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How Often Does a Healthy Senior Need to See the Doctor?

November 19, 2020

Let’s face it, few of us are excited to make a doctor’s appointment. If you feel well and consider yourself healthy, it’s easy to think you don’t need an annual checkup. So, is it really necessary to see the doctor when you aren’t sick?

How frequently you should see a doctor when you feel healthy is a question often debated by adults. This is especially true for those who suffer from white coat syndrome, a term used to describe anxiety experienced during physician appointments. For some, white coat syndrome can be serious enough to cause a rapid rise in blood pressure.

While there’s no hard and fast rule on how often a healthy senior should visit their doctor, at least one wellness visit a year is essential.

4 Reasons Seniors Need a Yearly Physical Exam

Screenings: A yearly checkup gives your physician an opportunity to evaluate the need for and schedule routine health screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
Bloodwork: This visit will also give your doctor an opportunity to order and review routine bloodwork. Cholesterol screening, vitamin deficiencies, and diabetes testing are a few common ones.
Immunizations: Your doctor will likely discuss an immunization schedule with you. This can include when to get a flu shot and if you need a pneumonia or shingles vaccine.
Early intervention: When you are feeling great, an annual physical lets your physician confirm there’s nothing wrong. It also gives the doctor an opportunity to identify small issues before they become big problems. For example, frequent headaches might be a symptom of seasonal allergies that can be managed without medication. Your physician can likely offer some suggestions.

Take Advantage of the Medicare Wellness Visit

Medicare Part B and many Medicare Advantage plans will pay for one physician visit each year to assess a senior’s health. If you’ve been participating in Medicare Part B for at least one year, you are entitled to a Medicare Wellness Visit.

Fortunately, your Medicare Part B deductible won’t apply to this visit. However, there may be a co-pay or deductible that applies to any screenings or tests your doctor orders. If you have questions, speak with the billing specialist at your physician’s office for clarification.

Health & Wellness at Five Star Senior Living

Seniors looking for other ways to stay healthy may also want to consider moving to a senior living community. Independent living often provides ample access to activities and facilities. For example, Five Star Senior Living communities prioritize wellness and many offer amenities like pools, walking paths, fitness centers, and more. Dining and nutrition is something we take pride in too.

To learn more about the the healthy lifestyles a senior living community can provide older adults, contact us today!

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Decluttering before a Move to a Retirement Community

March 6, 2020

<!–[CDATA[The process of downsizing often begins with decluttering. If you are contemplating relocating to a retirement community in the months ahead, getting rid of unwanted and unused items now can jumpstart preparations for the move. Mental health experts also say decluttering—whether in anticipation of a move or not—is energizing and uplifting.

Proven health benefits of decluttering your home include:

Less risk of a fall: From piles of old magazines to stacks of outdated clothes, navigating around clutter increases the risk for a fall. Clearing out excess items gives you more room to safely store possessions and lowers the risk for a fall.
Reduced allergens: Unless you are faithfully wiping down your clutter, chances are it’s covered in dust and other allergens. By getting rid of it, you clean up your home’s air and environment.
Improved mental health: Whether you realize it or not, clutter can amp up anxiety and prevent relaxation. Depending on the severity, clutter may even lead to sleep problems. When your home is tidy and clean, you can relax and enjoy it.

If you aren’t sure how to get started, we have a few tips to help.

4 Tips for Decluttering Your Home

1. Make a first pass through the home.

Get started by grabbing a trash bag and a couple of boxes. Make a quick pass through the home to get rid of items you don’t need. When you take an objective look at every room, you’ll probably be surprised at what you find.

Have one box for items to recycle and another for those you want to donate. Dispose of everything else.

2. Purge the paper.

Whether it is outdated catalogs or old credit card statements, paper accounts for a lot clutter in our homes and lives. If you can reduce the amount of paper you have to manage, tidying up is much easier.

For many people, junk mail is a constant battle. To lower the amount of junk mail you receive, place yourself on the National Do Not Mail List. You can also email catalog companies and ask to be taken off their mailing list.

It’s also essential to sort your mail every day. Don’t put it off until later. Recycle or shred everything you don’t need immediately.

3. Clear out the closets.

It’s amazing how much “stuff” can accumulate in closets in a short period of time. The longer you’ve lived in the house, the more likely it is that you have a lot of clothes, shoes, and accessories you don’t need.

Work through every closet in the house applying the 12-month rule. If you haven’t worn or used an item in the last year, you may not need it.

Box up clothing you don’t need and make frequent trips to donation drop sites. Putting off the drop-offs might allow things to work their way back into your closet. Use this same approach with items stored in the kitchen, attic, and basement.

4. Downsize your holiday décor.

Holiday décor accumulates over the years. Many of us buy new, leaving the old boxed up in the basement. Before you take this year’s decorations down, go through everything you aren’t using. Keep in mind that many charitable organizations accept holiday items. Veterans centers, nonprofit preschools, and domestic violence shelters are a few.

Downsize to the Right Size Housing during Retirement

By decluttering your home now, you make the process of selling your home and moving easier when the time comes. If the idea of downsizing feels overwhelming, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, professionals can help.

Senior move managers can assist with every detail of a move from hiring a moving company to overseeing an estate sale. “How to Hire a Senior Move Manager” will help locate a qualified professional near you.

If you have questions about retirement communities or would like to tour a Five Star Senior Living community, please call (853) 457-8271. One of our experienced team members will be happy to help!

5 Benefits of Moving to a Senior Living Community when You Are an Active Older Adult

You have a big, beautiful house. But since your adult children have moved out, it’s empty more often than not. As you and your spouse struggle to keep up with the housework, home maintenance, and landscaping, you might wonder if it’s time to move to a senior living community.

Moving to a senior living community before you need assisted living, nursing, or memory care carries many advantages, especially for active adults.

Why Move to a Senior Living Community?

Here are a few benefits:

1. Never worry about yard work or home maintenance
One of the key advantages of a senior community is saying good-bye to yard work, snow removal, and home maintenance. These things are included in your monthly senior living fees. You may even have the option to add housekeeping services.

2. Pay one monthly price for most of your expenses
We’re not going to tell you senior living communities are inexpensive. But when you add up your monthly living expenses from cable and internet access to your property taxes and everything you spend on entertainment, you’ll discover that senior living is more cost effective than you thought.

Most residents in a senior community don’t need a car, since almost everything they need is located on-site and transportation services are provided to get around town. That’s another cost savings you might not have considered.

3. Enjoy many amenities close to home
As you factor in the cost savings of having so many things you love to do so close to home, you’ll also want to consider the convenience. Fitness classes, adult education, special events, and entertainment are all located on-site, along with gourmet dining options staffed by professional chefs.

Whether you like hiking, cycling, golf, gardening or weight training, you can find a senior community that offers your favorite hobbies.

4. Make new friends with similar interests
While you’re out and about in your community doing what you love, you’ll meet other seniors who enjoy the same things. If you find your social circle has gotten smaller, you can join a music group, a yoga class, or take an on-site class to meet interesting people your own age.

5. Move while you’re healthy
It’s stressful for a senior who is experiencing changes in their mental and physical health to sell their home and move to assisted living. The burden of the sale of your home may fall on your children, who feel stressed to accept an offer so you can move.

Take Control of Your Future

Take control of your retirement and your future well-being by choosing the retirement community of your dreams now. Talk to a team member at the Five Star Living community nearest you to decide if it’s time to start enjoying your retirement in a whole new way.

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Why Are Retirees Returning to Work?

Why are so many of our nation’s retirees returning to work? If you’ve wondered what’s behind this trend, the answer is more complicated than you might think. Estimates show almost one in five adults over the age of sixty-five is employed. These adults have either delayed retirement or returned to work.

Researchers believe this trend will not just continue, but grow. While it’s easy to assume finances are the reason so many people of retirement age are still employed, older adults say there’s more to this lifestyle choice.

Reasons Seniors Continue to Work

Here are a few of the most common motivations behind a senior’s decision to stay employed:

Avoid economic uncertainty: Financial fears are a leading reason seniors aren’t hanging up their briefcases. With stock market uncertainties, soaring health care prices, and fluctuating residential home prices, some older adults worry they will outlive their savings. Working, even on a consulting or part-time basis, gives them peace of mind.
Launch a business: Another reason an older adult works when they could be enjoying retirement is because they started their own business. They may have put off their entrepreneurial dreams in exchange for a financially stable career while they raised a family. Retirement is finally their time to pursue this dream.
Live a meaningful life: Sometimes a senior will retire from their lifelong career, kick back, and enjoy themselves. They finally have freedom to travel, reconnect with old passions, and pursue new hobbies. After a few years, however, they may become restless and bored. The desire to live meaningfully may lead them to work with a nonprofit agency. While the income is usually appreciated, the sense of purpose matters most.
Help support loved ones: Another trend that keeps older adults working is helping support family members, especially grandchildren. Nearly 2.6 million adults are raising their grandkids, nearly double the rate from past decades. The expenses this creates, including food, clothing, and education, may force a senior to remain in the workforce much longer than they intended.

Whatever the reason an older adult has for continuing to work, there is another benefit to consider. Research shows seniors who work longer live longer.

Senior Volunteers Enjoy Better Quality of Life

Another way to live your best life during retirement is volunteering. Sharing your time and talent with others has proven health benefits for older adults. They range from lower rates of depression to decreased risk for illnesses like heart disease and obesity. Read Stay Young at Heart by Volunteering After Retirement to learn more.

If you have questions about senior living or would like to schedule a private tour of a Five Star Senior Living community, please contact us today. One of our experienced team members will be happy to help!

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5 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life in Retirement

Almost 20 percent of Americans age 65+ are still working. While financial concerns come into play, more than one-third continue working because they like their job and want to stay involved.

Whether you are working because you want to or because you have to, you presumably want to enjoy your retirement, as well. Regardless of whether it happens at 62, 65, or not until your 70s you can improve your quality of life in retirement with these tips.

5 Steps to a Successful Retirement

1. Make a Healthy Lifestyle a Priority

A vast majority of retirees say good health is crucial for a happy retirement. Eating right and exercising regularly are two ways to improve your odds for a healthy retirement, reducing your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a host of other illnesses.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. But with type 2 diabetes at epidemic levels in the U.S., we know diet plays a key role in staying healthy. Fill one-half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, one-quarter with a lean protein, and the other half with heart-healthy whole grains. Snacks should consist of dairy, protein, fruits, and vegetables without added sugars.

As for exercise, current guidelines recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week for older adults.

2. Create a stable financial situation

Money does, indeed, buy happiness in retirement. But only to a point. It’s actually the sense of financial security that improves a retiree’s quality of life. Rather than relying solely on investments that may cause fluctuations in income, look for ways to minimize household expenses so you can fully enjoy the money you have.

3. Keep your brain active

Just as your body needs exercise, so too does your brain. It needs to be exercised to stave off age-related memory loss and depression. Consider taking adult education classes. Or learn a new activity or hobby, such as how to play a musical instrument.

4. Surround yourself with people who make you happy

As we age, our social circles often become smaller. That’s okay as long as you are spending time with those who make you happiest. Find friends with common interests, who make you laugh and who stretch your mind intellectually.

You don’t have to spend your retirement around people who are younger than you. Just find a core group of companions who are young at heart.

5. Discover a greater purpose

Living better in retirement has a lot to do with your activities. But your thoughts are also important. Embrace retirement with a positive perspective on aging. And take advice from some of the world’s oldest people and find a sense of purpose.

Regions with the world’s longest-living people also happen to have some of the happiest. You might find purpose in a charity organization, mentoring young people, or creating art. Whatever it is, embrace it to enjoy a better quality of life.

With a vast array of classes, activities, and social events, Five Star Senior Living makes it easy to enjoy a better quality of life in your retirement. Learn more by scheduling a tour at a senior living community near you.

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Living with Purpose during Retirement

<!–[CDATA[As retirement draws near, many older adults fantasize about how they will spend their free time. While a few months of vacation is probably in the plan, having purpose during retirement is one of the keys to living well. Once you leave the working world behind, however, what can you do to create purposeful days?

We have a few ideas to help you live your best life during retirement.

Creating Purposeful Days during Retirement

Follow your heart: If you’ve spent a lifetime conforming to an employer’s schedule, having the freedom to create your own daily agenda can be empowering. But it can also lead to unhealthy habits, such as watching too much television. After you give yourself a few months to relax and enjoy life, try to shape your day in a more purposeful manner. Follow your heart and your core beliefs. Doing so might lead you to volunteer your time for a local nonprofit, plant a garden, or take a class at your local community college.
Reconnect with an old passion: The days can be busy when you are working and raising a family. Favorite pastimes and dreams often fall by the wayside when life’s realities feel like a higher priority. Take time to think back to what you loved doing as a child or young adult. Did you want to be a famous opera singer or write a best-selling mystery novel? Now is the time to uncover old dreams and desires and find a way to make them happen.
Practice healthy self-care: You’ve worked hard to earn your retirement. Don’t let a preventable health-care crisis derail your plans. Eat a healthy diet. Adopt an exercise plan that incorporates weight training, stretching, and cardiovascular activity. Get eight hours of quality sleep each night. By taking good care of yourself, you may be able to lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and some forms of cancer. This may allow you to enjoy a longer, healthier retirement.
Live in the moment: After spending so many years looking ahead to retirement, you might have a tough time adjusting to and living in this new stage once you are retired. Try to cherish each moment and not worry too much. Some seniors find meditation, yoga, journaling, or swimming can calm the mind and help ease this transition.
Learn to say “no”: Some retirees find their schedules quickly fill up with tasks and favors for everyone else. While it is important to lend support to friends and family when you can, it’s okay not to take on every request for help. Learn how to say “no” without feeling guilty or making an excuse as to why you aren’t available.

Independent Living at Five Star Senior Living

If you would like your retirement years to be free from the responsibilities (and expenses) of home ownership, a move to an independent living community might be something to consider. From housekeeping to snow removal, team members handle all of the tasks you don’t want to—giving you a chance to find your purpose!

Call us at (853) 457-8271 to schedule a private tour of an independent living community near you!

Protecting Seniors: Crime Prevention Awareness Month

<!–[CDATA[October is National Crime Prevention Month. It’s a month dedicated to raising awareness about topics related to public safety and the steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of a crime. The goal is to create safer cities and towns for everyone, including older adults. Seniors are especially vulnerable because criminals often see them as easy targets.

Why Do Criminals Target Seniors?

There are many reasons why older adults are considered to be good targets as victims of crime:

Good credit: Seniors are more likely to have good credit scores making them ideal candidates for identity theft. A criminal can steal their social security number and personal information and use it to open credit cards.
Don’t report: Because older adults are often too embarrassed to report falling victim to a crime, they increase their risk of being targeted. Seniors also worry that if they tell their family what happened, their adult children might insist they make changes in their life they aren’t ready to make.
Feel Lonely: An older adult who lives alone might feel isolated and lonely. This may make them more willing to spend time talking—in person or on the phone—with strangers. The longer they talk, the greater the odds are that the scammer will convince them to “place a deposit for a home repair” or give up a credit card number to ship a “prize” they’ve won.

By educating your senior loved one about common types of scams, you can help prevent them from becoming a victim.

Crimes Against Seniors

The first step to crime prevention is education. Here are a few of the most common scams perpetrated against seniors:

1. Health insurance fraud and Medicare scams

If a criminal gains access to a senior’s health insurance card or Medicare number, they may use it for their own medical needs. They are just as likely to sell the information on the black market so others can use it.

Encourage your family member not to keep these cards with them when out in public. Instead, they should keep them locked in a secure place at home. Take them out only when needed for medical appointments, and return them immediately after.

2. Telemarketing scams

There are too many different telemarketing scams to be able to list! Some of the ones that older adults commonly fall for are related to winning “prizes.” They can range from a vacation to a car or new furniture. The literature directs the senior to call a phone number to claim their reward. When they do, the older adult is told they must pay for taxes or shipping before the prize can be mailed. Once the scammer has their credit card information, no prize ever appears.

You can help prevent these calls by signing your family member up for the National Do Not Call Registry. Also remind them never to give credit card or debit card information out over the phone.

3. The grandparent scam

Even though this one has been around for a while, people continue to fall for it. This crime is when someone calls pretending to be a grandchild or other family member. The caller tells the senior they are in trouble and need money or credit card information in a hurry. In many cases, the caller even knows the older adult’s name and may have their caller ID set to resemble the family member’s number.

The Federal Trade Commission advises that if you or a senior loved one receive one of these types of calls to hang up immediately. Then call the family member back at their personal number (not the number the caller gives you). More often than not, there is no emergency.

Bookmark the Five Star Blog

If you are an adult child or family caregiver trying to stay up-to-date on crimes targeting seniors and other issues like this, bookmark the Five Star Senior Living blog. Be sure to stop back often to read the newest posts on aging, care giving, and senior living.

How Older Women Can Beat Aging Stereotypes

<!–[CDATA[The feminist movement has taken great strides since the 1960s, but older women still face a number of hurtful and harmful stereotypes.

Society may perceive older women as physically vulnerable, socially needy, unattractive, and less useful than their younger counterparts of childbearing and child-rearing age.

As a result, older women may experience self-esteem issues and even suffer from depression, which can then lead to physical ailments, reduced immunity, and diseases.

It’s a vicious circle.

Fortunately, women of all ages can beat the cycle by taking positive action against aging stereotypes.

Let’s look at three harmful stereotypes of older women and healthy ways to defeat these perceptions and prove that older women are very capable.

Stereotype: Older women are not tech-savvy and don’t understand computers, smartphones, and other modern devices.

Most of us have, at one time or another, been in the position of explaining email to an aging parent or showing a senior how Siri works. But if you showed a five-year-old a record player, they probably wouldn’t have a clue how to use it, either.

It’s not that seniors can’t learn technology. It’s just new and unfamiliar to them.

However, most seniors are willing to learn. Older women can bust the tech-stereotype by taking classes in anything from graphic design to spreadsheets. They can be successful eBay sellers, bloggers, and even Web designers.

All it takes is some practice and patience.

Stereotype: Older women are frail.

It’s true that post-menopausal women are at greater risk of osteoporosis, or low bone density, which can increase the risk of fractures. But most senior women are anything but weak or frail. Osteoporosis risk factors may be reduced by a healthy lifestyle, which includes:

not smoking
reducing alcohol consumption
exercising regularly
getting a bone density scan annually after the age of 65

Hormone replacement therapy to replace estrogen lost during menopause may also help some women reduce their risk of osteoporosis.

Women in senior living communities may practice martial arts, Tai Chi, and yoga. They can take Zumba lessons or ballroom dancing. Then there are 60-year-old women who participate in extreme obstacle course races like Mudderella, a 7-mile race with obstacles that test strength and endurance.

Many of these athletes are over 50 and anything but weak!

Stereotype: Older women are socially needy and clingy.

Sure, older women need companionship, friendship, and conversation.

Don’t we all?

A senior faced with moving from her lifetime home, saying good-bye to friends she’s known for years, and giving up her vehicle may feel lonely. But that loneliness doesn’t have to last.

Today’s senior living communities offer endless opportunities for socialization, enrichment, and physical activity. Older women (and men, for that matter) can connect with peers who share similar interests. They’ll also have the opportunity to discover new hobbies.

Senior life is anything but lonely in the right environment. It’s easy to beat aging stereotypes and feel good about yourself in a comfortable community where you feel as if you belong.

The Differences Between Independent Living and Assisted Living

Sometimes the search for senior living can leave an older adult and their family members questioning what type of community they really need. Is an Independent Living community, offering a wide variety of life enrichment programs and freedom from household chores, the best fit? Or does a loved one need the added support and care for activities of daily living (ADLs) provided by an Assisted Living community?

Although some senior living communities, including Five Star, offer both popular types of senior housing in one location, it can help to understand how they differ in meeting the unique needs of aging adults at different stages of life. Here’s a closer look.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living refers to a community for older adults who need a little extra help with activities of daily living to live their most independent life. This help may include:

Support with personal care needs, such as bathing, grooming and dressing
Medication reminders—coordination and supervision
Nutritious meals and healthy snacks, including the ability to accommodate special diets like low-salt, gluten-free and diabetes-related
Help with toileting and continence care
Housekeeping, laundry, trash removal and maintenance

Assisted Living Is Not a Nursing Home

Equally important is understanding what Assisted Living is not: It is not a skilled nursing facility, also known as a nursing care center or nursing home. Nursing home residents usually have more complex medical needs. This generally means they require skilled care delivered by nurses, physical therapists and other medical professionals.

Some Assisted Living communities do offer the option to add additional services as needed. Within a Five Star community, you can scale Assisted Living services up or down as you or your loved one’s needs change.

Another type of Assisted Living community is called Memory Care. Memory Care communities support people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. As with Assisted Living, Memory Care is not a nursing home; however, caregivers have undergone specialized training and there are targeted programs for residents, such as Five Star’s Bridge to Rediscovery.

Assisted Living Amenities

Assisted Living communities often provide transportation for residents to visit local attractions or to go shopping. The best Assisted Living communities also provide residents with a variety of educational, social and wellness programs, included as part of the monthly fee. Games, movie nights and exercise programs can be part of everyday life—just as they are in Independent Living communities.

What is Independent Living?

Independent Living communities, sometimes called retirement villages, are communities open to senior residents only. They are often a good fit for older adults seeking freedom from the burdens of homeownership. Because housekeeping tasks and maintenance chores are handled by team members, residents have more time to fully enjoy their retirement.

An Independent Living community nurtures an older adult’s interests and hobbies. These often include hosting travel groups, life-enrichment activities, continuing education classes and wellness programs. Many Independent Living residents spend time volunteering in the community or for area nonprofit organizations.

Independent Senior Living Amenities

Like Assisted Living, Independent Living communities typically provide a number of amenities and services for one monthly fee. For instance, electricity, climate control, television, phone and Internet access costs might all be included as part of the rental fee.

Some Independent Living communities, such as those within the Five Star family, provide many extras for residents. These includes housekeeping, laundry, on-site dining, and transportation as part of the monthly fee. Our Independent Living communities also provide the option of adding Assisted Living services as needed. All of this makes an Independent Living community a simple and cost-effective senior housing solution.

Comparing Independent Living and Assisted Living Communities

In short, an Assisted Living community may be the best choice if you or your loved one needs some help with daily activities but not continuous medical care or supervision. An Independent Living community may be best for those who don’t need extra help but are ready to move on from home ownership. Whether Assisted or Independent Living is the right solution for you or a family member, Five Star offers activities tailored to individual interests and ability levels—everything one could want to maintain a vibrant and healthy lifestyle.

Learn More About Senior Living Options

To learn more, visit our Senior Living Options page. You’ll find additional information and resources to help determine what type of senior living best suits your needs. Meanwhile, why not learn which Five Star community options are near you?

Contact Us Today

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How to Use Sports and Hobbies to Bond with Grandkids

<!–[CDATA[Making meaningful connections with grandchildren builds memories that last a lifetime. Finding ways to bond, especially as they grow older, can be challenging. This is especially true if you live far from your grandkids and don’t have the advantage of being involved in their everyday lives.

Combining the grandchildren’s favorite hobbies and interests with today’s technologies might be the key.

Finding Common Ground

Depending upon your grandchildren’s ages, hobbies and sports can be a great place to start. Here are a few ideas to help you find common ground and build memories:

Shared passion for sports

Does your grandchild love baseball or competitive swimming? Do they play a sport or have a favorite professional team? If you can’t attend games in person, use technology to virtually cheer them on.

Have your adult child call you via a video chat service so you can watch part of the game. Some youth sports teams have apps that make it easier to follow along in real time. Families with a swim team member, for example, can use Meet Management.

Following professional teams together is another opportunity for bonding. Schedule dates to watch games together whether in person or virtually. Send your grandchild a package with team memorabilia to wear during games. Then have your own post-game analysis. Doing so over a hot fudge sundae or box of popcorn is even better.

Virtual bedtime stories

Most kids love reading a bedtime story—or ten! Getting in on story time is another great way to bond. Whether it’s across town or on the other side of the globe, you can read to your grandkids using an app like Caribu. They allow you to see one another while you read.

The app contains hundreds of books you can read together, such as Thomas the Tank Engine and The Wizard of Oz. You can also play games through the app, including kids’ perennial favorite, tic-tac-toe.

Arts and crafts

Children often enjoy creating masterpieces. From drawing and coloring to painting and pottery, there are many opportunities for you to connect with your grandchildren over artwork. The good news is you don’t have to be especially crafty.

When the grandkids live close, you can shop together. Craft stores usually carry pre-packaged projects. Garden stones, birdhouses, model cars and airplanes, stained glass ornaments, and paint-by-numbers are just a few. Most are reasonably priced.

You can purchase and send a kit to faraway family members and keep one for yourself. Connect virtually to craft together.

The Benefits of Intergenerational Bonds

Intergenerational bonds are the backbone of strong families. Research shows the benefits are immediate and long-lasting for both the senior and the grandchildren.

For the younger generation, spending time with family elders increases self-esteem and contributes to healthier attitudes about aging. For seniors, time with grandchildren creates joy and a more positive outlook. When families bond in person, older adults reap the rewards of being more physically active.

Intergenerational Activities at Five Star Senior Living

At Five Star Senior Living, we believe in the power of intergenerational bonds. You’ll find a host of activities intended to encourage those relationships all year long. From family parties to movie nights, the environment is designed to keep loved ones and residents close.

Call us at (853) 457-8271 to learn more and set up a time for a private tour!