated as you will get to exercise with others.  At our retirement homes in Chennai, we encourage our residents to stay physically and socially active. One of the many benefits of living in our retirement community is that our residents get to stay physically active without stepping outside the community. The retirement homes have facilities such as fully equipped gyms and a clubhouse for indoor games. There are numerous activities such as yoga and dance classes to help our residents follow a daily exercise routine. To find out the average monthly cost of staying in one of our retirement homes, call us at +91 8884555554.

There are plenty of hobbies that you can try at home for the first time, many of them can fend off a decline in brain power and are good for relieving stress. As one of the leading retirement homes in India, we have put together a list of virtual hobbies that you can try with your friends:  Book clubs: If you are a bookworm, start your book club with your friends and schedule a time for a video chat and share your thoughts over books. Each month, you and your friends can choose a book to read. Check out this list of inspirational books for seniors that can get the conversation started.  Online games: Whether you are looking to sharpen your cognitive skills or an easy and enjoyable way to pass the time, there are several virtual games that you can play with your friends. In fact, a study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that playing online games such as sudoku and crosswords prevents cognitive decline.  Movie parties: There is nothing like watching a movie with your friends. There are several apps that let you and your friends watch a movie together and share thoughts in a live text chat. Karaoke: Whether you and your friends are professional singers or amateurs, singing your favourite songs from the comfort of your home can be fun and therapeutic at the same time. To enjoy online karaoke, schedule a video call and sing your heart out.  Work out together: If you love the feeling of healthy competition, connect with your friends and video chat as you pedal your stationary cycle or do yoga moves. Schedule a time in advance with your workout buddies so that you can exercise together and have fun at the same time.  Join a hobby class: From painting and cake decorating to gardening, there are many online hobby classes that you can join with your friends. Hobby classes also present a great opportunity to make new friends who share the same interests.   Discover new hobbies or revive forgotten hobbies at Columbia Pacific Communities There is no dearth of things to do in our senior living communities. Whether it has been a hobby you have been passionate about or an exciting new hobby that has piqued your interest – we fully encourage you to get started and rejuvenate your mind and soul.

It is normal for people to feel lonely from time to time. However, when the feelings of loneliness continue for a long time, they can have an adverse effect on the overall well-being of a person. As seniors are at an increased risk for loneliness, it is important for them to engage in activities that will help them feel more connected to others.  As one of the leading senior citizen homes in Coimbatore, we share with you some ideas on how to beat loneliness:  Consider volunteering: According to a study, volunteering helps in easing feelings of loneliness and social isolation. If your health allows, explore volunteering opportunities such as feeding the hungry, offering free tuition lessons to underprivileged children, and running a tree plantation drive.  Join a hobby class: Joining a hobby class is a great way to hone your existing skills or explore hidden talents. Hobby classes are a great platform to keep yourself busy more productively and creatively.  You also get to meet new people who share your interests.  Use technology to connect: By using technology to your advantage, you can beat loneliness. You can stay in touch with your loved ones and reconnect with old friends and colleagues on social media. You can also join online classes or participate in online groups to meet new people with whom you may share similar interests. If you are new to smartphones or computers, there are many online workshops you can attend to understand the safe use of the internet and social media.  Exercise: Exercising helps release endorphins, the feel-good hormones, that can help you beat feelings of loneliness. You can join an exercising group that will also give you opportunities to meet new people.  Get a pet: Pets can be a great source of joy as they are affectionate and they make you laugh. There are several health benefits of having a pet. However, if it is not a practical option for you to have a pet, you can  explore fostering. When you foster an animal, you look after it until it finds a permanent home. You can also  check out pet visiting services for seniors in your area.  If you are planning to move to a senior citizen home, explore our retirement homes in Coimbatore. At our retirement communities, you can enjoy a worry-free lifestyle as daily housekeeping, maintenance, meals, and upkeep of common areas are all taken care of. If you are looking for a senior living community and wish to know the monthly cost of our apartments, call us at +91 8884555554.

Though skin care is important from an early age, it becomes even more important later in life. As you age,  your skin starts getting thin and fragile. Though ageing is inevitable, you can take steps to take better care of your skin. Here are some skin tips for seniors curated by one of the leading retirement home facilities: Use a mild cleanser: Many typical chemical-laden cleansers are harsh on the skin, causing skin irritation and dryness. Use a gentle cleanser that does not contain harmful chemicals.  Moisturise your skin: Dry skin is common in senior adults. While there may be several reasons for this — including certain medical conditions, it is always a good idea to keep your skin moisturised using a fragrance-free moisturiser.  Keeping your skin well-hydrated helps to prevent cracking and itchiness.  Avoid the sun during peak hours:  It is a good idea to step out in the sun to get your dose of Vitamin D. However, avoid the sun during the time when sun rays are the strongest. When you step out, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going out and reapply every two hours. When going out in the sun, wear a hat that shields your face.  Quit smoking: Smoking is not just bad for the lungs, it damages the skin in numerous ways. Smoking adversely affects the working of blood vessels which reduces blood flow and depletes the skin of nutrients and oxygen.  Go easy on long baths: While hot baths can be relaxing, exposure to hot water for prolonged periods of time can make your skin dry. Instead, use lukewarm water and keep bath time short.  Keep yourself hydrated and eat a  fibre-rich diet : When your body is dehydrated, your skin also starts getting dry. And the chances of developing cracks on the skin increase. It is important to drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day. Also, make sure that your diet consists of fibre-rich foods. Fruits and vegetables rich in fibre and antioxidants help protect the skin from sun damage.  Want to read more about healthy ageing? Watch this space! 

With a growing number of senior adults living independently, it has become important to make sure that they are safe at home. Falls and burns are among the most common accidents involving seniors. Seniors living alone may also become victims of crime.  If you are a senior  living alone, here is what you need to do to stay safe at home: Improve bathroom safety: If you are noticing that you are facing trouble getting around independently, it is time to take important steps to fall-proof your home. Falls often occur in the bathroom because of water and slippery floors. Consider installing handholds near the shower, toilet, and wash basin. To make falls less likely, place an anti-slip safety mat in the bathroom.  Make your home fall-proof: To ensure that your house is easy to navigate, arrange furniture in a way that there is plenty of space to move around. Remove tripping hazards such as carpets, scattered objects, or slippery stairs. Rug anchors can also help prevent slips and trips. Ensure adequate lighting in every single room in the house. Stairs, entryways, and corridors should be especially well-lit.  Invest in a home security system: Whether you live in an apartment or a house, have a peephole installed on the front door. Do not open doors for strangers and ensure the doors are locked. When you hear a knock at the door, keep your phone handy in case you need to call for help. Never leave the door key under the mat. You can go the extra mile by installing a panic button in the house so that you can reach someone in case of an emergency.  Save emergency contacts on your phone: Emergency contacts are important for any senior who lives alone. To ensure safety and proper care in the event of an accident or injury, you should easily be able to call for help. Create a list of emergency contacts – this list should include family members, friends, medical emergency number, family doctor’s number, and the number of the nearest hospital.  As one of the leading senior living homes in Bangalore, the safety and security of our residents is our top priority. The 24×7 security personnel takes care of all entry and exit points at our gated senior living communities. Security measures such as CCTV cameras, security personnel, and access control entry for residents are in place. Each living space is equipped with a panic button so immediate assistance can be sought, in case of an emergency. To find out the average cost of our retirement homes, call us at +91 8884555554.

Just as your body ages, your eyesight too begins to change. While some changes are driven by genetics, others are exacerbated by poor lifestyle choices such as leading a sedentary life, eating processed food and smoking. As one of the leading retirement homes in India, we have curated a list of tips to maintain your eye health in later years: Eat a well-balanced diet: A diet rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E is good for eye health. Include green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, citrus fruits, eggs, nuts, and kidney beans in your daily diet.  Exercise regularly: Many vision problems stem from high cholesterol and high blood pressure; exercising and a healthy diet can help lower both. Cardio exercises such as aerobics, rope skipping, cycling, and power walking can reduce the risk of several common eye ailments. Cardiovascular exercises help you maintain a healthy lower intraocular pressure – which increases the flow of blood to the optic nerves and the retina. For a good vision, make exercising a part of your daily routine.   Quit smoking, if you have not already: Smoking increases your risk of developing eye diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of developing many eye conditions. If you have tried to kick the habit before only to start again, seek professional help.  Limit your screen time: As one gets older, tear production diminishes. This makes dry eyes syndrome common in people over 50. And too much screen time can make the symptoms of dry eyes worse. If you spend a considerable amount of time in front of a computer, smartphone or a tablet, you must reduce your screen time. Uncontrolled screen time can result in dry eyes and eye irritation. Consult an ophthalmologist if you need any eye drops to keep your eyes moist.  As you age, regular eye testing is important. At our retirement homes in India, your vital parameters are monitored regularly, along with regular health screening for early detection and treatment. To find out the average monthly cost of staying in one of our retirement homes, call us at +91 8884555554.