“Won’t life be great when I retire!” How many times have you said that? Most likely you are dreaming of having more time to yourself and all the freedoms that come with retirement.
It’s true – retirement can be a wonderful period of your life. There is a reason they call it “your golden years!”
But a little planning can go a long way in making sure you get the most out of retirement. If you’re close to retirement age, now is a great time to start thinking about things you can do to help ensure a more comfortable, content retirement.
For those who are in their 50’s or later, retirement planning often focuses solely on finances, and while that’s important, there are other aspects to consider. With the right choices, you can look on these years as a time to enjoy staying healthy and active. You can plan for a retirement where you feel vibrant and fulfilled.
Supporting Senior Health
They say if you have your health, you have everything and staying healthy as you age is an important factor in retirement. Certainly, we do not have control over everything that happens to our bodies as we age, and health concerns in retirement are a real thing. Many people focus so much on their jobs and earning money that they neglect taking care of their physical bodies. But, making every effort to do things that support your health will pay dividends in your retirement.
While retirement may be the end of a lot of obligations, such as work, it should still be a time of activity, especially the kind that supports your overall health and wellbeing.
Find physical activities that you love! Physical activity can be moderate to more active, depending on your own level of fitness, but there are healthy physical activities for all ages and abilities. The key is finding activities you enjoy and making them a part of your weekly routine.
Many people find that a retirement community helps them stay fit and active. At Copeland Oaks, our residents find staying physically active in retirement is easy! Our onsite fitness center and aquatic center with pool, fitness classes and walking path around the lake give residents options for staying physically fit. All Copeland Oaks residents also have a lifetime membership to a nearby golf course, for those who enjoy staying active by playing golf.
Enjoy a range of foods. A healthy diet actually does support your retirement success. Educating yourself on how to eat a healthy diet is always a good idea. Many local hospitals and wellness facilities offer nutrition classes or talk to your doctor about seeing a licensed nutritionist to ensure you are getting what your body needs. When combined with an active lifestyle, a good diet gives your body a better chance for a healthy retirement.
One of the reasons people choose a 55 and over community for their retirement can be the options for dining. Let’s face it – deciding what’s for dinner night after night is difficult, not to mention not always having the time or desire to cook for yourself. Having a go-to option for meals when you’re not up to cooking is a definite plus in your retirement years.
At Copeland Oaks, residents enjoy a variety of dining options tailored to their living accommodations. Only residents who live in our Beeghly Independent Apartments may dine in the main dining room. All independent villa and apartment residents can prepare meals at home or choose from our on-campus venues, including Lakeview Terrace—our lakeside dining location—and The Bistro, located by the lake. No matter where you choose to dine, you’ll find healthy, well-rounded meals designed to make eating well easy.
Staying Engaged with Others
Having a social calendar can greatly increase your satisfaction during retirement. It’s up to you how many social events are optimal for you, but maintaining connections is important. For the more outgoing, that might mean lots of scheduled activities. For those who are more introverted, having a few meaningful connections might be exactly what they need.
In retirement, sometimes our options for socialization are reduced. While we once had contact daily with people through work, our children’s activities and more, retirees can find themselves lonely.
But getting involved in activities and surrounding yourself with others is an option and there are opportunities to do so in nearly every community. Church groups, affinity groups that bond over hobbies and local causes, volunteer options and more can be the answer.
Retirees at Copeland Oaks are quick to comment on the benefits of a community and a calendar of activities to choose from. Retirement communities offer lots of options for seniors, and we are no exception. There is so much to do on our lovely campus and many friendly folks who enjoy meeting new friends.
Here are some fun ways that seniors stay involved at Copeland Oaks: wellness classes such as aerobics and chair exercises; travel opportunities to local special events; on-campus activities such as ice cream socials, live entertainment and holiday celebrations; our library or woodworking shop; art classes for painting, drawing and handcrafts; spiritual groups and worship activities in our chapel and so much more!
Finding the Right Place for Retirement Living
If you want to make the most of your retirement years, start thinking now about a community where you can thrive. At Copeland Oaks, we think we are the perfect place. And our resident think so too! When you consider all the amenities, a senior community has so much to offer retirees.
Many Copeland Oaks residents say living on our campus helps keep them young and involved, and they wouldn’t live anywhere else. But how can you know which retirement community is right for you?
The best way to find out if Copeland Oaks is the place for your ideal retirement is to visit. We have great staff members who would love to take you for a tour. See the campus firsthand, feel the energy and life the that flows through our caring community of seniors. Schedule your visit today.