The Arbor Company Senior Living Blog

This blog was updated on January 27, 2020.

Assisted living no longer means retiring to a rocking chair to watch TV and occasionally play bingo. Today’s seniors demand adventure, plenty of stimulation, and a chance to learn something new. Indeed, most assisted living residents find that they have many more opportunities for engagement than they ever had at home. Check out these great options, which you may find at your local senior living community. 

In Sum: Forty Tales From the Afterlives, author David Eagleman reminds us that there are three deaths, not one: “The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time.” Our lives extend as far into the future as others’ memories of us. Leaving behind a legacy is important because it’s a way for seniors to know that some part of who they were will live on after they die. A legacy is a way to touch the future and to improve the lives of loved ones even long after one’s own death.

Aging is different for everyone, as every adult child of an aging parent learns. Some people find themselves suddenly thrown, unprepared, into the role of caregiver following a catastrophic diagnosis. Others slowly ease into a caregiving role over many years as an aging parent slowly, steadily, almost imperceptibly declines. And some never become caregivers at all, but worry about what the future might hold.

When you think about balance, you might envision the seemingly impossible contortions of a ballet dancer or the high-wire act of a tightrope walker. But balance is more than just a novelty. It’s a key skill you use in just about everything you do. Good balance can reduce your risk of falling and make it easier to walk, go up and down stairs, and perform simple daily tasks such as vacuuming and dusting. 

Dementia is frustrating for seniors and caregivers alike. It makes daily activities more challenging and can slowly erode communication skills, relationships and even personalities. Dementia doesn’t mean that a person loses interest in connecting with others, doing simple hobbies or mastering new skills. It just makes these tasks a little more difficult. The good news is that staying mentally active may actually slow the progression of dementia. Activities such as listening to music can also improve quality of life and reduce emotional challenges such as anxiety and depression. 

The new year is a time to turn inward, to reflect on where you have been and where you are going. The changes you make this year can catapult you into better health, protect your future, and help you live a more meaningful life. So ditch bland resolutions about weight loss and eating fewer cookies. Make 2019 a year of transformation and joy with these New Year’s resolutions.

Life’s transitions can be exciting. Remember when your parents dropped you off at college or you moved into your first apartment? Change can also be intimidating. Seasoned couples often joke about the challenges of the first years of marriage, and most people know how difficult it can be to juggle expenses as you set out on your own. The transition to senior living is just like any other change. The first days and weeks can be challenging. On the other side of those challenges is a better, happier, more fulfilling life.

Food is the body’s fuel. And just like a car, the body needs quality fuel to sustain excellent performance. Unfortunately, malnourishment is common in seniors. One literature review found that 15 percent of seniors who live at home are malnourished. Among hospitalized seniors, the figure rises to an astonishing 23-62 percent. Healthy eating is critical to healthy aging. Here are six important facts you might not know about senior nutrition.

Seniors in Northeast New Jersey have access to some of the best senior communities in the country, as well as a bevy of community resources, senior-friendly activities, restaurants, and shopping. Whether you’re planning a move, hoping to entertain friends and family, or just eager to embrace a more active lifestyle, check out these excellent resources for senior activities in Northeast New Jersey.