Mistakes seniors make when moving in retirement

If you are looking for a great place to retire, be careful to avoid the following six common mistakes:

1. Jumping in too quickly
Budgeting for an extended vacation in the area you think you’d like to live is a good way to avoid making a big decision too quickly. That way you can take the time to really get to know the community you’re planning to join.

2. Assuming you’ll never get sick
Ensure you have access to the health and wellness services that you need. You may be healthy now, but it is important to plan for the future.

3. Neglecting to consider the climate
Understanding the typical weather patterns of your new home is very important, both for your health and your peace of mind.

4. Ignoring cost-of-living expenses
Making sure you have a good grasp on basic cost-of-living expenses, will help to ensure a smooth transition to your retirement destination.

5. Forgetting to check work opportunities
A lot of seniors need to do some part-time work after retirement. Either it is because they enjoy having a job or career, or they need enough money to pay for basic living expenses.

6. Overlooking family considerations
When thinking about relocating in retirement, it is critical that you have an honest discussion with your spouse or partner. It is very important that your partner is in line with what you’re doing.

Deciding to relocate is about much more than just picking a nice place to live in retirement. There are a variety of factors you need to consider.

Pinelands Grove Retirement Village is a vibrant, well-established senior community. Book your place today and enjoy the finer elements of life.

5 Misconceptions about Retired Life

A lot of people believe that everything will change for the better after they are retired. However, this is far from reality. Here are five misconceptions about retirement…

Retired Life is Less Stressful:
No hassle, no waking up early, no work, no boss, no worries, and no real tension. Life couldn’t get any better.

Reality:
Stress never leaves our lives. After retirement, only the things that cause stress change. Now, you may be worried about your health and your partner’s health, your family and money. Yes, you wojnt be worrying about work, but personal problems can make retired life more stressful.

Hobbies and Travel can be Taken up Easily:
You have plenty of time to go to all the places you ever dreamed of visiting, and enjoy a hobby which you have always wanted to try out.

Reality:
Yes, you have all the time in the world, which is now taken up by other duties and responsibilities. Some retired people have to take care of their grandchildren; some may have to look after elderly or ailing family members. Some may even have financial issues or health-related problems, which prevents them from traveling or enjoying their hobbies. So, most retirees actually travel less than what they used to before retirement.

Health Will Improve:
You will be able to adopt a healthy lifestyle, since you get more time to pamper yourself. You will be able to take good care of your body and mind by exercising.

Reality:
Often, aging and other health-related issues may come up, which prevents you from exercising. They may stop you from adopting healthy eating habits or lifestyle changes. More than half of retirees said that their eating habits remained the same, and about one-third said that they get less exercise than what they did before retirement.

Standard of Living Will Remain the Same:
Retirees plan and save for the future, so that they can continue and maintain their standard of living.

Reality:
The cost of things will increase in the future, as compared to what it is today. Healthcare and medical services need to be considered, as they are bound to affect your savings. If you have considered inflation and saved accordingly, then you are good to go!

You Still have Time for Retirement:
You still have time to retire, and you can start planning for retirement a few years down the line. It is your personal decision, and you can ready yourself for retirement.

Reality:
Inflation, layoffs, mergers, buyouts, or health concerns may force any individual to retire earlier than they planned. In this era of tough competition, it is better to be prepared in advance for unexpected situations like these. Planning in advance will help you stay afloat in times of crisis.

These were some misconceptions that surround the topic of retirement. Planning, preparing, and working hard to secure your future is the key, and is in your hands. Be ready to start a new phase of your life, because life begins at retirement!

Pinelands Grove Retirement Village is a well-established community for seniors, book your place today and enjoy the finer elements of life!

Depression after Retirement

Retirement can open many opportunities for happiness, but for some people it can bring great sadness. You need to learn how to cope and how to cure depression after retirement, so that you can finally enjoy your life!

Signs of Depression During Retirement

Before you learn to cope with the situation, you need to know what the signs are and how you can deal with it.

- Look out for signs such as, getting agitated, angry or irritated for no reason or for trivial issues. Sometimes depression can cause the individual to snap at an unsuspecting member of the family or friend.

- Being aloof, pessimistic, melancholic or not interacting with members of the house. These individuals will seem like they have lost all hope in their lives and have nothing to look forward to.

- Staying hidden in a private room, all alone, without wanting to be disturbed or interrupted by anyone.

- Complaining about small issues, without any due cause.

- Not interested in eating meals anymore, or overeating.

- Being restless and wanting to do something productive. This can be executed in two ways, first the individual seems restless and thus does a lot of work around the house. Doing more work than he or she ought to, feeling severe exhaustion and fatigue. Or that the individual is restless and still does not wish to do anything, and just wishes to be left alone.

- Guilt is an essential of depression, and is often very difficult to identify, unless mentioned in clear verbal means. Retirement can make people feel guilty of not being able to accomplish as much as they would like to have.

- People who remain upset and gloomy for prolonged periods find it hard to concentrate for tool long, and have difficulty remembering things. They often forget details, such as doing the laundry or getting the groceries from the market.

How to Prevent Depression After Retirement

- Take it as a new beginning

- Think of all the fun you can have!

- Join a community

- Stay active

- Make time for family

If you are still feeling depressed, it is completely alright to speak to a trusted few about how you feel. There is no shame in talking to professionals about your problems.

Pinelands Grove Retirement Village is a well-established senior community, where your dreams of a perfect retirement can come to life! Book your place today!

How seniors can start to exercise regularly

Everyone knows that regular physical activity helps older adults feel better, live longer and enjoy life more. Still, it’s hard for many seniors to find the motivation to exercise.

How important is physical activity for you?

What benefits are you looking for? Improved health? A better lifestyle? A longer life? Studies have proven that regular exercise gives you a 50 prevent lower risk of death. Physical activity also prevents diseases such as diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. It improves lifestyle, mental health and the quality of life.

Get your physicians advice.

Ask for help in determining what type of physical activity will best suit your health and overall condition.

Choose activities that match your interests.

Do you love to walk around the mall and shop? Well, why not join or create a mall-walking group? Interested in making new friends? Look into joining a fitness class. Or maybe if you are a nature lover you could take a hike in a park nearby.

Start slowly and progress gradually.

If you have lived a sedentary lifestyle, begin by slowly adding little bits of exercise to your daily routine. Consider some form of exercise at small intervals of 5 or 10 minutes a few times a day instead of all at once. Set small, reachable goals and chart your progress.

Consider a buddy or group for support.

Research shows that people are more likely to stick with exercise routines if they make a commitment to others. Ask a friend to join your morning walks or dance classes. There are many options to group fitness activities.

Don’t get discouraged!

If you start a program then relapse into inactivity, don’t be too hard on yourself. Many successful people try more than once to succeed. Start again and reward yourself for your renewed motivation!

Enjoy the finer elements of life at Pinelands Grove Retirement Village, where wellness is encouraged and a varied range of services to residents is provided.

Inventions that may assist seniors and caregivers

People are constantly developing new products to assist seniors who have a variety of conditions. From those who have Alzheimer’s disease to those that are looking to track their daily exercise habits. 

Here are two innovative products which may become available in retirement communities in the future.

  §  The Parkinson's Cup
Lily Born was tired of watching her grandfather struggle with his drinking cup, as he had an advanced form of Parkinson's disease. Instead of watching her grandfather suffer in silence, Lily designed a cup that would allow the drinker to have full control of the liquid without having to worry about spilling or breaking. Lily created the cup, enlisting her father's assistance to develop a prototype, and funded the entire project on Kickstarter. Even more amazing? She was only 11 years old at the time!

Lily spoke to Co.Design about her "Kangaroo Cup," explaining that it was originally ceramic, but she switched to plastic after discovering the material was more stable. She added that her grandfather was an integral part of the design process.

They were using hand-mouldable plastic at home and then clay at a pottery studio. She was able to hand those cups right over to her grandpa to use, and it was very easy to see if it was comfortable or not.

The cups are currently available in sets of four, but Lily hopes they will become more widely adopted in the future.

  §  Shoe implant for seniors with Alzheimer's
Tracking technology has helped many caregivers and family members keep track of aging loved ones who have dementia or Alzheimer's and have wandered in the past.

Professor Andrew Carle from George Mason University and a shoemaker from GTX combined forces to develop a GPS insert for the shoes of seniors suffering from memory loss. Carle explained to the Washington Post that the new device may be helpful for caregivers, as the sole can easily be moved between multiple pairs of shoes.

However, the Alzheimer Society of Canada does recommend that caregivers carefully consider this option before adopting the device, as it may unnecessarily infringe upon a senior's independence.

Many of these revolutionary inventions are ideal for older adults and caregivers, as they may assist seniors in their daily lives!

At Pinelands Grove Retirement Village, your dream of a vibrant community establishment can become a reality! Book your place today and enjoy the finer elements of life.

Timing your Retirement – Are you ready?

Whether you wish to retire fully, or just cut back your working hours, it requires thinking about the emotional aspects of retirement as well as the financial.

Research reveals that the happiest ‘retirements’ are those with balance, structure, strong social contact and yes, a little work. You may also need expert advice from a financial planner on timing your retirement and to make the most of your money.

It is, however, important to remember that while money, (how much you have and how long it will last) plays a vital part in the timing of your retirement, your emotional readiness should hold equal weight. There are many factors to consider when deciding if you’re emotionally ready to retire, such as your relationships, support network, how you plan to keep yourself busy and what you hope to achieve from the next stage of your life.

How and when you make the decision also needs to be considered. Very few people simply wake up one morning and know the time is right. It’s often a gradual process that needs to be discussed and agreed with those closest to you and for whom your decision will also impact.

As well as the factors that you need to consider, there’s also the information you need to have. Will you get an Age Pension? Will your money last? What does retirement mean to you? And of course, what don’t you know?

Take a look at this simple “Are you ready to retire?” quiz, and highlight the areas that may need more consideration.

Are you ready to retire? Book your place at Pinelands Grove Retirement Village and make your dream of living in a vibrant community establishment a reality.

7 Retirement Lifestyles worth exploring

While some people are ready to relax after a stressful career, others are excited to try something different. Some people will try more than one lifestyle as they make time for leisure and then move on to engaging new activities.

You might want to consider trying these retirement lifestyles…

Beach – Retirement at the beach can make every day feel like a vacation. You could wake up every morning with a swim, go for walks, feel the sand between your toes and watch the sunset by the water each evening.

Golf Course – Picture yourself lining up the perfect putt on the green while smelling the freshly cut grass. Golf will get your out of the house and into the sunshine; it also offers opportunities to meet new people while getting some exercise. Pinelands Grove Retirement Village is conveniently located just around the corner from the Mowbray Golf Course; make sure to book your place today!

Stay at Home – Sleep in and don’t get up until you feel completely rested. Take your time chatting with neighbours, wandering around the neighbourhood and stopping at your favourite coffee shop for a snack. There is no need to rush, because you don’t need to be anywhere or accomplish your errands at a certain time. Savor the slow pace and enjoy life.

Second Career – Many people continue to work during the traditional retirement years, often because they need the money or simple enjoy working.  If you want more flexibility or leisure time, consider shifting into a part-time job or seasonal work.

Entrepreneur – Older workers who are tired of working for someone else are increasingly putting their skills to use in new ways by becoming entrepreneurs.

Dreamer – Many people deferred dreams of becoming a writer, artist or musician while they supported a family. Retirement can be a time to rediscover old passions or learn new ones. Consider signing up for music lessons or art class or make time to put your thoughts down on paper.

Gardner – Gardening is a common retirement activity that allows you to grow beautiful flowers or delicious things to eat. It has the double benefit of giving your lots of good exercise and lots of inexpensive food.

Retirement means something different for everyone. It might include relaxing days on the golf course for some, or retraining for a second career for others – what lifestyle do you want to explore?

Gracious living in an attractive location should not just be an aspiration, make your dreams become a reality at Pinelands Grove Retirement Village.

How to Discuss Aging Issues with your Kids

Rather than letting children drive decisions on housing, health care and estate plans, seniors may find it more empowering to be the ones leading the discussion. Here are five tips to help older parents be proactive and start the conversation with their children.

- Choose carefully which child or children to approach.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to discussing aging issues, every family dynamic is different, and so every one of these conversations will be different.

The first difference may be who is involved in the conversation. While some parents may find it makes sense to sit down with their entire family, others may find it easier to discuss issues with only one or two children.

- Select conversation topics beforehand.

Just as the conversation participants may differ from family to family, so too may the topics. 

However, this approach may not work for every senior. There are seniors who don’t want to involve their children.

In those cases, seniors may want to approach the conversation more broadly. Parents who aren’t comfortable sharing financial details with their children at least create a file with their documents and share where it can be found.

- Be prepared for possible objections or concerns.

Having a conversation with adult children about aging can also open the door for them to express their concerns. Before sitting down with the kids, seniors should anticipate possible objections and solutions.

For example, if driving may be an issue, seniors may want to consider whether voluntarily giving up driving at night or on busy roads would be an acceptable compromise. Those who want to stay in their homes, but are having trouble with upkeep, may want to discuss options to hire help for maintenance or housekeeping.

- Find a neutral time and location to have the discussion.

Emotions can sometimes run high during discussions of aging, and some seniors may find comfort in bringing in a third party for the discussion.

Some families find it easier to write a letter rather than have a face-to-face conversation. Others may prefer to have conversations individually with their children instead of calling a family meeting.

It may be difficult to have a productive conversation with adult children who are stressed or grieving. So seniors may want to avoid having a discussion during high-emotion times, such as at the height of the holiday season or immediately after a death. 

- Have a Plan B in case your children aren’t up for the challenge. 

Finally, realize not every adult child is mature and capable enough to process their parents’ aging. A lot of times children can be in denial about their parents’ physical state.

Adult children could also be irresponsible with the information shared with them or combative about their parents’ decisions. If your gut feels that the information isn’t going to be helpful, withhold that information. 

However, that doesn’t mean seniors should go it alone as they age. Parents can turn to a trusted financial advisor for assistance in developing a plan to manage their finances as they age. Meanwhile, some senior living communities, like Pinelands Grove Retirement Village, include many services and can be a good option for seniors who need help.”

While aging is not always an easy topic to discuss, it is encouraged that seniors to talk with their kids. You will feel a lot of relief knowing that was all taken care of and it will give you peace of mind.