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Southgate at Shrewsbury

Retirement community near Shrewsbury and Worcester, MA

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The Benefits of Internet Use in the Life of the Senior Citizen

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Research shows that every second, one senior is added to the aging population of the world. As a result, the growing popularity of senior citizens going online is increasing. The benefits of the Internet are tremendous in helping them to live a happier life after retirement.

BENEFITS OF THE INTERNET

Mental benefits. Knowledge of the Internet can help senior citizens improve their mental alertness. Aside from the vast information from the Internet, it is also a great source for video games. Why video games? According to the Psychology and Aging magazine, playing video games helps improve the cognitive functions of seniors which normally decline during the passing years. Strategy video games help in keeping their brains razors sharp, and improve their hand-eye coordination. The gaming industry is now looking into the possibility of developing more video games tailored for seniors, and propose that they will be a high target market in the future.

Establish a home-based online business. Seniors who worked from corporate offices for so many years can still have the opportunity to earn after retirement. Examples are selling products, stock photography, and offering services online. Another freelance home-based job is to be an online content writer. It enables them to share their expertise, knowledge, and wisdom acquired through the years.

Shopping is just one click away. Purchasing online is perhaps the best thing that has happened for seniors. It means that they can shop in the comfort of their home, which is especially beneficial since mobility is a main concern.

Explore the world through the Internet. Not all seniors have the chance to travel due to financial and health reasons. Now the Internet gives seniors the opportunity to explore the world more by browsing and watching videos online . One can continue learning by browsing the Internet to get more information on important topics, such as health and fitness. Watching tutorial videos related to their interests such as painting, playing the piano, gardening, flower arrangements, cooking, and travel, among others, is a great way to expand knowledge and keep the creative juices flowing.

Emotional benefits. Uplift the spirit through online communication with family and friends. It enhances self-esteem and a more cheerful outlook, helps to gain independence, and can make seniors feel much happier that they are still able to interact with both loved ones and new acquaintances. The Internet creates new life for them and that makes them feel young again.

Instant messengers. Skype and Yahoo Messenger are the two most popular free service chat providers that seniors can take advantage of. Video conferencing is the most satisfying experience, as it enables them to see and talk with their loved ones who are away from home.

Social media. Facebook is the most popular social networking site that brings family and friends together. Share photos, chat online, play games, search old friends and more. What an exciting way to reconnect with old friends to whom they have lost throughout the years.

Helps build grandparents’ relationship with their grandchildren. Many seniors or grandparents feel they are being left behind because they cannot keep up with the world. With Internet knowledge and use, seniors can still catch up with their grandchildren, bridging the gap between them. Having a common activity together and frequent interaction via the Internet helps to build a better relationship.

Here at Southgate at Shrewsbury, we understand and encourage the desire to continue to grow, learn, and adapt as the technologies progress.  We have a fully-functional resident computer room, as well as free wifi access throughout most of the facility’s common areas.  The Southgate community was designed with an energetic, exciting, and sophisticated lifestyle in mind.  From looking up a new recipe to video-chatting with the grandkids, we are dedicated to making sure our residents have the most modern and and convenient amenities at their fingertips.

Best iPad Apps for Senior Citizens

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Seniors have been quick to adopt Apple’s iPad, a device that in their childhood would have seemed like a science fiction fantasy. According to a study by eMarketer, iPad use among seniors grew 190% during 2011. This powerful but lightweight touchscreen computer is the size of a notepad and so intuitive that even a two-year-old can use it.

Assistedliving.com conducted an informal survey of older family members and friends to learn their favorite iPad apps. Here are the results:

 

Memory Aids

1. Pageonce (free):This app helps to track and organize bills, and even supports online bill pay.

2. BugMe! Stickies ($1.99): BugMe! lets you setup notes and reminders for birthdays, doctor’s appointments, and so on.

3. Find my iPad (free): Use a smart phone or a standard computer to quickly locate a lost iPad.

Socializing and Staying in Touch

4. Postcards (free):Designed for seniors, this simple apple allows your older loved one to easily view photos and videos that family members have shared.

5. Skype (free): Skype is for face-to-face video conferencing. Seniors can chat with grandchildren and other loved ones anywhere in the world.

6. Words with Friends ($2.99): Play a clone of the popular board game, Scrabble, with friends across the world.

7. Vtok (free): Vtok, an alternative to Skype, brings Google video calls to the iPad.

 

Lifelong Learning and Staying Mentally Fit

8. Crosswords ($9.99): Seniors are known for their love of crossword puzzles. This app puts a limitless number of puzzles at your loved one’s finger tips.

9. iTunes U (free): ITunes U by Apple makes courses by a wide variety of educational institutions easily accessible.

10. Luminosity (free): Play popular brain games designed to help people exercise their mind and stay sharp.

11. TED Talks (free): Watch free lectures and talks by scientists and thinkers of the 21st century.

12. BBC News (free):The BBC has been the voice of the Free World since 1922. Read the latest world news or listen to the BBC World Service.

13. Virtuoso Piano 3 (free):Virtuoso is the perfect app for an older musician. Play piano and other instruments with the touchscreen.

14. WeatherBug (free): WeatherBug is among the most outstanding weather apps. Get forecasts, view the local radar, and get alerts from the National Weather Service.

15. iBooks (free): iBooks turns an iPad into an eBook reader. Font size and brightness can be easily adjusted for seniors with vision problems.

16. StockFish (free): Chess, known as the “game of kings” has been popular since the middle ages. Your chess-playing loved one will never have fret about finding an opponent with StockFish. Difficulty and playing style of the computer can be easily adjusted.

17. NPR (free): Public radio fans are sure to enjoy the NPR iPad app.

18. Art ($.99):Art is a virtual art museum and an art history course in one. View high resolution images of thousands of classic paintings and learn about the artists.

19. Living Earth ($1.99):This is a visually stunning app for weather and world-time. It shows a bright and beautiful simulated image of the Earth as it looks at this very moment, incorporating the latest satellite imagery to illustrate cloud cover.

listen to the BBC World Service.

13. Virtuoso Piano 3 (free):Virtuoso is the perfect app for an older musician. Play piano and other instruments with the touchscreen.

14. WeatherBug (free): WeatherBug is among the most outstanding weather apps. Get forecasts, view the local radar, and get alerts from the National Weather Service.

15. iBooks (free): iBooks turns an iPad into an eBook reader. Font size and brightness can be easily adjusted for seniors with vision problems.

16. StockFish (free): Chess, known as the “game of kings” has been popular since the middle ages. Your chess-playing loved one will never have fret about finding an opponent with StockFish. Difficulty and playing style of the computer can be easily adjusted.

17. NPR (free): Public radio fans are sure to enjoy the NPR iPad app.

18. Art ($.99):Art is a virtual art museum and an art history course in one. View high resolution images of thousands of classic paintings and learn about the artists.

19. Living Earth ($1.99):This is a visually stunning app for weather and world-time. It shows a bright and beautiful simulated image of the Earth as it looks at this very moment, incorporating the latest satellite imagery to illustrate cloud cover.

20. Goodreads (free): A book lovers dream. Users can read reviews of books they are considering reading, rate and write reviews of books they’ve read, keep a log of books read, and receive recommendations about books that match their interests.

21. Wikipanion (free): Wikipedia is becoming a virtually repository for all human knowledge, and Wikipanion is one of the best apps around for browsing Wikipedia.

 

Health

22. WebMD (free):Get health information and news from WebMD.

23. Med Reminder ($2.99):This app can help a parent or other old loved one keep track of their medicines.

24. Motion Doctor ($6.99):Have an ache or pain? Motion Doctor shows your loved one simple stretches and exercises that may help. It can even help seniors find a local physical therapist.

25. HeartWise Blood Pressure Tracker ($2.99): This is a great app for seniors who want to take control of their own health.

 

Adaptive Aids

26. Magnifying Glass (free): This app turns an iPad into a digital magnifying glass.

27. Big Calculator ($.99): As its name implies, this is a pocket calculator with really big buttons.

26. Dragon Dictation (free):This is an undemanding text recognition app that’s an excellent tool to help seniors dictate emails and other messages.

28. VizWiz (free): VizWiz allows someone with limited vision to get quick information about an object. Take a photo of an object, ask a question about it, and get an answer almost instantly from a worldwide network of volunteers. VizWiz also includes an “IQ engine”, which uses computerized object recognition.

29. Penultimate ($.99): Use your finger as a pen on the iPhone screen. Notes that you write in Penultimate are transcribed into digital text and can be saved.

30. Clevermind (TBD): Clevermind is still in development but is promising enough that we couldn’t resist mentioning it now. Designed for seniors with mild to moderate memory loss, demos show an app with a simple, intuitive interface and features that include brain training, reminders and entertainment.

 

Eight Tips for Staying Safe in the Summer Heat

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Summer means gardening, cookouts, and just enjoying the great outdoors, but a heat wave can pose a major threat, especially for seniors. “Seniors won’t have as great an ability to sweat as younger people, and sweat is how you cool yourself, explained William B. Greenough III, MD, a geriatrician and professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Dehydration may increase the risk of a serious cardiovascular event like a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. An Australian study found that during a record-breaking heat wave, there was a significant increase in trips to the emergency room for heat-related illness and dehydration, particularly in those age 75 and older for whom the heat triggered a 13 percent increase in deaths. “It’s very important to stay well hydrated, increasing fluids and salts to accommodate for the salt losses,” Dr. Greenough said. Try these tips to keep your cool during sizzling summer days.
Drink up – Dehydration is a major concern for seniors in the summertime heat, but don’t wait until you feel thirsty to reach for a beverage. “Drink plenty and a variety of liquids,” advised Heidi White, MD, associate professor of medicine in geriatrics at Duke University in Durham, N.C. “Too much water can lead to electrolyte imbalance. Concentrated urine is a bladder irritant and actually increases trips to the restroom.” Instead, keep plenty of sweat replacement drinks, such as Gatorade, on hand and drink them when you’re sweating more than usual.

Cut out caffeine – Skip your usual iced tea or coffee in the summer to help avoid hydration in a summertime heat wave. All that caffeine “works on our kidneys as a diuretic, depleting our bodies of needed liquid,” said Dr. White. “It is also a bladder irritant and increases trips to the restroom. Why spend your summer searching for a restroom?” Opt for water or sweat replacement drinks instead.

Layer your clothing – If you’re going back and forth all day between scorching summer heat and frigid air conditioning, dress in layers so that you can adjust all day long, suggested White. Dressing in layers “ensures comfort with indoor air conditioning and outdoor heat,” she said. Also, wear lightweight clothing in breathable, natural fabrics like cotton that allow your skin to breathe, said Greenough.

Skip the sun exposure – When the sun is blazing hot, it’s best to avoid being outdoors to prevent overheating, dehydration, and sunburn. Stay inside where it’s cool. When you do spend time in the sun, make sure you wear sunscreen to prevent a sunburn, and put on a hat with a wide brim and sunglasses to protect your eyes, said White.

Cool off your kitchen – Who wants to cook — or eat — a hot meal in the blazing heat of summertime? Turning up the stove will only heat up your kitchen and your home, and that may not sound too appetizing. Switch to tasty cold dishes instead, suggested Greenough. Enjoy cold fresh salads loaded with vegetables and fruit, sandwiches, fruit smoothies, and hard-boiled eggs. You’ll feel nourished and keep your home cooler, too, without having to run the air conditioning overtime.

Wash off the heat – Taking a cool shower or bath can help bring down your body temperature when your skin is sizzling from the summertime heat. “Evaporation gets rid of heat from the body,” explained Greenough. You can also soak a small towel or cloth in cool water and drape it around your neck or on top of your head to help cool down when you need it, especially if you’re outdoors and can’t get back inside into the air conditioning.

Temper the air conditioning – When it’s really hot, do turn on the air conditioning, especially when you sleep, to help you stay comfortable and get a good night’s rest. “Our body temperature naturally drops a small amount at night to promote sleep. Being too hot at night will make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep,” said White. If you don’t feel it’s quite hot enough to run your air conditioner, Greenough suggested turning on fans and opening up the windows in your home to allow cool air to circulate and help you cool down with a breeze from the outdoors.

Step on the scale – Protect yourself by looking for early warning signs of dehydration, such as urine that’s very dark in color, and taking quick action by increasing fluids. Greenough also suggests stepping on the scale and weighing yourself regularly. Know your normal body weight, and look for any deviation. “If you’ve lost 2 to 3 pounds, you need to drink it back up to your normal body weight,” he added.
Here at Southgate at Shrewsbury, we know the importance of summertime safety for seniors. We want you to enjoy the season, but also to stay safe and healthy. We offer a myriad of indoor activities you can participate in to stay active while keeping cool. If you would like to know more about some of the fabulous amenities to take advantage of this summer at Southgate, please click here.

Beat the Heat: Four Ways to Enjoy Your Summer While Staying Cool

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During the hot and humid New England summer months, it’s often advisable, for seniors especially, to stay indoors and keep cool. However, this shouldn’t mean that you have to sit idly by, waiting for the heat to pass. Here are four fabulous ideas for having a fun, creative, and productive summer without the risk of overexertion.

 

  • Do a little shopping at a mall or spend some time at a local bookstore. Cozy up in a comfy chair with an iced coffee or treat and relax while lingering over a book or magazine. Tatnuck Bookseller and Café in the Westborough Shopping Center is a mere six miles away, and is a charming, family-owned bookstore that frequently holds events such as Writers Workshops, book readings, and more. Their café has an extensive menu of sandwiches, soups, pastries, coffees, and other refreshing drinks; and their gift gallery is full of truly inspired gift ideas, collectibles, ladies accessories, and more.
  • Plan outings to local museums and indoor cultural events. The Worcester Art Museum is currently featuring the exhibit “Art Since the Mid-20th Century”, which chronicles the past seven decades and includes iconic works by such artists as Grace Hartigan, Alex Katz, Jackson Pollack, Joan Mitchell, and Andy Warhol. The Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross is presenting the exhibition “As Far as the Eye Can See”through August 16, 2014. This exhibition features artwork by over 20 artists with disabilities living in Central Massachusetts. This summer at the Worcester Historical Museum, learn the public and personal stories behind a selection of artifacts in their collection in the revealing exhibit “Stories They Tell”. For the city of Worcester’s full cultural calendar, click here.
  • Set a goal to learn something new. It is great for the brain! Learn a new craft, take an art class, or learn and practice a new game. On Tuesdays, Southgate at Shrewsbury holds our “Knit & Stitch” classes; Wednesdays are our bridge and ladies’ poker clubs; Thursdays are our acrylic painting class and men’s poker; Fridays, we also have bridge, in addition to cribbage. Our program calendar is recognized for its standard of excellence, offering endless opportunities for you to enrich your mind and spirit.
  • Connect with technology! Social networking, online support groups, and informational resources can all be very useful. Set up Skype or a similar service for video chatting with family and friends at a distance. Get more proficient with that tablet or iPad. From games that promote brain fitness to apps that track health information, a tablet can have a variety of positive impacts on seniors’ lives. View photos, listen to music, read, learn languages–plus the devices are lightweight, their touchscreens are easy to use, and font sizes can easily be adjusted for improved reading.

At Southgate at Shrewsbury, the warm summer breeze carries a sense of wellbeing in the air. We are committed to the health and happiness of our residents, and believe that the heat should not prevent keeping the body active and the mind engaged. For more information about the daily activities schedule here at Southgate, our social calendar is available here.