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Take a look around wherever you are right now. Perhaps you’re sitting on a porch or by a window, you notice a bird fly by, or a squirrel scurry up a tree. Maybe there’s a couple walking in the distance. Perhaps you’re looking around at a room inside your home or a common area. Which items catch your eye? What do they mean to you? How do they make you feel?

We process a great deal of the world through our eyes, so it makes sense to prioritize caring for them, even if it’s something we rarely think of when we think of maintaining good health. Creating and following some best practices—and learning what to avoid—will help you maintain healthy vision well into your senior years.

Our eyes, just like any other part of our body, require the proper fuel to function optimally. The following list of best practices will help you care for your vision. And the best news is that caring for your eyes is easy to do.

Eat for Your Eyes

Just like with your muscles, bones, or any other part of your body, nutrition habits can help or hurt your eyes. Research suggests that diets higher in certain nutrients can help you retain stronger ocular function for longer and are linked to lower risks for macular degeneration and cataracts.

These include:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Zinc
• Lutein
• Zeaxanthin
• Omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA

The old adage about carrots being good for your eyes is also true (the beta carotene in carrots is linked to both better eye health and slower cognitive decline). But instead of just sticking with carrots, it’s important to diversify the produce you eat to get a wide variety of nutrients and ensure you aren’t missing out on anything. It’s especially valuable to include leafy greens like kale or spinach—which both contain high levels of several nutrients listed above— and a variety of fruits (many of which contain high levels of vitamin C).

In addition to a large amount of diverse fruits and vegetables, gathering those necessary omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as mackerel or salmon or from seeds, nuts or soybeans will help to keep your eyes sharp. Nuts are also high in vitamin E, as are leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes and whole grains. For zinc look to meat, shellfish, seeds, beans and whole grains.

On the other hand, it is a good “eye-dea” to avoid unsaturated and trans fats, which can be found in foods such as margarine, deep fried foods and processed convenience snacks. In addition to these traditional “junk foods,” foods heavy in processed flour (which is high in carbs and low in just about everything else) such as pasta and white bread and margarine (full of trans fats) are not good for ocular health (or overall health, for that matter).

If you’d like a good place to start, check out 36 Fabulous Foods for Your Eyes written for the American Academy of Ophthalmology in November, 2019.

Use Protective Eyewear

We were all told as children not to stare at the sun, and even though the rebellious or curious children we once were may have snuck a peek, the adults we have become are certainly much wiser. Even when not looking towards the sun, however, ambient ultraviolet (UV) rays present in our environment can be harmful to our eyes. Wearing sunglasses during the daytime (even on cloudy days) that block the full spectrum of UV rays (UVA and UVB) and that fully wrap around the side of your face to protect your eyes from peripheral light is an important way to protect your eyes. Choose sunglasses that clearly mark that they block 100% of UV rays—the full spectrum of UVA and UVB. Additionally, wearing a hat with a wide brim can further protect you from UV rays.

It’s not just about the sun, though. Protecting your eyes from harmful materials in general will help keep your vision strong. Any time you are in a workshop setting, such as in the Woodworking Shop here at Southgate, it’s important to wear safety goggles. 

As technology has become more prevalent in all our lives, overexposure to the light that comes from screens on our cell phones and computers has become a concern. Make sure you give yourself breaks to blink and rest your eyes while using your computer or phone. You should also take breaks to focus your eyes on an object across the room so that you aren’t just focusing nearby for extended periods. Research suggests that for every twenty minutes of screen time, you spend twenty seconds looking into the distance to help ease eye strain and let your eyes refocus to the wider world.

Consult Your Doctor and Get Regular Eye Exams

Our eyes are sophisticated organs, so if something seems strange, consult your eye doctor. The faster you and your medical professional can get to the bottom of any vision changes you may have, the faster they can help you counteract them and right your vision. Make sure you discuss any family history related to vision with your doctor so preventative measures can be put in place to help you mitigate those risks. Regular doctor visits are important to help prevent future health issues and keep your eyes—and whole body—in tip top shape. At communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury, you’ll even find easy access to nearby medical professionals and transportation options to help you get to appointments.

Our vision is an important part of our overall sensory perception that helps us form memories. Maintaining our vision is important to our cognitive well-being and allows us to create richer memories throughout life. If you’re looking for more information and tips, WebMD has more tips to help you keep your eyes healthy.

Now go forth and enjoy the sights around you! After all, there are many beautiful areas of our campus to enjoy all year round.

Retirement has a way of sneaking up on us—one moment, we’re fresh out of college, ready to conquer our careers and climb the ladder. The next moment, we’re looking at our retirement options to optimize the next phase of life.

While planning your retirement, you have surely taken in the financials and logistics into consideration. These considerations are very important, but there’s one factor that needs to be ranked just as high on the list in terms of importance to achieving a happy & healthy life in retirement: your physical health.

The Importance of Staying in Shape

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), physical activity can help prevent and delay several chronic illnesses that increase as we age (such as diabetes, high blood pressure and muscular deficiencies). That means staying active is paramount to living a long and healthy life. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, more than 80% of adults do not meet the federal guidelines established to define minimal levels of aerobic and muscular-strengthening activity and 28% of Americans over the age of six define themselves as physically inactive. Research also shows that only 16.3% of seniors aged 65 to 75 and 9.9% of seniors aged 75 and older meet this threshold.

It’s not just physical—a healthy amount of exercise is also shown to stave off mental issues and keep cognitive function stronger for longer. In 2018, 15 observational studies all found a positive correlation between physical activity and happiness. In addition, multiple studies display a link between regular moderate exercise and decreased mortality rate among seniors.

The Challenge of Getting Enough Exercise

As we age, it becomes more difficult to complete physical activity due to myriad factors. We no longer have the energy we did in our youth, and our bodies are more fragile. It also can be difficult to stay active if you live along, after all, it’s easier to motivate yourself and have fun staying active when you have people to stay accountable to and enjoy yourself with.

In addition, the possibilities for physical activity and exercise change as we get older. If you practiced more high-impact exercise in your younger days, it can be difficult to make the switch to a more effective plan. Even if you still love to run, the best running program for you—including the necessary stretching—will change as you age. Fortunately, if you are a resident of Southgate at Shrewsbury, you can have a personalized fitness program made for you, and you can tailor it as your needs and desires change.

Steps in the Right Direction

Although it may seem daunting, taking a step (pun intended) in the right direction is much easier than you think! First, simply speak with your doctor. Be sure to get check-ups regularly and stay proactive in protecting your health. Secondly, consider a move to an independent living facility. Being surrounded by your peers helps keep things in perspective, makes it easy to be an active member of the community and help you stay motivated.

When you choose to enter a retirement community like Southgate at Shrewsbury, you’ll find a community that is catered to your age group and lifestyle. At Southgate, we not only provide a robust program of activities, we encourage our residents to be creative and create new avenues of socialization and exercise for themselves and each other.

The bottom line is that prioritizing your physical health can help you make the most of this new phase of your life. And it’s well worth finding a great community that helps you achieve this.

Although you’ve worked hard to get to the point of retirement, planning your retirement can be a daunting prospect. With so many lifestyle options to choose from, how do you decide which is truly the best for you to optimize this new and exciting phase of life?

The answer for many seniors—regardless of activity level—is likely to be independent living. This answer can be surprising for those who are very active or who may not even be fully retired. But the truth is, independent living communities allow seniors to maximize their free time. So, they can fully delve into their hobbies or dedicate more time to working or volunteering.

The following will highlight three strong benefits of choosing an independent living community for your senior years.

Improved mental health

When you choose a retirement community instead of remaining in your previous home, you are immediately placed in an immersive environment among your peers. In addition, independent living communities provide an extensive list of community activities to help residents become more engaged with each other.

It’s important for seniors to find a community where they can feel welcomed and happy, and the positive impacts of this can be tremendous. In fact, senior depression is often tied to isolation and loneliness. The longer someone stays living alone in their home, the more isolating it tends to be. Children move out, neighbors move away, and the community dynamics change as younger professionals and families alter the landscape. Maintaining social interaction is vital for health and happiness. Social isolation in seniors is linked to myriad health issues not limited to poor cognitive performance, increased mortality rate and higher systolic blood pressure.

When you live in a vibrant retirement community like Southgate at Shrewsbury, you will find it much easier to build an invigorating social life and embrace your retirement years with the joy you always imagined.

Making the best use of time and money

It’s a common misconception that independent living is more expensive than remaining at home. In many cases, the opposite is the case. The cost of homeownership can be unpredictable, but when you live in a community like Southgate at Shrewsbury, your fixed cost of living includes utilities and all the expensive maintenance that comes with upkeep of a home. Instead of having to call the plumber and pay the expensive bill to fix that leaky faucet, an on-site maintenance team will complete the repair at your convenience and no extra charge.

Another part of that same equation is the time you will open for yourself by not having to worry about day-to-day repairs or waiting around for expensive contractors. With all your home maintenance taken care of, you can utilize that time to strengthen your bonds in the community and take care of your health and happiness.

Higher comfort and security

Living at an independent living facility is the optimum choice to ensure personal safety and security as you enter your golden years. People living alone at home may avoid being too active to prevent falls when the people who could help them may be far away. When you live in a community like Southgate at Shrewsbury, however, dedicated and trained staff are always present to ensure that emergencies are responded to rapidly—we know your health and happiness depends on it!

Independent living residences like Southgate at Shrewsbury place an emphasis on maximizing their residents’ time and creating a community atmosphere that fosters a healthy and happy lifestyle. It’s the best place to be as you enter your golden years.

If you’re considering independent living and are still unsure if the option is right for, request more information and find out all the exciting ways an independent living community can enhance your retirement. You’ve planned and waited a long time to get to this point in your life; make sure you get the most out of it!

When shaping your retirement lifestyle, there are many things to consider that will impact your decision. Your current health, your social life, interests and hobbies are likely on your mind, and you’d like to figure out how to best set yourself up to enjoy your golden years. How can you maximize your health and your time in retirement? The answer—find a quality retirement community.

The Value of a Retirement Community

While retirement communities offer a relaxed pace of life, they aren’t just someplace where people go to slow down. They are vibrant communities that cater to a wide variety of interests and lifestyles for seniors across the entire age spectrum. Retirement communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury foster social development with a wide range of activities such as yoga, arts and crafts and coordinated community outings to local attractions and points of interest.

Health Benefits

Just as it has been through every major phase of your life, having a strong social foundation is important to living happily and healthily. The National Institute of Healthfinds that social group memberships in retirement are associated with having a lower risk of premature death. Living at a retirement community surrounds you with other individuals in the same stage of life you’re in, and a quality facility promotes engaging social activities that help residents more seamlessly adapt to post-career life.

Social Benefits

Although having a strong social life will certainly aid your health in retirement, we are simply more susceptible to physical ailments and disabilities as we age. The World Health Organizationfinds that regular physical activity leads to increased longevity and a happier lifestyle. A quality retirement community will foster active lifestyles for adults based on their varied interests. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we have an on-site health club, a beautiful garden where you can grow your own fresh vegetables, a swimming pool and a bowling alley, among other amenities that promote an active lifestyle. Our community members are also involved in various clubs and groups of their own organizing. With all this available, you’re bound to find a group that fits your social and activity needs.

Access to Health Care

When it comes to your health, it is important to recognize the need for access to quality care as we age. According to a study commissioned by the National Council on Aging, 80% of older adults have at least one chronic disease, while 77% have at least two. Furthermore, falls contribute to an alarming amount of serious injuries and deaths among seniors. Independent living communities like Southgate at Shrewsbury contain easy access to medical care on the campus as well as chauffeured transportation options.

Staying Connected to Your Community

Now that you are no longer beholden to a traditional work schedule, you have a considerable amount of time on your hands. It’s important to be aware that becoming too bored and/or lonely in retirement can impact both your physical and emotional health. In 2013, the National Academy of Sciencesconcluded that social isolation and loneliness lead to an increased mortality rates in older men and women. The National Institute of Health also found correlations between loneliness and increased blood pressure, reduced cognitive performance, and the propensity to engage in more risky behaviors.

Ultimately, the vibrancy of a diverse senior living residence like Southgate at Shrewsbury can mitigate a lot of the worries that are associated with retirement. Being surrounded by fellow seniors in various stages of retirement with various interests provides a unique support system as you encounter new challenges. Living at a retirement community truly gives you the ability continue learning and growing throughout your retirement years.