FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 12, 2018 • SENIOR LIVING • THE QUEENS COURIER 43
senior living
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Engage at Every Age
You are never too old (or young) to take
part in activities that enrich your physical,
mental and emotional well-being. No
matter your age, there is no better time
than now to start.
To help do just that, consider these tips
from the Administration for Community
Living:
Be Well
• If you don’t usually exercise, choose a
low-impact activity that you can do a
little at a time. Walk for 10 minutes in
the morning, sign up for a tai chi class
or learn gentle stretches, for example.
Remember, it is wise to consult a health
care provider before beginning an exercise
routine.
• Exercising is less of a chore when you
do it with people you enjoy. Gather a
group of friends or join a class. Some
senior and community centers even
off er free or low-cost options.
• Good nutrition is vital. Keep an honest
record of what you eat. If you have
a condition like diabetes, consult your
doctor before changing your diet.
Nutritionists can be excellent resources,
whether you have special dietary
needs or not.
• Eating healthy foods and staying active
may reduce physical health risks, and
you also can exercise your mind by
reading, playing games, taking a class or
simply being social.
Reinvent Yourself
• Second or even third careers can be
personally and fi nancially rewarding.
Determine whether you have the skills
needed for something new. If not, seek
out classes or training, and remember
to ask whether fi nancial assistance is
available.
• Express yourself through the arts. Learn
to paint or draw, dust off those dancing
shoes, take an acting class or fi nally
write that novel. As a bonus, studies
show the arts can improve brain health.
• Keep expanding your knowledge and
growing by learning a new language or
taking a computer class. Or, if you’re
more an adventurous type, maybe
you’ve always wanted to travel and discover
other cultures.
Give Back
• Consider using your experience to serve
others. Volunteers meet a range of community
needs, from mentoring at-risk
youth and providing job training to
helping families recover from disasters.
Find opportunities by visiting local
organizations or charities.
• Pick and schedule service activities that
match your skills and interests. If you
are handy, assisting with a nonprofit
housing organization may be most
rewarding. If you enjoy working with
kids, contact a local school to talk about
ways you can help.
• If you want to help others more informally,
consider helpful tasks like driving
neighbors to appointments, babysitting
for working parents or tutoring kids in
your neighborhood. If you are a member
of a spiritual community or club,
ask if there are outreach programs that
need assistance.
Increasing your well-being - physically,
mentally and emotionally - can be
made simpler by fi nding activities that fi t
your personality and interests. Visit oam.
acl.gov to fi nd more information and
resources to engage at every age.
Source: Administration for Community
Living
Courtesy Family Features