Columbia Pacific Communities Articles

Exercising doesn’t need to be complicated. Something as simple as a daily walk can be quite beneficial. Walking is one of the least expensive and simple forms of exercise. People of all ages, including those who have never taken part in a physical activity can participate in walking. As the risk of injury is low, walking is ideal for seniors, even those with limited mobility. It is more convenient than other forms of exercise as it does not require any fitness level or skill. Walking in groups offers several advantages – such as motivation and support from other group members and opportunities to socialise. There are many benefits of starting a walking club in senior citizen housing projects: Beneficial for those with existing medical conditions: Walking in groups can be beneficial for older adults with chronic health conditions, such as arthritis, dementia, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. In several studies, it has been found that participants with health issues, have benefited from walking in groups as they have experienced a lower heart rate and cholesterol level. Banish boredom: Walking alone is indeed like meditation but at times it can get monotonous. Getting a few friends to walk with you can be more beneficial than you think. When you walk in groups, it gives you an opportunity to get to know new people. The camaraderie you experience in a walking club helps you stay on track with walking. You can also enter charity walking events as a group. Independent ageing: It can be difficult for some people to keep themselves motivated to walk alone. It could be because of limited mobility. Joining a walking club is a great idea for them. As people age, they may lose muscle and bone mass, causing them to be dependent on walking aids. Walking regularly can help them gain balance and reduce the risk of falls. How to get started? Identify 3-5 people who are interested in walking and can help promote and encourage the club. Ask the people you see walking every morning. Pick a time of the day and the specific days. Though it would be ideal for the club to meet every day, 2-3 times a week is also great. Pick a walking route or walk around a local park. Doing this is important as this would help you determine the amount of time spent walking. There are several health apps that help you keep track of steps walked or calories burnt. Keeping a track of daily progress can be quite motivating.

Social media is a great way for older adults to keep in touch with old friends and family. However, social media also has its risks: it is increasingly becoming a tool to scam people, especially the elders. Here are a few useful tips on personal safety on social media for seniors. If you are on social media to connect with old friends and family, here are some simple suggestions that will help keep you from being an easy target: Set a strong password: Use strong and unique passwords. Avoid sharing your passwords with anyone, unless you’ve asked someone you trust to manage your accounts. If you have a tendency of forgetting passwords, write them down on a piece of paper and keep it in a place which only you can access. Protecting your social media passwords will prevent an unscrupulous person from using your account to impersonate you and use your account for a scam. Make use of privacy settings to your advantage: Social media sites have settings that let you control who can see your posts. Some sites have extensive controls where you can choose which posts are visible to your friends or friends of friends or public. Before you post on your social media account, it’s good to get to know its privacy policies and settings. You can also adjust the privacy settings of your smartphones by restricting who can access your location, contacts and other personal information. Think before your post: Be selective about what you post on social media. Posts that reveal information like when you are going to be away from your home or when will you be home alone should be avoided. If you are going on a vacation, post the pictures once you are back. Avoid posting personal information such as bank account information, Aadhaar card number on social media. If another user asks for such information, leave the conversation as it may be a scam. Beware of scam messages: Avoid clicking on links that may say that you have won money or messages claiming to be a family member who is in trouble and needs money. Scammers may solicit money posing as a fake charity, especially after a natural disaster. If you are receiving messages from someone you don’t know, you should probably ignore it.

When it comes to outdoor exercises, the benefits are many. Outdoor exercise is a way to get your vitamin D through sunlight. Those suffering from vitamin D deficiency are at an increased risk of suffering from osteoporosis and heart disease. There are studies that indicate that exercising outdoors is likely to be more beneficial to mental health than indoor activities. Exercising in the natural environment can have positive effects on self-esteem and improve one’s mood. Senior citizen homes in India like ours understand the benefits of outdoor exercise and that’s why we offer a wide range of physical activities that can be performed outdoors, such as: Yoga classes: By practising yoga in the open, you can enjoy the beautiful weather and at the same time maintain an active lifestyle that promotes good physical and cognitive health. When practising outdoors, your mind has to focus differently than it would do in a studio or a room. The day at our senior living communities starts with yoga classes and stretching exercises. Outdoor meditation: Have you ever wondered why meditation retreats are located in the mountains or in the deep forest? Well, there are many benefits of meditating close to nature. Our senior citizen housing facilities are designed to help our residents enjoy lush green landscapes ideal for relaxed walks, meditation and socialising while enjoying the fresh air. Walking and jogging paths: Going for a daily walk offers significant mental and physical benefits. Walking outdoors improves mood and triggers positive feelings. Taking a walk outside also helps to declutter one’s mind and get new ideas. Keeping the safety of our residents in mind, we have senior-friendly walking and jogging paths. Aerobic decks: The importance of outdoor exercise and fitness cannot be emphasised enough. Those who have a patio, a deck, or even a driveway should take advantage of it and exercise in fresh air. Our select senior living communities have open aerobics decks so that our residents can exercise outdoors. Tips to exercise in the open Avoid the hottest part of the day. Exercise outside in the morning or evening. Wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the UV rays. Don’t forget to don your hat. Wear clothes that are loose and comfortable. If you are running or biking, avoid loose pants that could get tangled up in the pedals or your feet.

The retirement years can be exciting but the uncertainty that often comes along with it can be difficult to process. Whether you stay in the same place or move to a senior living community, whatever you do will be more successful if you take time to plan. As one of the best senior citizen homes in India, we share with you some useful tips to plan your retirement life: Decide where you want to live: Finding affordable, comfortable, and safe housing is an important part of the retirement planning. Whether you wish to live in your own home or move to a senior citizen home, make sure your basic housing needs are met. Senior citizen homes offer senior-friendly rooms, access to social activities and modern amenities. Many communities also offer on-site medical support and wellness programmes that are aimed at encouraging seniors to lead an active life. Your retirement plan should be affordable in the long run: One of the most important questions you should ask yourself is: What kind of housing can you afford post-retirement? Will your home loan be paid off before you retire? Not just that, there are many expenses associated with the upkeep of your property. Property tax, maintenance of lawn and utility bills are some of the many expenses that you will have to deal with even after retirement. It is good to start your retirement planning early and calculate how much you need to save now and how much you will need in the future so that you can enjoy the lifestyle you would like to lead. Have support groups around: Retirement planning is not just about comforts, but also about camaraderie. Many people after retirement lose touch with their colleagues and friends. Some friends move away while some may face health issues. It is important that you have a support base to fill the emotional gap. It is often seen that moving to a senior citizen home is more beneficial physically and socially when you are still active than when you are in your 70s. When you are active, you can enjoy the community, make new friends, and participate in social activities. Do not ignore safety and security: Safety and security are essential components of your retirement planning. Is the place you are planning to live after retirement safe? Is that place close to the medical facilities? Make use of your active years to plan and research the ideal retirement location.

An ideal retirement dream is all about having the freedom to live the life you wish. To ensure that you continue to lead an independent life as you age, you need to start planning early. As the largest senior living community operator, we share some helpful insights to help you stay independent as you age: Feed your soul: The way your body needs a well-balanced diet to survive, your soul too needs a spiritual diet to thrive. Start listening to your heart and do what it says. Slowing down a bit to enjoy everyday things can help you feel good. Next time you’re on a familiar walk, appreciate the scene you’re a part of. Play your favourite song. While preparing a meal, take extra time to watch the spices mix or the cheese melt. Savour life’s little moments rather than waiting for something big to happen. Enjoy the everyday sights, sounds and smells. Engage in these simple practices every day and make them a part of your daily routine for long-term happiness. Find movements you love: Exercising makes you feel energised, strong, and confident. Take a moment, ask yourself: What movements bring you joy? While all types of exercises make a difference, finding enjoyable movements will ensure that you stick to it. It could be walking in nature or taking a yoga class or doing aerobics or joining a dance class – do what you like the most. A sedentary lifestyle is your worst enemy as you age. Exercising or getting any kind of physical activity helps increase the levels of good cholesterol while reducing the bad cholesterol levels from the blood. Not just that, exercise gives muscles a good work out, reduces blood pressure, controls your weight and helps you deal with stress. Have a healthy attitude towards money: Financial security is an important aspect of your independence as you age. Your attitudes and beliefs about money are of critical importance in your quest for financial independence. There are times when people spend on things that don’t make them happy. Are you spending on things that truly bring you joy? One great guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule. Direct 50% of your earnings to essentials like housing, food, and medicines. Dedicate 30% of your earnings for recreational activities such as vacations, painting lessons and the rest 20% for saving.

Over the years, the retirement lifestyle has changed and there has been a shift towards positive ageing with a focus on health and social life. With a lot of free time in hand, you have ample opportunities to indulge in your passion for travel or become a volunteer or pursue a hobby. The good part is that all these activities will provide you with opportunities to make new friends while staying connected with your old ones. Here’s how to take advantage of your retirement years and grow your social circle: Participate in group activities: Retirement is the perfect time to take classes or learn new skills. Group classes may be an informal gathering or even a formal classroom kind of learning activity – but they give you the opportunity to meet like-minded people. Also, participating in group activities like yoga, photography, chess or music classes will help you structure your days. Columbia Pacific Communities, one of the best senior citizen homes in India, addresses the issue of loneliness by offering residents an active social calendar filled with interesting activities. Residents don’t have to look outside for recreational activities. Also, there is buggy transportation available in select communities for intra-community mobility. Reinventing workplace connections: Friendships forged at work can last a lifetime. But keeping in touch with colleagues becomes harder once your work life is behind you. Organise get-togethers with those you wish to stay in contact with. As you and your colleagues will no longer be occupied with work, you will have the opportunity to talk about interests and hobbies you might not have had a chance to talk about when you were working. Virtual ways of communication: Emails, texts, and social media help you maintain friendships. Lunches, movies, and exercise classes are a great way to spend time together with your friends. If you’ve moved to a senior living community, invite your friends from the workplace and introduce them to the friends you have made in your community. This way you can maintain your circle of friends and also expand it. At our senior living facilities, residents can host get-togethers, movie nights and parties for their friends and families.

In times of worry and uncertainty, such as lockdown, it can be difficult to cope with negative emotions. At times, people reach out for unhealthy comforts – overeating and drinking alcohol. But there are several healthy ways of tackling stress and finding positivity. As one of the leading senior citizen homes, we discuss some useful insights that will help you discover positive ways to cultivate inner happiness: Get moving: Walking, running, jogging, and swimming are some of the many forms of exercises that have a positive impact on your mood. Participating in any form of physical exercise helps in releasing dopamine, hormones responsible for regulating the mood. A walk in the park is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air. We have senior-friendly walking paths, swimming pools and landscaped green spaces at our senior citizen homes so that our residents can stay active mobile and feel great. Get some me-time: If you wish to feel better, start spending time with the most important person in your life and that is – yourself. Just like your body, your brain needs time to rest and recharge. If you are constantly on the go, you will feel exhausted mentally. Taking out 10 minutes for yourself every day is a great way to replenish yourself. Use this time to either meditate or write a journal or better do nothing. Finding this space will be different for everyone – choose what you love the most. We take care of all daily requirements of our residents including housekeeping services at our senior citizen homes that let our residents spend time on things that they enjoy doing the most. Avoid falling to victimhood: Blaming others may provide relief for some time but in the long run, it can lead to feelings of hopelessness. Each human being has choices that they make to take their life forward. Taking responsibility for your own happiness is the first and most important step towards focussing on your well-being. We help our senior residents find peace and inner happiness by offering them a variety of things to do without having to step outside the community. Our senior citizen homes have a holistic approach towards wellness – from yoga classes and meditation exercises to hosting inspiring seminars and art workshops, we ensure that our residents find plenty of opportunities to stay mentally stimulated.

There is no doubt that there are immense health benefits of exercising regularly. It helps in managing weight, lowers cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of one developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It also lowers one’s risk of developing osteoporosis. To reap the health benefits of exercising, it is important that seniors do at least 3 hours of moderate to high-intensity exercise per week. However, to make the exercise routine a success, it’s important to set the right fitness goals.If you are a senior citizen and are looking for tips to set fitness goals, here are a few thoughts: Set straightforward goals: Wanting to stay healthy is a great place to start with. But not having a measurable goal can make it difficult to track progress. Have a more specific goal, for instance, losing 5 kgs within a specific time or want to be able to do 30 push-ups in a day. Aim for attainable goals: Setting goals that are unrealistic can discourage you, forcing you to leave your fitness journey midway. The aim of goal setting is to push to do you better. For instance, instead of saying that you would quit eating sweets altogether, you should fix the goal of eating sweets only once in a week. Set a timeline: To track your progress, you should be realistic with the time frame. Remember, lasting changes take time. Put an endpoint on your goal. Whether it’s a month or a quarter or a year, you should set a time. Review your progress: Staying physically active is not a one-time thing, rather it is a life-long commitment. Assess your goals and ensure that they are relevant. Alter your goals as you progress with your fitness journey. Exercise in groups: A strong social support network can really help you stick to your fitness journey. Exercising in groups can help you stick to your commitment. As the largest senior living community operator, we help our residents stay physically active by hosting yoga and aerobics classes. In our select facilities, there are swimming pools to help our residents stay in shape and make friends.

Dehydration among the elderly can be quite common. It can be because as people age, the sense of thirst decreases. It is recommended that an adult drinks six to eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Beverages like juice, shakes, and smoothie all count towards the intake. Older adults must ensure that they stay adequately hydrated. However, they should not drink more than they feel comfortable with. They should avoid drinking a large amount of water before bedtime if they struggle with waking up to go to the washroom at night. As one of the leading senior citizen housing communities, we discuss some useful insights that will help prevent dehydration in seniors. If you are a senior citizen, you will find the following insights useful: Remember that there are many sources of fluids: There are many delicious and healthy beverages such as lemon water, coconut water, cucumber juice and aloe vera juice that you can drink to stay hydrated. Canned fruit juices may not be the best hydrating drinks, but you can have fruit-infused water. Stay away from caffeine, sugary drinks, and alcohol: A hot cup of coffee or tea indeed boosts your mood. Drinking moderate amounts of tea and coffee shouldn’t dehydrate you. However, drinking copious amounts of coffee, tea, sugary drinks, and alcohol can speed up the dehydration process. Wear breathable material: When you sweat excessively, especially when you exercise, you may face the risk of dehydration. Wear materials such as cotton and linen that allow the body to sweat and breathe naturally. Avoid wearing polyester, rayon, denim, fleece, nylon and leather. Take frequent breaks: When working out during the summer months or outdoors, make sure that you take breaks. The heat can quickly decrease the energy levels of elderly individuals. Keep a water bottle around and take small sips of water. Eat fibre-rich foods: Many fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, tomatoes, spinach, oranges, apples, and cucumbers are rich in water and fibre. Include them in your diet. Signs of dehydration If dehydration is not addressed properly, it can get worse and become a serious problem. Here are some signs of dehydration: Cramping in limbs Headache Fatigue Irritability Low urine output Dry skin Constipation We hope you find this write-up useful! For more such articles, watch this space.

One may not realise but blue light is everywhere. Did you know that sunlight is the main source of blue light? Besides sunlight, there are many other sources of blue light such as fluorescent lamps, LED lighting and devices like computers, phones and television screens. The natural blue light has a shorter wavelength and is thus not harmful to the eyes. But the amount of time people spend using electronic devices is a cause of concern, particularly amongst seniors. From affecting their sleeping patterns to increasing their risks of developing cataracts and macular degeneration, artificial blue light can affect the health of seniors in a number of ways. As one of the leading senior citizen homes in Bangalore, here are some practical ways to help seniors reduce their exposure to blue light: Be screen smart: When seniors spend a lot of time in front of the screen, they are making themselves vulnerable to dry eye syndrome and other eye conditions. The eyes become dry because the blink rate drops to half. Also, strained eyes can cause headaches and fatigue. To reduce eye strain, seniors should keep devices at an arm’s length. The brightness should be adjusted to reduce the contrast and glare. Seniors should increase the text size if they are experiencing difficulty in reading. Seniors should also take frequent breaks from all kinds of screens. Use night mode settings: Almost everyone at some point is guilty of checking their smartphones in bed. The blue light exposure at night can affect sleep pattern and the body’s biological clock by suppressing the secretion of melatonin, a hormone responsible for circadian rhythms. The best way to address this problem is to keep all the electronic devices out of the bedroom. If that is not possible, then seniors should invest in blue-light protecting glasses or use their devices on night mode settings. Protect skin from free-radical damage: The blue light emitted from digital devices not only disturb sleeping patterns, but it can also affect the skin. Too much exposure to screens can cause the blue light to penetrate the skin far deeper than the UV light. Blue light exposure can also stimulate photo-ageing – seniors who check their smartphones frequently are at a higher risk of skin discolouration, inflammation and a weakened skin surface. Besides reducing the screen time, seniors should use sunscreen cream or lotion that protect the skin from UVA and UVB and prevent free-radical damage. We hope you found our blue light action plan useful. Being one of the best senior living communities, we are concerned about the overall health of our residents. It is for this reason we ensure that there’s a wide variety of activities such as yoga classes and music lessons that keep them engaged in a healthy way.