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 <title>What Did You Say? How to Listen For the Signs...That It&#039;s Time For A Hearing Aid</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/what-did-you-say-how-listen-signsthat-its-time-hearing-aid</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;Roughly a third of all elderly people between the ages of 65 and 74 have some degree of hearing loss.  In addition, almost half of those over the age of 75 have trouble hearing. Difficulty hearing can cause a variety of problems for an older person, including making it harder for them to understand and comply with a doctor&#039;s orders. They may also have trouble responding to doorbells and hearing alarms in their home. Interacting with friends and family may also be a significant source of frustration.
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The first question a senior citizen will have to answer is: Do I have trouble hearing?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Signs that this may be the case include:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;They have trouble hearing when using a telephone.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;They have trouble hearing when there is noise in the background.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;They are not able to follow a conversation if more than one person is talking at the same time.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;They often misunderstand what others are saying and respond in an inappropriate way.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;They may turn the volume on their television or radio to excessively high levels.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/hearing-aid.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft size-medium wp-image-18102&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/hearing-aid-224x300.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;hearing aid&quot; width=&quot;224&quot; height=&quot;300&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Solutions for Elderly People with Hearing Loss&lt;/strong&gt;  If an individual is suffering from hearing loss, they should seek the help of a professional. One professional who can help is an otolaryngologist. This doctor’s specialty is the diagnosis of hearing problems. An otolaryngologist and can provide options for treating hearing problems. An audiologist is another type of doctor who may be able to help. Audiologists are trained to identify different types of hearing loss as well as the degree to which hearing has been lost. Audiologists may be able to fit a hearing aid.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Hearing Aids&lt;/strong&gt; These are electronic devices worn behind the ear. They amplify sounds. To find the hearing aid that works best for a particular patient, it will be necessary to try multiple devices. An audiologist can provide help in this area. They will also be able to help an elderly person adjust to the fact that sounds are different with a hearing aid.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Benefits of Getting a Hearing Aid Now&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The longer the patient waits, the harder it will be for their brain to adjust to a hearing aid. This is because wearing a hearing aid involves relearning certain sounds. Starting as soon as possible gives the patient’s brain more time to adapt.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;When people start using hearing aids, it can improve their quality of life, according to the national Council on Aging. They will have a greater sense of independence as well as improved mental health.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Hearing loss has been tied to dementia. Seniors who do not have their hearing loss treated face a considerably higher risk of developing the condition. While the reasons for this are not known, it is thought that auditory deprivation is a cause.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hearing aids do not cure hearing loss but they do enable communication and thus can make an elderly person&#039;s life better. It is essential that the diagnosis and treatment of hearing problems not be postponed.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/aging&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;aging&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/elderly&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;elderly&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/health&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;health&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/healthy&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;healthy&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/hearing&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;hearing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/retire&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;retire&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/retirement&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;retirement&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/seniors&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;seniors&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2015 20:21:17 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
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 <title>Can Diabetes make you blind?</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/can-diabetes-make-you-blind</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness today. Knowing what it is, what causes it, and how it&#039;s treated is critical for anyone with diabetes.
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is diabetic retinopathy?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Light focuses on an area in the back known as the retina. That is where special cells translate light waves into signals that the brain understands. This part of the eye receives a steady flow of blood and nutrients from microscopic blood vessels.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These tiny blood vessels can sustain damage when glucose levels in the blood become too high for too long. This happens with unmanaged or untreated diabetes. The damaged blood vessels can burst, leak, or grow abnormally. That is diabetic retinopathy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The most common test for diabetic retinopathy is a dilated eye exam. The eye doctor puts drops in the eye, which cause the pupils to dilate. The doctor examines the back of the eye for signs of leaking blood vessels, pale fat deposits, or swelling. All of these are signs of diabetic retinopathy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/boys-green-eye-1405557-m.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft size-full wp-image-18048&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/boys-green-eye-1405557-m.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Eyeball&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Diabetic retinopathy has no obvious symptoms in the first stages.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In the advanced stages of the disease, the most common symptoms are blurred vision and floating spots. The spots occur due to specks of blood floating in the liquid in front of the retina.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Four Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This eye condition starts out mild and undetectable. In more advanced stages, it can cause loss of sight and blindness.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mild Non-proliferative Retinopathy - Minor leakage in some vessels with swelling in others.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Moderate Non-proliferative Retinopathy - Some vessels have collapsed or been blocked.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Severe Non-proliferative Retinopathy - The retina is being starved for nourishment due to several blocked vessels.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Proliferative Retinopathy - New blood vessels are growing in the retina to provide nourishment. These fragile, abnormal vessels can cause further leakage and damage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What causes loss of sight with diabetic retinopathy?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Proliferative retinopathy can cause severe and ongoing damage to the retina, leading to loss of sight.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Macular edema is another cause. There is a spot in the retina, known as the macula, where sharp, straight-ahead vision happens. As blood vessels burst, fluid can build up behind this area of the retina. This causes the macula to swell, causing blurred vision.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How is diabetic retinopathy treated?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In the early stages, the patient is advised to control blood sugar levels as well as blood pressure and cholesterol levels.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Lasers are used to treat severe symptoms. To treat proliferative retinopathy, the doctor will use a laser to shrink and eventually eliminate the abnormal blood vessels. To treat macular edema, the doctor uses a laser to burn around the edge of the macula to slow leakage and to reduce swelling.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Annual eye exams are critical for detecting diabetic retinopathy in its earliest stages. Don&#039;t wait until your vision starts to blur to seek treatment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2015 20:07:41 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
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 <title>Seven Ways for Mature Adults to Find Fun in the Snow </title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/seven-ways-mature-adults-find-fun-snow</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Cross-Country.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft  wp-image-17330&quot; alt=&quot;Cross Country&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Cross-Country-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The torch has been passed to Sochi, Russia. The 2014 Winter Olympics opened on February 7 and will continue until the last event on February 23. Against the backdrop of the majestic Caucasus Mountains, countries from across the globe  will be competing for the podium.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Winter Olympics showcase talented athletes at peak performance. But the true story is the global spectator reach of the games to a world-wide audience. Millions of TV viewers will be glued to their sets. Couch surfing through winter sports abounds though health experts counsel against inactive lifestyles, especially for older and middle-aged adults, who are still able to engage in an easy-going Olympics. Here are some possibilities for an aging population with access to colder climes, the snow, and higher terrain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;1. Snowshoeing&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It&#039;s a low-impact hiking alternative, less expensive than cross-country or downhill skiing, and a sound aerobic work-out with cardio-vascular benefits. Organizers can decide on a snowy path and let older participants compete for medals. On the other hand, athletic contests can be put aside for the outdoor fun of tramping through the snow.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Ice Fishing Derby&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Ice-Hut.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright  wp-image-17331&quot; alt=&quot;Ice Hut&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Ice-Hut-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;55+ enthusiasts can join in with experienced ice fishers, after finding a proper hand saw and an expert ice cutter with know-how. Equipment is minimal: a small, light fishing rod with brightly colored lures and bait such as worms or minnows. Fishing derbies are good fun and offer worthwhile competition. Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont, New Hampshire, Ohio, New York and Canada are the major North American ice fishing areas. Participants need proper layered outerwear. Storytelling, jokes and conversation are recommended because ice fishing is a social and recreational event.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. Curling&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The Olympics feature curling as an event. Curling enthusiasts around North America can gear up as if they are Olympians. The United States Curling Association lists 13,000 curlers in the country and more than 135 curling clubs. Amateurs can watch for TV tips from Sochi and get back on the ice to compete in their communities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4. Senior Hockey&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Hockey may be a sport for young men or women with lots of checking and fast bursts of speed up and down the ice, but aging people can play within their limitations. USA Hockey or Hockey Canada can direct you to an appropriate league. Many community centers will provide hockey information and ice time for older players. It&#039;s never too late to form a team and play a loose game. Remember. No checking or heavy hitting. Hockey fights are a TV spectacle.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5. Adapted Nordic Skiing, Nordic Walking, and Adapted Downhill Skiing&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Keep the fun aspect uppermost for 55+ people. Trails and slopes should be of reasonable difficulty. Forget about the Caucasus Mountains, Whistler, or the French Alps. Realistic ski runs exist near most North American metropolitan areas. Competition can be based on predicted times rather than on best results, wherein winning participants compete against themselves.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;6. Adapted Speed Skating&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The concept of predicted times holds true for speed skating for 55+. Winners can be those who calculate their finishing time rather than the actual fastest finishers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Hot-Chocolate.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft  wp-image-17332&quot; alt=&quot;Hot Chocolate&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Hot-Chocolate-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;7. Post activity rewards&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Winter sports and recreation are good fun and exercise for older people, although they often like after-activity rewards, too, like good food and drink. Socializing is an important part of winter activities for the 55+ crowd who want to combine good cheer and bonhomie along with outdoor sporting experiences.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/active-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;active living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/health&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;health&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-guide&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health Guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/healthy-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Healthy Living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2014 11:58:17 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
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 <title>Die-Hards Compete at 55+ Olympic Games</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/die-hards-compete-55-olympic-games</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Hockey-Skates.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft  wp-image-17312&quot; alt=&quot;Hockey Skates&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Hockey-Skates-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;96&quot; height=&quot;96&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The 2014 Sochi Olympics may showcase the best winter athletes in the world, alongside a global spectator reach to a world-wide audience, with millions glued to their TVs, the Internet, radio, and print.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But, people don&#039;t have to settle for their armchairs when winter sports abound for active adults. Health professionals warn against sedentary lifestyles, especially for mature adults – the 55+ crowd – who can participate in a dialed-down Olympics.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tony Meriano’s hockey group involves over 100 participants who play three times a week with special rules for seniors, including no body contact or slap shots. “We may not have the energy of NHL 20-year-olds,” said Meriano, “but former Junior A and senior amateur hockey competitors play and enjoy it.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Vice President of the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.ontarioseniorgames.ca/&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;Ontario Senior Games Association&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; (&lt;strong&gt;OSGA&lt;/strong&gt;) said it helps participants to maintain active lifestyles – physically, mentally, and socially.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The OSGA staggers its Winter Olympics during opposite years to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Flash back to 2013, when the Ontario organization held its provincial games in Huntsville, a glacially elevated area in a skiing resort two hours north of Toronto. Flash forward to 2015, when the OSGA will hold its games in the Haliburton Highlands, situated in the craggy Canadian Shield.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The competition is friendly,” said Meriano. “A lot of what we do focuses on pre-game and after-game activities, people meeting up, engaging before and after recreational sporting activities.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Laurel-Wreath.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright size-full wp-image-17311&quot; alt=&quot;Laurel Wreath&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Laurel-Wreath.jpg&quot; width=&quot;100&quot; height=&quot;100&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The OSGA winter games are divided into outdoor and indoor events for men and women. Outdoor events include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, ice skating, and curling. The indoor events: volleyball, 10 Pin Bowling, badminton, table tennis, and duplicate bridge.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mariano explained that the indoor departure from pure winter sports is the OSGA’s attempt to reach a wide range of abilities and interests for those 55+. “We want people who aren’t necessarily skaters, skiers, hockey players or curlers,” said Mariano. “We seek to engage all seniors for purposes of physical, mental and social wellbeing.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Let the games begin!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/active-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;active living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/retirement&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;retirement&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/healthy-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Healthy Living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
 <guid isPermaLink="false">249424 at http://www.retirementhomes.com</guid>
 <comments>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/die-hards-compete-55-olympic-games#comments</comments>
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 <title>6 Benefits of Senior Centers for Seniors</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/6-benefits-senior-centers-seniors</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Paper-Chain.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft size-full wp-image-17302&quot; alt=&quot;Paper Chain&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Paper-Chain.jpg&quot; width=&quot;100&quot; height=&quot;66&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Whether you are enjoying retirement or still working, senior centers are fast becoming the “it” places to go for seniors. A senior center is a non-profit or for-profit community center where individuals who are 50 years or older can go to enjoy many things including wellness programs. Although you may consider the major benefit of senior centers is getting away from the social media- and text-obsessed younger generation, there are some other benefits as well.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Staying Social&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Whether you are living alone or with family, senior centers allow you to stay socially active. Even when you’re living with someone, it is easy to isolate  yourself away from people. Senior centers are definitely a way to enjoy much of what life has to offer. You will meet new people and participate in community events. There are plenty of educational and arts programs to participate in:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Volunteer opportunities.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Recreational activities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Programs that offer information and assistance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Civic engagement opportunities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Exercise classes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Art classes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Social club meetings.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Don’t worry. If your kids are begging to join you at your senior center, there are some intergenerational programs they can attend.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Communication&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Going to a senior center is a way to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in your area. This can be a big help during election time when you want to know more than what the local media is saying about a candidate. In addition, you can just go there to talk and socialize with other people whether they are other senior members or staff.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. Financial Advantage&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This benefit is probably not discussed a lot because people don&#039;t usually discuss their finances unless they have to. If you are on a tight budget due to paying for your medication or other bills, you don’t have to choose medicine over food. Senior centers are usually open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or later. This means you can stop by during breakfast, lunch or dinner for a low cost or sometimes even free meal.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4. Services&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Services offered depends on the specific senior center. However, a majority of the centers offer services like:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Perfect-Coffee.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright size-full wp-image-17303&quot; alt=&quot;Perfect Coffee&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Perfect-Coffee.jpg&quot; width=&quot;100&quot; height=&quot;67&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Public benefits counseling.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Transportation services.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Employment assistance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Nutrition programs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em&quot;&gt;Meal programs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5. Improved Emotional Health&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sometimes when you’re at home without anything to do, you start thinking about the past or feeling useless. What can make things worse is your family’s good intentions. Maybe your children nag you about getting out of the house. Maybe they think you should move into an assisted living community. Their good intentions can make you feel even worse. With so much to do at your local social center, you will experience a vast improvement in your emotional health.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;6. Staying Healthy&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Why pay for a fitness center or gym when you can have a more affordable and enjoyable time at a senior center? Senior centers offer a great way to stay healthy because of the wide range of fitness and exercise programs they offer. Each program is tailored to meet your fitness level and abilities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to the &lt;strong&gt;National Council on Aging (NCOA)&lt;/strong&gt;, research shows that older adults who go to senior centers learn to delay and manage the development of chronic disease. In addition, they experience an improvement in their mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, social and economic wellbeing. So join your peers and enjoy what senior centers have to offer. You’ll definitely find more benefits than listed here.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/active-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;active living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/independent-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;independent living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/retirement-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;retirement living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/seniors&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;seniors&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-guide&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health Guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/healthy-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Healthy Living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/mental-health&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Mental Health&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:21:48 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
 <guid isPermaLink="false">249422 at http://www.retirementhomes.com</guid>
 <comments>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/6-benefits-senior-centers-seniors#comments</comments>
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 <title>Baby Boomers Realize Childhood Dreams at MLB Fantasy Camps</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/baby-boomers-realize-childhood-dreams-mlb-fantasy-camps</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Boy-Man.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft  wp-image-17250&quot; alt=&quot;Boy-Man&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Boy-Man-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach, I feel it in the air, the summer&#039;s out of reach&lt;/em&gt;: &lt;strong&gt;The Boys of Summer - Don Henley&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fantasy&lt;/strong&gt;: Psychologists describe it as an escape mechanism to deal with the rigors of daily life or label it as reverie to cope with unfulfilled dreams. Boys imagine facing a fast ball or slider from a Major League pitcher but never realize their aspirations in real life. As aging adults, they cling to youthful hero worship of Mantle and Maris , Clemente, Mays, Aaron, Yastrzemski.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;2014 finds large parts of the USA and Canada in the deep freeze of a polar vortex. Spring training in Florida and Arizona begins in late February but seems like never-never-land. The boys of summer seem too far off to even consider.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Major League Baseball Fantasy Camps&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some mature adults have taken matters into their own hands. For those who can afford it - $3.5 thousand to $5.5 thousand - retired men in their 50s and 60s can be play for 5 to 8 days at MLB Fantasy Camps against former greats, like Wade Boggs for Red Sox aficionados; George Brett and Bret Saberhagen for KC Royals die-hards; Vida Blue and Gaylord Perry for SF Giants fans.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Boomers faithful to The Bronx Bombers can be coached by former professionals like Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez from the Yankees 1977 World Series Champions and suit up in iconic pinstripe uniforms. Participants receive personal lockers, professional training, autograph sessions, and dream games against former MLB players.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A lot of the fantasy camps are ending, but aging Detroit Tiger loyalists can still play ball from January 26 to February 2, 2014 in Lakeland, Florida and meet Mickey Lolich, 1968 World Series MVP. Other MLB fantasy camps are available, too. See Baseball Fantasy Camp Directory - &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.baseballfantasycampdirectory.com&quot;&gt;www.baseballfantasycampdirectory.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Baseball.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright  wp-image-17251&quot; alt=&quot;Baseball&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Baseball-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;96&quot; height=&quot;96&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Athletic Conditioning for Baseball Fantasy Camps&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Middle-aged fans of “The Bronx Zoo” who want a head start on fantasy camp have discovered year-long conditioning with Dana Cavalea, trainer of The Yanks for 7 years  - 2007 to 2013 - who has added an adult training component to his &lt;strong&gt;ML Strength&lt;/strong&gt; training facility in White Plains, NY.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cavalea’s 65-year-old father plays in Florida fantasy leagues and has approached his son for year-round health tips.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During his years as the Yankee trainer, Dana was approached by many people about health-related issues. “I saw the older demographic predominated with their questions, especially about the aging process and injuries.” he said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For Cavalea, working with professionals is not substantially different than working with Baby Boomers or the population at large. “It’s the same recipe, dialed down for each person’s level.” He’s helped clients rebuild their activity level in a similar method to MLB players by focusing on balance, coordination and body control.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The&lt;strong&gt; ML Strength&lt;/strong&gt; program is broken down into three levels.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Training camp. Group-based classes for 15 to 18 people.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Pro Training. Individualized attention for 4 to 5 like-minded people.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;ML elite. One-on-one training where a client teams up with a personal coach and a detailed program.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Baseball Fantasy Camp lovers can achieve fitness with a &lt;strong&gt;ML Strength&lt;/strong&gt; trainer, and then head out to fulfill their boyhood dreams with the boys of summer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Let&#039;s play ball.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/active-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;active living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/active-living-senior&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;active living senior&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/retirement&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;retirement&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/seniors&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;seniors&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/healthy-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Healthy Living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/inspiring-stories&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Inspiring stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jan 2014 13:53:30 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
 <guid isPermaLink="false">249417 at http://www.retirementhomes.com</guid>
 <comments>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/baby-boomers-realize-childhood-dreams-mlb-fantasy-camps#comments</comments>
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 <title>Great New Sport for Active Baby Boomers: Pickleball</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/great-new-sport-active-baby-boomers-pickleball</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Pickleball-I.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft  wp-image-17217&quot; alt=&quot;Pickleball I&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Pickleball-I-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Maybe it&#039;s true that life begins at 50 ... but everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.&lt;/em&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Phyllis Diller&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Fitness and sports are mainstays for baby boomers. They pursue active lifestyles to feel better and look younger, meeting up at the traditional spots: Yoga and Tai Chi studios, the gym and weight room. Then, there’s the customary golf course and tennis court.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Rise of Pickleball&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now, there’s a competitor sneaking up for attention for athletic middle-aged people – Pickleball. The combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong is played across North America in all 50 US states and in 6 Canadian provinces. Pickleball racquets are designed in the shape of oversized table tennis paddles. The net is lower than badminton and the court is smaller than in tennis. The big difference is the use of the wiffle ball.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The wiffle ball is light so there’s less impact on wrists and other joints and the Pickleball racquet is easy to use,” said Hilary Young, a Senior Health and Wellness Expert and writer for &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.medicalguardian.com/&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;Medical Guardian&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Benefits of Pickleball&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Pickleball-II.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright  wp-image-17218&quot; alt=&quot;Pickleball II&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Pickleball-II-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Young cited Pickleball as a low-impact sport for aging bodies, especially for people with arthritis and other joint issues. As well, it offers an effective cardiovascular workout and a social aspect with healthy competition. “Participants don’t have to run long distances,” said Young, “and it helps with reflexes, balance and agility.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Pickleball is an alternative to established boomer sports like golf and tennis. “Golf is not for everyone and tennis is hard on older bodies” said Young. She described the upstart sport as beneficial for boomers who aspire for energetic, youthful activities but have lost flexibility. “It’s a wonderful mix of competition that’s kinder for the body,” said Young.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Invention of the Game&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The game’s invention in 1965 is credited to former Washington State Representative Joel Pritchard at his home on Bainbridge Island, WA, near Seattle. The spread of the sport has led to the formation of the US Pickleball Association (USAPA) which lists rules and regulations and offers official equipment. The global governing body is the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/active-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;active living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/baby-boomers&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Baby Boomers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/baby-boomers&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Baby Boomers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-guide&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health Guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/healthy-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Healthy Living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jan 2014 09:49:53 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
 <guid isPermaLink="false">249414 at http://www.retirementhomes.com</guid>
 <comments>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/great-new-sport-active-baby-boomers-pickleball#comments</comments>
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 <title>The benefits of Yoga for seniors</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/benefits-yoga-seniors</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;Feeling good is always something marvelous to aim for no matter the age, so working toward this goal should be something you entertain as much as possible.  In fact, regular exercise is one of the most important activities that are guaranteed to keep you feeling better about your life as well as your mental and physical wellbeing.
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/10-22-yoga.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft size-medium wp-image-16683&quot; alt=&quot;Yoga&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/10-22-yoga-300x225.jpg&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;225&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You are quite familiar that an apple a day keeps the doctor away The same can be said about exercising each day, which can keep you alert and the doctor thrilled at how fantastic you look and feel.  One of those exercise activities that is probably not on your radar, but should be, is yoga.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You might be thinking that yoga is something you thought about when you were younger, but now being older it is a bit more strenuous.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In reality, yoga is an exercise that is not as strenuous as you might think, and in fact is perfect because you can truly work at your own pace individually or with a group of your fellow yoga partners.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Health Benefits&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Have you been feeling not quite as limber as you once were?  Well, yoga can not only help keep your muscles and joints much more flexible, but practicing yoga also helps to reduce the amount of anxiety and stress that many have.  In effect, yoga is like taking a vitamin pill for your body as well as for your mental health and it does not cost you a single cent!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Low Impact Exercise&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Often times when you are considering engaging in exercise again you remember working out on a treadmill, or perhaps on an exercise bike or with weights.  Now the thought of such high impact exercises might be challenging and perhaps even more harmful to you if you have not exercised in years.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yoga is not high impact and it certainly does not involve lifting weights or engaging in strenuous running.  Yoga is perfect for older and elderly individuals because it is low-impact. Many of the stretching postures are performed with little or no difficulty.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In addition, if you join a yoga class that is introductory and also targeted to seniors and the elderly everyone will be learning and performing yoga routines at the same pace.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Strengthens Body&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
As seniors age the body’s muscles weaken and in many cases there is slow erosion of the bone’s density.  Many medical experts have supported the use of yoga techniques as a way of helping to lessen bone density loss and even reduce pain.  The yoga techniques are moderate and each yoga routine or stretch is performed without placing strain on your bones or muscles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Do not forget that as you strengthen your body’s muscles and bones you are also improving your mind as well. Practicing yoga daily means your mind is becoming more focused and you in turn will have more energy. Also, be sure to always consult your physician before starting any exercise regimen.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/exercise&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;exercise&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/fitness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;fitness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/yoga&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;yoga&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Tue, 22 Oct 2013 07:45:58 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
 <guid isPermaLink="false">249367 at http://www.retirementhomes.com</guid>
 <comments>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/benefits-yoga-seniors#comments</comments>
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 <title>Boomer Fitness - Fountain of Youth or River of Denial?</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/boomer-fitness-fountain-youth-or-river-denial</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;The summer sun beckons. Baby Boomers yearn to look healthy and vibrant, to slim down and tone up.
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Weight-Scale.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright  wp-image-15936&quot; alt=&quot;Weight Scale&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Weight-Scale-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;77&quot; height=&quot;77&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Overzealous at the gym, or on an adventure trip, many discover too late that they&#039;ve overdone it, and have ended up injured.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Frontrunner of Boomeritis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.drnick.com/wp/&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dr. Nicholas A. DiNubile&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, an orthopedic surgeon from Haverford, PA coined the term ‘Boomeritis’ to draw attention to an aging generation prone to sports and exercise injuries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The co-specialist in sport medicine began warning his 55 Plus cohorts about musculoskeletal injuries – tendinitis, bursitis, and arthritis – when active members of his generation presented their ailments to him, during personal fitness routines and in private practice.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bending the Curve of the Aging Process&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The Baby Boomers are the first generation to realize that they possessed a degree of control over the aging process,” said DiNubile. “Certain lifestyles can bend the curve and slow down the aging process.” In response, Baby Boomers hit the fitness/exercise trend in droves.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;DiNubile noted the physical and psychological benefits of staying active, but warned of Boomers’ tendency to overdo it. “Eighty percent of the adult population needs some modification to their fitness routines to stay out of trouble.” DiNubile recommended that Boomers focus on core work.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Boomers need to do a lot of research to locate capable personal trainers, because many employ exercise routines that aggravate existing conditions.  “Personal trainers tend to be younger than Boomer clients and need to consider that they’re dealing with aging bodies. One-size-fits-all programs are dangerous,” warned DiNubile.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Fountain of Youth&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Lily-Pad.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft  wp-image-15937&quot; alt=&quot;Lily Pad&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Lily-Pad-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;77&quot; height=&quot;77&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Despite set-backs to the Boomer fitness movement, the orthopedic/sports medicine specialist deeply believes in its virtues. “Always find a reason to exercise. It’s the closest thing to the fountain of youth.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The key outcomes are a longer, healthier and more vibrant life. “You’re adding life to your years more so than years to your life,” said DiNubile. “Exercise and a healthy lifestyle enables you to reach your genetic potential and maybe beyond.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.milesnadaljcc.ca/&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;The Miles Nadal JCC Fitness Centre &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;in downtown Toronto is a year-round hub of activity for health and exercise. Colin Blayney, Active 55 Plus Coordinator, has developed many programs for middle-aged and older adults.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The River of Denial&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Denial.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright  wp-image-15938&quot; alt=&quot;Denial&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Denial-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;77&quot; height=&quot;77&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Blayney believes Baby Boomers’ lack of acceptance of aging is a form of denial.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I call it self-ageism,” said the medical-exercise specialist, “when aging people are unable to admit they have become older.” Blayney believes it’s more than an exercise problem. “It’s a life problem.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Blayney is a 43-years-old Gen Xer. His maturity has led him to an understanding of 55+ clients. Aware of his own personal limits, he’s learned to stay within them. A post rehab professional, Blayney helps clients make the transition into appropriate exercise for better daily functioning.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“All people should exercise, but specifically this age group,” said Blayney.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Boomers stand on the precipice of anti-aging and Boomeritis. There’s an art and a science to finding the middle path.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/active-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;active living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/older-persons&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;older persons&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-guide&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health Guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/healthy-living&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Healthy Living&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2013 05:51:02 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
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 <title>Older Adults Transcend Loneliness through Meditation</title>
 <link>http://www.retirementhomes.com/article/older-adults-transcend-loneliness-through-meditation</link>
 <description>&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot; property=&quot;content:encoded&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;meta http-equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; content=&quot;text/html; charset=utf-8&quot; /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Meditation&lt;/strong&gt; is gaining ground as an accepted health practice for older adults.
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Lonely.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignright  wp-image-15813&quot; alt=&quot;Lonely&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Lonely-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Professor Jeff Menzise, a clinical psychology professor and a mindfulness meditation expert at Morgan State University, emphasizes that relaxation is a positive effect for all forms of meditation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;A lot of elders have stress because of life concerns and anxieties about failing to meet life goals,&quot; said Menzise. &quot;Family situations can be aggravating.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dependency issues and fears of aging can distract older people. Menzise said – &quot;Meditation puts their minds at ease, helps them gain a stronger outlook on life, and acquire an optimistic perspective.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;The positive effects of meditation result from detaching the mind from troubling thoughts though breathing techniques, movement or posture,&quot; said Menzise.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Meditation can alleviate stress-related diseases where long-term body tension is retained, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Menzise spoke of the overproduction of the stress hormone – cortisol. &quot;Older people often live in a state of constant stress. Their bodies never get a chance to return to a relaxed state where they repair stress damage.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A Breakthrough Study in Meditation for the Aging&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In June, 2012, the benefits of mindfulness meditation received a boost when a Carnegie Mellon University study showed a decline in loneliness in older adults who meditated.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Decreased inflammation – a contributor to the growth of numerous diseases – was a major outcome of meditation training for the aging, according to the CMU study.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A Personal Story – Yoga and Meditation in Action&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.retirementhomes.com/library/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Arms-Up.jpg&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;&lt;img class=&quot;alignleft  wp-image-15814&quot; alt=&quot;Arms Up&quot; src=&quot;http://rh.shomair.com/sites/default/files/wordpress/Arms-Up-150x150.jpg&quot; width=&quot;120&quot; height=&quot;120&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Jerrie Gathe, a Dahn Yoga Foundation volunteer, specializes in teaching yoga and meditation to seniors. The mind-body practice, founded in South Korea over three decades ago, combines stretching, deep breathing exercises and meditation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gathe worked most of her life as a registered nurse until health issues forced her into retirement. She found Dahn Yoga to be revitalizing and became a dedicated teacher.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;The form of yoga I teach includes stretching, moving meditation, and a focus on deep breathing,&quot; said Gathe.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She became an active volunteer in retirement communities where she observed older adults who encounter a loss of independence.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The techniques she employs help older adults regain control of their bodies and emotions.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;The stretching and moving meditation helps with strengthening the body,&quot; Gathe said. &quot;It stimulates circulation and leads to clearer thinking in my older students. The deep meditation component reduces worry and anxiety.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other Forms of Meditative Practices for Older People&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;•   Zazen – a Buddhist meditation that focuses on posture&lt;br /&gt;
•   Transcendental Meditation (TM) which invokes a calming mantra&lt;br /&gt;
•   Qi Gong and popular offshoot, Tai Chi, combines gentle movements and breathing&lt;br /&gt;
•   Guided Visualization&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;North American seniors can complement recent breakthroughs in meditation and movement with their traditional religious practices.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Tags:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/health&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;health&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/health-guide&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health Guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/tags/older-people&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;older people&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field field-name-field-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-label&quot;&gt;Categories:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-items&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/health-and-wellness&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Health and Wellness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item odd&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/mental-health&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Mental Health&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;field-item even&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/categories/physical-activity&quot; typeof=&quot;skos:Concept&quot; property=&quot;rdfs:label skos:prefLabel&quot; datatype=&quot;&quot;&gt;Physical Activity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
 <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2013 06:20:50 +0000</pubDate>
 <dc:creator>aadmin</dc:creator>
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