Older Americans Month Encourages Active Adults to “Engage at Every Age”

You are never too old to get involved in activities to make your life better physically, mentally, and emotionally. Older adults may think it’s too late, or that they’re too old. They may have physical limitations that stand between them and a full life. In fact, even small changes to your activities and lifestyle can make a big difference in your emotional well-being. And your active adult community and LifestyleLink are here to help.

U.S. Administration on Aging Declares May 2018 “Older Americans Month”

One in seven Americans are 65 or older, according to the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL’s) 2017 Profile of Older Americans. By 2020, that population will count for more than 56 million people. What all these people have in common is that they are getting older, and that they can benefit from remaining active adults. Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, announced:

“May is Older Americans Month, a time when we recognize the contributions of older Americans and think about how we as Americans work together to support and value people over age 65. Our theme this year for Older Americans Month is ‘Engage at Every Age.’”

According to ACL, seniors who are socially engaged are physically and mentally healthier than their isolated counterparts.  On the Administration on Aging’s Older Americans Month website they say:

“Participating in activities that promote mental and physical wellness, offering your wisdom and experience to the next generation, seeking the mentorship of someone with more life experience than you—those are just a few examples of what being engaged can mean.”

There’s no better place to start than in your own community.

Active Adult Communities Help Residents “Engage at Every Age”

One excellent way to get engaged is to move into an active adult community. These restricted-age neighborhoods provide older adults with facilities and services designed to keep them active and healthy. Depending on your community, you may have access to anything from one-on-one dietary counseling to multi-day excursions with friends and neighbors. Active adult facilities host exercise classes, book clubs, and social groups that keep residents engaged physically, mentally, and emotionally.

LifestyleLink Helps Residents Plug in to Active Adult Community Activities

Older Americans Month may sound like a good idea and you may be ready to engage, but where do you start? If your active adult community uses LifestyleLink the answer is as close as your computer. Your LifestyleLink residents’ portal can put you in connection with staff activities coordinators in your neighborhood and allow you to find out what’s going on right next door. The portal gives residents access to community calendars, discussion groups, and events so you can find a way to engage that matches your interests, and your physical ability. If you need a better way to know what’s going on in your active adult community, put your facilities director in contact with a LifestyleLink representative for a tour of the software.