Articles - Know More About Senior Living retirement communities

Not having sufficient sleep can put your body under stress, thus affecting your energy levels and your mental health. Seniors need 7-8 hours of sleep each night to feel rested and refreshed. Also, undisturbed night time sleep helps your body repair itself. However, as you age, you may experience changes in sleep patterns, such as trouble in sleeping, waking up earlier or experiencing less deep sleep. As a leading senior citizen home in Kanchipuram, we share with you a few tips to improve sleep hygiene and reset your internal clock: Do not take electronics to bed:  Electronic devices emit blue light that affects the production and regulation of melatonin (the sleep regulation hormone produced by the body). Do not drink caffeinated drinks 4 hours before bedtime: Products containing caffeine such as tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate and soft drinks should be avoided at least 4 hours before bedtime. Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake for hours. Avoid nicotine products: Just like caffeine, nicotine is also a stimulant and should be avoided before bedtime. Having a smoke before bed can wreak havoc on your sleep pattern. Heavy meals harm your sleep: While a light snack can be sleep-inducing, a heavy meal can interfere with your sleep patterns. Stay away from heavy meals before bedtime as it will tax your digestive system, thus making it difficult for your body to sleep. Do not exercise at night: Contrary to the popular belief that exercising before bedtime can help one feel asleep, late exercises impact the sleep cycle adversely. Exercising in the afternoon is good as it will give your body some time to get adjusted to its normal biological rhythm. Keep your bedroom ready for sleep: Ensure that your bedroom’s ambience supports a quiet night’s sleep.  It should be neither too hot, nor too cold. Too much light and noise in your bedroom can disturb your sleep patterns. Before hitting the bed, it’s good to engage in activities such as meditation, yoga, reading, or listening to music – it will calm your mind and help you unwind.

When you trust yourself, you feel confident. Trusting yourself makes it easier for you to make decisions. However, when you are in doubt about yourself, it causes anxiety and increases your stress levels. It is therefore important to build a healthy relationship with yourself. As one of the leading senior citizen homes in Pondicherry, we share a few useful tips on building self-trust:  Spend time with yourself: Take out at least 10 minutes a day for yourself. Spend the time to process thoughts and feelings that would otherwise go ignored. Overcome victimhood mentality: Every person has choices about how they can move forward in their life. Always remember that you can choose to take responsibility for your life whenever you want. Instead of waiting for others to make you happy, make yourself happy. Do not indulge in negative self-talk. Whenever you are surrounded by negative thoughts, take charge of the situation and do things that make you happy. Set realistic goals: Self-doubt and negative thoughts arise when you set yourself up for unrealistic goals and constantly see yourself from others’ perspectives. Setting realistic goals in your life will help you feel confident and remain motivated. When you set attainable goals and achieve them, you will be confident, and your self-esteem will get a boost. Also, when you are clear about your goals, you feel less overwhelmed. Be gentle to yourself: When you are constantly comparing yourself to others, pressuring yourself to be perfect, and doubting your capabilities, you end up with negative thoughts. Be kind to yourself and challenge negative thoughts with positive ones. Get moving: Whether it’s yoga, walking or aerobics, adding regular exercise to your schedule boosts your emotional well- being. When you exercise, your body releases feel-good hormones called endorphins that boost mood and promote positive feelings.  At our community living facilities, we host regular workshops on mental and physical well-being. The aim of these workshops is to help our residents gain a wider understanding of the issues surrounding mental and physical health.

Healthy ageing means more than just eating well-balanced meals and exercising regularly— it also means spending quality time with like-minded people, nurturing one’s emotional self and stimulating the mind through various creative activities. We all know that participating in creative activities helps seniors tackle stress, face new challenges and feel good about themselves. Particularly, when they learn new hobbies or skills, it can help them find their purpose and liberate the mind from negative thoughts. As one of the leading senior living facilities in India, we believe that when seniors engage in creative activities, they benefit in many ways. That’s why you’ll find a host of events, amenities and cultural opportunities and programs held regularly at our communities. Here is a list of common activities that boost a senior’s creative side: Art classes and workshops: From learning pottery to painting, you have countless possibilities to pursue creative activities. At the same time, you get to enjoy the camaraderie and companionship of other like-minded residents who are of the same age as you. Also, when you show your work of art to others, it gives you a sense of accomplishment which can affect your sense of wellbeing. Senior living communities like ours understand the importance of this, hence we highlight artwork, poetry and short stories by our residents and encourage them. Field trips to historical places, art museums and galleries: Many senior living communities arrange for trips to local museums, music concerts, sports events, movie theatres, plays and musicals and galleries to help their residents discover their creative side. Regular exercise: Studies show running enhances one’s creative inspiration. Haruki Murakami, a renowned Japanese writer, in one of his interviews said “I try not to think about anything special while running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometime. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.” Activities like dancing, yoga and deep breathing let you connect with your creative side and help you express your thoughts through different forms of art. No matter what your level of skill, don’t hesitate to pursue creative activities that interest you. So, if you’ve been thinking about attending an evening workshop at your community, or giving a new hobby a try, go for it!

Bangalore is pleasant nearly throughout the year. If you’re looking for fun things to do with grandkids, you are on the right page. As a leading senior citizen home in Bangalore, we have curated a list of activities that will warm your and your grandkids’ hearts: Go for a wildlife safari: Create lifelong memories on a safari through Bangalore’s Bannerghatta Biological Park. Observing wild animals in their natural habitat is something that you and your grandchildren will love. Hire a private safari vehicle and a guide for a knowledgeable and fun experience. Explore historical places: Rich in heritage and culture, Bangalore is not just about IT parks, the city is home to several palaces and forts. Plan a day trip with your grandchildren to explore iconic historical monuments like the Tipu Sultan Fort, Bangalore Fort, Mayo Hall, Lal Bagh and St Mark’s Cathedral. The majesty of these buildings and their architecture will leave you in awe. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Bangalore Race Course and the Brigade Grounds from Mayo Hall. Go for street shopping: If your grandchildren love shopping, the city offers some great markets in Commercial Street and Brigade Road where they can buy budget apparel and funky jewellery. When it comes to shopping in Bangalore, you and your grandkids will be spoilt for choice. Not just that, the markets are dotted with quick eating places. From idlis to pizzas, you will find a lot of places where you can satiate your hankering for something delicious. Spend an evening at the parks and lakes: There is no dearth of sprawling and lush green areas in Bangalore. The city of gardens and lakes offers you plenty of open spaces where you can play with your grandchildren without any worry. Boat rides, photography, strolling around the lakes and bird watching – there’s no dull moment in Bangalore. Join art classes together: Most children love to get crafty! There are several art classes that you can join with your grandkids and discover the inner artists in you. While your grandchildren will get to learn something new, you will enjoy health benefits like -improved cognitive function, keeping stress at bay and an opportunity to socialise with others.

With age, it’s normal to worry about health. However, when one constantly worries about becoming seriously ill, it’s a form of anxiety called health anxiety. It is a serious condition, whereby people develop an obsessional preoccupation with the idea that they are currently, or will eventually be, seriously ill. Though health anxiety is a common condition, it can be difficult for seniors to find the right support to cope with it. The medical condition is often not taken seriously and is joked around as hypochondria. As one of the leading independent senior living communities, we debunk some common health anxiety myths: Myth 1 – It’s not an illness: People often wrongly believe that health anxiety is just someone overreacting about their health. But this is not the case. Health anxiety is an anxiety disorder that needs medical treatment. People with health anxiety obsess over their health to the extent that every little symptom seems dangerous to them. Myth 2 – It’s all in the head: A person with health anxiety may experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, excessive sweating and blurred vision. These symptoms are caused by anxiety. Healthy anxiety can also trigger panic attacks that may trigger several severe physical reactions such as shortness of breath, racing heart and weakness. It can be difficult to calm down a person who is having a panic attack. Myth 3 – It affects just the mind: Health anxiety can affect the overall quality of life. The condition may prevent people from enjoying things that they once used to love. A person with health anxiety may find it difficult to read a book or watch a film that has a reference to physical illness. News about health issues can cause anxiety. Myth 4 – Health anxiety cannot be treated: Just like other anxiety disorders, health anxiety can also be brought under control with effective treatment that includes medications and therapy. Myth 5 – The condition affects just the sufferer: Often people think that those with health anxiety only worry about themselves. Well, this isn’t the case. Some people have anxiety over other people especially family members like children and spouse. People with health anxiety may find yoga helpful. Yoga and breathing exercises help in reducing stress and increasing mindfulness. We urge people to not dismiss the fears of those who are suffering from health anxiety and encourage them to seek medical help.

“What is hell? Hell is oneself. Hell is alone, the other figures in it. Merely projections. There is nothing to escape from. And nothing to escape to. One is always alone.” – TS Eliot, renowned American poet. The above quote by TS Eliot captures the sad truth about loneliness. Loneliness is indeed an unpleasant experience. But besides the feeling of being alone, are there any long-term harmful effects associated with loneliness? Well, loneliness is more than just a terrible feeling. There are several long-term health effects of loneliness. As one of the leading senior living communities, we share with you the impact loneliness can have on your parents’ health: Psychological disorders: Loneliness can often contribute to a range of psychological disorders like depression and anxiety and older adults seem to be at a slightly higher risk. It can be difficult to recognise the signs of psychological disorders as seniors are less likely to talk about their feelings or physical problems like fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeping troubles and fatigue. This means family and friends may find it difficult to recognise whether older people are feeling lonely or not. Unhealthy habits: Loneliness makes it harder for senior adults to stick to a healthy lifestyle. Overeating or drinking too much alcohol are some of the bad habits that senior adults may get addicted to when they feel lonely. Moreover, lonely people are more likely to withdraw from socialising and seek emotional support – all this makes them even more isolated. Sleep deprivation: Loneliness can wreak havoc with sleeping patterns. It has been found that sleep deprivation can have negative effects on metabolism and hormonal regulation, affecting the immune system of senior adults. How independent senior living apartments are helping their residents beat loneliness? “The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.” – These words by American physician, and New York Times best-selling author Mark Hyman, capture the importance of living in a community with like-minded people. We believe that the best way to beat loneliness is to have a sense of belongingness and something to look forward to each day. Many independent senior living apartments like ours provide residents with opportunities to meet like-minded people. We have different groups for different activities that your parents can join should they choose to live in our senior living homes. Joining these groups offer them a platform that has a shared purpose and eventually, they will make a friend. Though initially, it may be difficult for people who are lonely, research shows group activities and being part of a community help fend off loneliness.

When people reach a certain age, they often believe that they are too old to do certain things such as starting a new career after retirement or pursuing new hobbies. However, there are many senior adults who are defying that notion and not letting their age dictate their life choices. As one of the best senior citizen homes in Coimbatore, we bust some common ageing myths and challenge the long-standing assumptions associated with ageing: Too old to change careers: Did you know that actor Boman Irani debuted at the age of 44? Entrepreneur GR Gopinath launched his airlines Air Deccan when most people start planning for retirement. National shooting champion Chandro Tomar started shooting when she was in her 60s. The list goes on. We understand that making a new start at any age can be challenging. However, if you embrace everything as a new adventure, it’s true that anything is possible in life. Too old to exercise: If you follow Senior Olympics, you would know that age is not an obstacle when it comes to exercising. Seniors can incorporate exercise into their daily routine by understanding and accepting their body’s limitations. With proper planning, you choose exercises that suit you. For instance, those with joint pain can plan an exercise regimen that has less impact on their joints. Regular exercising helps ageing adults improve their mental and physical health – both are important for leading an independent life. Too old to start a hobby: Want to learn to play a musical instrument or learn a new language or learn salsa? Your age should not hold you back from discovering new hobbies and pursuing them. There have been studies that show learning new things can keep an aged person’s brain active and sharp. Too old to make new friends: Friends are important at all stages of life. As you grow old and there are fewer familial and professional commitments, you will need the company of like-minded friends. Volunteering, joining a club or taking group lessons can help you make new friends.  

There are many elderly people who struggle to sit still for long. If you are one among them, active meditation may be the right self-healing technique for you. You have all the benefits of meditation without sitting in one place. As one of the best senior living homes in Bangalore, we discuss some useful insights on active meditation: Meditation is not a chore: Anyone who has tried meditation before knows how difficult it can be to sit for long and gather thoughts. When you approach it as a chore, it becomes all the more difficult. It is for this reason that many elderly people are embracing meditation through movement. You can have a mini meditative session whenever you want. The key is to focus on what you are doing and what it feels like. Conscious breathing exercises, mindful walking and yoga are some great ways to still the mind while your body is moving. Active meditation helps to ease stress, improve sleep, and promote positive well-being. Practising active meditation can help you feel calmer and more focused. Reduce anxiety with mindful breathing: On an average, a human being breathes 24,000 times a day. But how many of us are consciously aware of those breaths? Poor breathing practices can lead to a host of health problems. High blood pressure, increased stress levels, suppressed immunity and increased susceptibility to illness are some of them. Taking just a few moments each day to practice deep breathing helps your mind and body to relax and also keeps a host of health problems at bay. If you are new to active meditation, conscious breathing is a great place to start with. You just need to take out 60 to 90 seconds to practise conscious breathing anywhere you want. But this isn’t the only form of active meditation you can do on the move, there are many more that we will discuss further. Mindful walking: Turn your daily walk into an intentional meditation session. To practise walking meditation, all you need to do is take deep breaths and walk. Be mindful of each breath and every step you take. Mindful walking offers many benefits, both physical and psychological. Yoga: Yoga is perhaps the most widely practised form of active meditation. It involves slow breathing that is in sync with the body’s movement. You can combine strengthening and stretching poses with deep breathing and meditation. You can actively meditate no matter where you are. Being more mindful in the moment can help you find enjoyment in even the mundane things in life.

An important part of living well and ageing well is staying physically active. Exercise is good for everyone regardless of age, but for older adults, it offers a host of benefits like improving their cognitive functions, helping them maintain their independence and reducing the risk of falls. Regular exercising can reduce the risk of depression, obesity, lethargy, heart disease, insomnia, poor concentration, and a weakened immunity among seniors. Here are a few more reasons why low-impact exercises are good for seniors: Exercise is a great coping mechanism: Being active can boost feel-good endorphins otherwise known as happy hormones, thus, helping in managing stress. Be it a long walk, yoga, or several laps in the swimming pool, all these exercises encourage seniors to focus on their body’s movements. Helps to keep bones and muscles strong: Ageing can take its toll on the bones, joints and muscle. Conditions such as arthritis and osteoarthritis put senior adults at greater risk of falls. Bone and muscle-strengthening exercises like walking, jogging, climbing stairs, playing tennis, lifting weights may help seniors slow down the rate of bone loss. Besides strengthening muscles and bones, these exercises help in improving posture, stability, and coordination, thus reducing the risk of falls and age-related health issues like joint pain or a hip fracture. Helps in maintaining a healthy weight: One of the most apparent benefits of regular exercise is that it aids in weight management. According to a published study from the London School of Economics, people are more likely to have a lower weight if they regularly engage in brisk walking than compared to high-intensity workout. Keeps them mentally fit: Memory loss and cognitive decline are some of the common complaints among seniors. However, seniors who engage in physical activities experience an increase in blood flow to areas of the brain associated with improved memory. A new study shows that exercise plays a significant role in combating changes in the brain associated with dementia. For senior adults, there are countless benefits of staying active. It is for this reason that days at our senior citizen homes in Bangalore and other cities start with stretching exercises. We also have several yoga classes and aerobics classes that make exercising a fun social event.

As people age, they often consider moving to independent senior living apartments. Earlier, the notion was that people move into senior living communities when they do not have a choice. But today more and more senior citizens are proactively moving to senior citizen homes because these communities offer an active lifestyle and a feeling of community, along with a wide range of support services and amenities. Before finding the right independent living community for your senior parents, first, determine if they are a good candidate for independent living. Ask yourself the following questions: Are they in good health? Do they feel bored at home? Are their household chores taking time away from doing what they love? Do they want a socially and physically active lifestyle? Are they worried about maintenance and repairs? Do they feel secure in their homes? If your elderly parents can care for themselves without assistance and wish to lead a maintenance-free lifestyle, they are the right candidates for independent living. When your parents move to a senior living community, they don’t have to worry about the following things: Preparing meals: As people age, their nutritional needs change but at the same time, they find it difficult to prepare meals. Cooking and cleaning up afterwards can be tedious while eating take-out is not feasible in the long run. Residents at senior living communities get to relish well-balanced food while enjoying the company of fellow residents. Home maintenance: Does the lawn need to be mowed? Is the mixer grinder in need of a repair? If your parents are tired of maintaining the house, it is a sign that they would love staying in independent living communities where housekeeping and maintenance services are offered. Social life: If your parents are feeling more and more isolated and their social circle has diminished, one of the best places to make new friends is at an independent living community. Not only will your parents get to meet others of their own age, but they will also get to be a part of a thriving community where there are different activities such as exercise classes, indoor games, music classes, movie nights, lunch, and dinner outings to look forward to.