There comes a time in life when the world around you may seem to be falling apart. In such a scenario, learning to stay positive and hopeful can help you move forward and look at the challenging situations from a new perspective. The benefits of staying positive and hopeful Having a positive attitude in life is not just good for your mental health but also physical health.  According to a study, those with a family history of heart disease and many other high-risk factors were less likely to have a heart attack if they were positive thinkers. If you want to be positive in life, learned hopefulness is the key. As one of the leading senior living homes in Chennai,  we share with you some useful insights on learned hopefulness: What is learned hopefulness? Learned hopefulness is a concept that refers to the ability to learn from past experiences and use that knowledge to remain hopeful for the future. It allows you to keep going even when you face setbacks.   1.Shift your expectations:  Shifting your expectations does not mean lowering your standards. It means assessing the ground realities and working with what you have right now. In other words, establish expectations which are appropriate for the situation and not what you would have liked to have in an idealistic scenario. Focusing on what can be done in the future rather than on what happened in the past creates a sense of hopefulness.   2. Identify negative thoughts: Often your automatic response to a bad situation is negative thinking. You may think negatively even without noticing it. The moment you feel frustrated or annoyed, start identifying the thoughts that are coming to your mind. Swap negative thoughts with positive ones. Although that sounds easier said than done, you can try reframing your thoughts. When you find yourself thinking negatively, pause for a few minutes. Taking a pause will help you give a thoughtful response to the situation rather than a reflexive reaction.   3. Establish new habits: You can learn to be hopeful by taking away the attention from negative thoughts. A great way to do this is to establish new and healthy habits. When you direct your attention to something else there will be no negative thoughts to overcome. Creating healthy habits such as practising yoga, taking your pet for a walk, and attending music or dance classes can take your mind off the things that are bothering you.   4. Listen to another person’s story: When you are feeling down, listening to family members or friends can be helpful. You can ask them to tell you a story about a meaningful time in their life. Pay attention to the story and look for things that helped them overcome the situation.  You can even try reading inspirational books. Here is a list of some inspirational books  that may help you feel more optimistic.   5. Use positive affirmations:  When you wake up, start your day on a positive note. A simple way to do that is to write daily positive affirmations and feel gratitude. Your daily affirmations could read like: “I love myself as I am”, “I treat myself with compassion”, or “I am open to inspired thoughts”. You can even keep positive affirmations at a place where you can see them. Are you looking for senior living homes in Chennai? If you are looking for phrases such as ‘new senior living homes near me’ or retirement homes in Chennai’ online, explore Serene Adinath and Serene Pushkar by Columbia Pacific. When you move into our senior living community, you will live independently in a lovely apartment, yet surrounded by neighbours who share your interests and zest for life. Our communities offer full support to make your retirement as convenient as possible. Housekeeping, maintenance, laundry, and daily meals are some of the standard services. Also, our senior living homes offer a lifestyle rich with opportunities to enjoy life to its fullest. You can choose among a variety of engaging activities. To know more, call us at  +918884555554.      

Valentine’s Day is not just for couples – it is for everyone to celebrate. For seniors, it is the perfect day to show love and affection to their spouses, family, and friends. We have rounded up a few fantastic Valentine’s Day ideas for seniors that are sure to fill their hearts with love and joy:   Celebrate with good food: Whether you are celebrating with your spouse or your family, cooking a heart-warming meal is a great way to get the celebration started. If you find cooking tiresome, take your loved ones on a gastronomic journey at your favourite restaurant. Kick off a movie marathon: Pick out your favourite movies that you know your spouse or your family would like, and have a movie marathon. Include classics such as Casablanca, When Harry Met Sally, Mughal-e-Azam, or Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Do not forget the popcorn to make the movie-watching experience extravagant. Make it a self-care evening: For some seniors, Valentine’s Day can be a perfect day for self- care. Meditation is a great way to start Valentine’s Day on a positive note. Seniors can take some quiet time to reflect and meditate in the morning. Arrange an at-home spa experience and complete it with candles and calming music. Follow it up with an extravagant dinner. Indulge in hobbies: Pursuing a hobby can give seniors immense pleasure and can make Valentine’s Day extra special. From creating heart-shaped wall hangings, beautiful cardboard photo frames, and knitting heart patterns to baking heart-shaped cakes, there are many hobbies that help seniors and their loved ones enjoy the day thoroughly. Love knows no age at our senior living homes in Chennai We, at Serene Adinath and Serene Pushkar by Columbia Pacific, celebrate love in all its myriad forms and glory. Valentine’s Day at our senior living homes in Chennai is filled with fun and joy. We organise different group activities and contests where residents get opportunities to express themselves through photos, sketches, painting, and writing. To know more about our senior living homes, call us at +91 8884555554.

Regular exercising has many benefits for seniors – it not only reduces the risk of chronic health conditions but also keeps seniors in a good mood. It is recommended that seniors should do moderate-intensity aerobic activities for at least 30 minutes on five days of the week. However, during the colder months, it can be a challenge. As one of the leading senior living homes in Chennai, we share simple ways to help seniors exercise during the winters:    1. Practise indoor exercise: To minimise the risk of falls during the winter, seniors should practise balance and strength exercises such as yoga, step-ups, chest stretches, and half squats. All these exercises can be done in the comfort of your home.    2. Attend a virtual exercise class: Seniors who are homebound during winters can attend online exercise classes. There are many online apps that offer group and one-on-one exercise sessions. From low-impact exercises to Zumba, seniors have many options to choose from. They can also ask their family and friends to join the classes. They can all exercise together from their homes and at the same time connect with each other.    3. Game nights: Organising game nights can be fun and at the same time it would help seniors keep their mind and body active. Such social activities will not only help seniors get some exercise but will also help them bond with their family and friends. Do make sure you do not stretch yourself and make sure you go to bed early.    4. Light dance: Dancing is a perfect exercise for winters – it helps seniors build muscle strength and increase flexibility without stepping outside. Seniors can organise light dancing sessions with friends and family or join an online dance class. Also, dancing has many mental benefits. A study indicated that dance sessions can reduce stress and improve social relations, general life satisfaction, and physical and psychological health.  Seniors searching for retirement homes in Chennai can explore Serene Pushkar and Serene Adinath by Columbia Pacific. We offer facilities that allow our residents to live a lifestyle that lets them define retirement on their terms. To know more, call us at +91 8884555554.

Spending a few minutes meditating is an effective way for seniors to calm down and find inner peace. The physical, mental, and emotional changes associated with ageing can be overwhelming. However, meditation can help seniors deal with these changes in a positive way.  For seniors looking for guided meditation sessions and exercises in mindfulness, here is a useful read on meditation apps that streamline the learning process.    Why do seniors need a meditation app?  Meditation is like riding a bicycle. While some people learn it on their own, some need a little help to practise mindfulness. Humans tend to have a wandering mind – and a wandering mind can be an unhappy one. An app offering guided meditation sessions can help seniors stay focused on the present and become more mindful. Here are some of the key benefits of using a meditation app:  It can be used at any time of the day, anywhere. Seniors can choose from a wide variety of meditation techniques.  The sessions are conducted by experts. The sessions are good for beginners as well as regular meditation practitioners.   As one of the leading senior living homes in Chennai, we have picked some of the meditation apps for seniors that are user-friendly and at the same time engaging:    Headspace: Headspace is one of the most popular meditation apps that helps seniors start their day with mindfulness and clarity.  The app instructs how to sit still and avoid distractions while meditating. The instructions are delivered in a soothing voice. Also, the app offers colourful and calming visuals to help those who like to keep their eyes open while meditating. Breethe: Breethe is more than a meditation app. In addition to guided meditation sessions, there are music playlists and bedtime readings that are designed to help seniors get a good night’s sleep. Calm: Seniors who have been practising mindfulness and meditation for quite some time, can use this app to get access to open-ended meditation sessions. It also offers help to seniors looking for sleep guidance or soothing music to calm their mind.   Buddhify: It is an interactive app designed to introduce users to different techniques of meditation. The meditation sessions can help seniors cope with everyday challenges and difficult emotions. There are several meditation sessions that seniors can attend while they are not seated. For instance, seniors can listen to these sessions while walking or gardening.    At our retirement homes in Chennai, the day starts with yoga, meditation sessions, and breathing exercises. The open green spaces in our retirement homes provide excellent opportunities for our residents to relax, meditate, or to self-reflect.  If you want to know more about our retirement homes in Chennai, call us at +91 8884555554.

“Loneliness acts as a fertiliser for other diseases,” says Dr Steven Cole, Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine and it can “accelerate the build-up of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease.” His research was focussed on the impact of loneliness on a person’s mental and physical wellbeing.    Loneliness is a serious health risk for seniors   If you do not live with your parents, you must often worry that they may feel isolated and lonely –and you are right to be concerned. As one of the leading  senior living homes in Chennai,  we offer some useful insights to help your ageing parents avoid the risks of loneliness:  Encourage them to nurture a hobby Having a hobby reduces the  feeling of isolation among seniors. With that little pressure of trying something new, your parents will enjoy the process of learning and meeting new people. Besides providing a sense of purpose, hobbies such as dancing and group knitting are inherently social in nature. Joining dance classes, knitting groups or reading clubs can open doors for them to make meaningful connections with like-minded people.  Talk to them about moving into a retirement home  The perception of ‘old age homes’ has undergone a drastic change in recent times. Nowadays, retirement homes in India offer a great sense of community. Residents are encouraged to participate in social activities and organise social events, while the management staff takes care of the facilities. Moving to a retirement home will give your parents the opportunity to live life to the fullest. They can explore new hobbies, make new friends, and stay happy and engaged.  Gift them a pet  Having a furry friend will keep your parents entertained and bring a lot of excitement to their lives. A pet might not be an equal substitute for human companionship, but people feel positive and less isolated with a pet around. Also, having a pet can have a positive effect on their health – pet ownership is associated with lower systolic blood pressure  and pulse pressure. Visit them in person  If it is not possible to stay closer to your parents, make an effort to visit them as frequently as possible. It would be a comforting feeling for them to see you in person rather than talk to you over the phone. And in case you live too far away from your parents to see them frequently, do video calls on Skype, WhatsApp or Facetime and give them a reason to smile every day seeing your face.  Teach them how to use technology Technology is a great way to stay connected to your parents. Learning technology will also help them to stay in touch with their friends and relatives. Teach them how to use technology – so that they can operate the computer’s camera, go online, use social media, or enrol for classes online to stay happy and socially connected.  Encourage them to be socially active Encourage your parents to stay in touch with their friends. If they take part in group outings or be a part of community events, they will have a social connection alive.   Looking for senior living homes in Chennai for your parents?  Explore our retirement homes in Chennai  – our senior living communities will help your parents live their retirement days in a fulfilling way. From fitness facilities and art classes to clubhouses, there are a host of options for our senior residents to stay physically active and socially engaged. To know more about our retirement communities, call us at +91 8884555554.