Blog Posts

Leap into Love: Finding Love After 55 This Leap Year

"We are most alive when we are in love."—John Updike Adam and Eve started the ball rolling. Eons later, we still love to love. Our craving for connection and contact, and the desire to be part of a relationship is still pretty much the same as it was when Eden was blooming. So, no. Love – at any stage of life - has not changed. Dating, on the other hand, is a different animal entirely. Especially dating over 55. The process will bear little or no resemblance to what you remember from the, well…a few decades ago. As you contemplate getting back out there to find a new significant other, be prepared for a journey of self-discovery. You’ll be using technology that didn’t even exist when you were courting back in the day. And there is a strong chance nobody will use the word courting. Even more pertinent, the person you are today also didn’t exist back then. You are older, and - hopefully - wiser, and your current criteria for the perfect companion may have changed dramatically. "Love yourself first and everything falls into line."—Lucille Ball Know Yourself Whether you are divorced or widowed, or searching for love the first time around, you will know when you are ready to take the plunge into the dating pool. Friends will be trying to force your timeline. They mean well, but don’t let them rush you. You will want to be mentally and spiritually prepared to go forward with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. And please don’t forget your sense of humor. You’re going to need it. Not every frog you kiss is going to transform into a prince - or princess. Some are just frogs. You Make the Rules There is a good chance you will not be having children with your new squeeze. You will not be raising a family and juggling work and soccer practice together. This time around is all about what works for you and makes you happy. Do you want to meet somebody who will eventually be a housemate or possibly a spouse? Are you content to keep separate residences and get together a few nights a week? Are you looking for a travel companion? Maybe you just want someone to go to dinner with every so often. When it comes to rules, you set the parameters to please yourself and your partner. Communication is the Key Nobody comes into a relationship at this age without some kind of baggage from their former life. You may choose to go in whole hog and take on a step parent/grandparent role. Or you may prefer to enjoy your new romance with a dynamic that is more yours and mine…rather than yours/mine/ours. Honesty is a critical piece of creating an authentic relationship that fulfills your needs. Be true to yourself and you will attract a person who sees you and appreciates you for exactly who you are. "Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."— Robert Frost Get Online Don’t be afraid to explore the myriad of dating apps. Be advised, it can become all consuming, so set a timer to keep yourself from total immersion hours for on end. These are a few of the apps specifically designed for older adults. Eharmony SilverSingles Zoosk Tawkify Senior Match Date My Age Buyer Beware Meeting people through online dating can be a wonderful experience. The apps have created an expanded pool of potential mates that you would never otherwise have access to. That’s the good news. The not so good news is there are people who abuse these apps, getting online solely to perpetuate scams on the unsuspecting. Follow a few of these online dating safety tips for seniors to minimize any risk to your wallet – or your safety. Never meet at your home on a first date. Make sure to go somewhere public and let a friend know where you will be at all times. Communicate only on the app’s site. If a potential partner asks for your personal details and wants to chat offsite, just say no. If anyone asks you for money, stop the communication immediately and report them to the apps management. Take your time getting to know a new prospect and don’t allow them into your personal space until you are totally comfortable. "Love is friendship that has caught fire."—Ann Landers Ann, that renowned lady of advice, must have been thinking of Overture senior living apartments when she made that comment. Who needs dating apps when you have an entire community of like-minded peers right outside your door? Book a tour at the Overture community of your choice today. Mr. or Ms. Right may already be there waiting to kindle a friendship – or more. "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."–Nora Ephron

The Conversation: Supporting Aging Parents in Rightsizing

Your parents are active empty nesters who are relishing the freedom of retirement and excited to begin a new chapter. But they have yet to break their ties with the family home. It’s a house that echoes with your childhood memories, but has clearly outlived its purpose.Well, at least it is clear to you. In your opinion your parents would be happier jettisoning what has become a huge physical and financial burden to join a community of fun, enthusiastic, like minded peers. You want to let them know you support them moving out, moving on, and moving into a senior living apartment complex, designed to enhance this time of life. But despite the best of intentions, talking to your aging parents about transitioning into senior living apartments can be tricky. As you contemplate opening a dialogue with your parents on this important subject, your first step is to check any patronizing or condescending attitudes at the door. In fact, you’d do well to consult the wisdom of the late, great, Aretha and approach your parents with R E S P E C T. Rally the Troops If you have siblings nearby, gather them together to present a united front. This is not to say your parents should be blindsided or bullied. Think of it more as a gentle family nudge. Share a meal and ease into the conversation over dessert. Bring plenty of wine. Start By Listening You have watched the home you grew up in begin to overwhelm your parents - and their wallet. You really want to help them maximize retirement with the goal of enjoying life in a stress and maintenance free environment, surrounded by unlimited social opportunities. The urge to share those feelings – using language like “should” and “must" - will be strong. But in the words of Larry David, you might want to curb your enthusiasm. Sometimes the best way to show love is to stop talking and listen. Whether you are dealing with one parent or two, hear them out. They may have a perspective on their goals and time-line you have not considered. They may have plans that surprise you, like relocating to an Overture senior apartment in a warmer climate. You won’t know any of that until you zip it and let them share. Do Your Homework It is important to come to this meeting prepared. If this is your first-time discussing rightsizing, it would behoove you to research senior living apartment communities and be ready to point out great locations and the many perks of communal living. Bring brochures or get online to show off fabulous facilities, like Overture’s resort worthy amenities and designated activity spaces. Your parents may or may not have a specific city or community in mind. Your informed input can be really helpful in honing in on the right destination. Address the Elephant in the Room It may be your parents really want to rightsize into a community that focuses on the joys of their particular stage of life. But the very thought of selling the family home is paralyzing them. Breaking the emotional connection to the place they raised you and your siblings can be extremely difficult. And let’s not minimize the physical undertaking of wading through the chaos of decades to decide what to keep and what to toss. Assure your parents you will be there to help with the heavy lifting, literally and figuratively. But be prepared for your own emotional journey as you have to decide whether to jettison your fourth-grade art project or stow it in your own basement for your kids to deal with later. Join the Tour When your parents are on board, join them for a tour of the Overture community of their choice. Once they’ve signed on the dotted line, you’ll be amazed how quickly they settle in and embrace the best of active adult living. Don’t take it personally if it takes them a while to return a phone call. Those happy hour cocktails won’t drink themselves.

Heart Health Awareness: Staying Healthy During American Heart Month

It’s no coincidence that Valentine’s Day and Heart Health share the month of February. It’s all about love. But while Valentine’s Day celebrates your love for others, Heart Health Month reminds seniors to focus some of that love and attention on yourself and to act on all those heart health tips you’ve been hearing. Your life may actually depend on it. Heart disease statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are staggering. It is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US. An American dies of cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds. Yes, that’s correct. 33 seconds. Every year some 800,000 people have a heart attack. About 600,000 of those are first timers. Approximately 200,000 are repeat cardiac events. Around 1 in 5 heart attacks are silent which means the damage occurs but the patient is not aware of it at the time. The most common cause of heart attacks is coronary artery disease which interferes with blood flow to the heart. It’s vital to be proactive with thorough and regular checkups. It is equally important to take any of the following symptoms seriously: Chest pressure, tightness, and heaviness. Extreme fatigue – especially in women. Fainting and lightheadedness. Nausea Pain in shoulders, neck, jaw or arms. Shortness of breath – with or without chest pain. Unusual sweating Some heart attack symptoms can mimic heartburn. If your pain seems like heartburn but feels different than normal, cancel your dinner plans and head to the ER. Better to be safe than sorry. Mitigate Your Risk The threat of heart related issues is real. But the good news is, there are healthy lifestyle choices that can reduce – sometimes dramatically – your risk of becoming a statistic. Even the smallest changes can positively impact your overall heart health. It’s all about taking the first step. Get Moving As luck would have it, that first step toward a healthier you is - literally - taking a first step. Exercise will help not only improve but also maintain heart health. If it’s been a while since you’ve been off the couch, check in with your doctor to accurately assess your fitness level. Getting in shape is a long-term commitment, but it is among the best heart healthy habits for seniors. It doesn’t matter how you start. It matters that you stay with it and work your way up to a regular fitness program. Even 10 minutes of walking a day can make a difference. You Are What You Eat A heart healthy diet for seniors will include choices that are low in calories but high in nutrients and fiber. Healthy eating for heart health will mean avoiding high fat dairy or meats and reading labels to be aware of amounts of salt and trans fats. Happy hour with your friends? Sure. But take care to keep alcohol intake to a minimum. Stop Smoking! No ifs ands… or Butts! Quitting smoking even later in life can improve your odds against heart attack or stroke. If you are a long- time smoker, there are programs designed to help you face this challenge. Sleep: The Great Energizer According to the American Heart Association, seniors who experience chronic sleep issues eat poorly and lose the desire to exercise thereby negatively impacting their heart health. Stay Social Socialization is critical to senior heart health. Studies show older adults with active social lives are less likely to experience loneliness and isolation and the stress that can trigger heart issues. Specifically designed to enhance your total wellbeing, Overture’s premier active adult communities are exactly what the cardiologist ordered. From fitness classes, to walking clubs to heart healthy cooking classes, Overture offers an unlimited menu of activities and social opportunities to uplift body, mind and spirit. Book a tour today and get ready to embrace a lifestyle that will warm your heart – and keep it healthy.

Maximizing Retirement Income: Tips for Financial Security

Well, you’ve blown out the candles on your retirement party cake – or are getting ready to. You’ve worked hard to get here, putting all your energy into the daily grind. And now, a world of self-discovery, self-fulfillment - and yes, self-indulgence - awaits. This is your time. In the absence of those steady paychecks, this new era of freedom will require some careful financial planning. Terms like fixed income, budget, and Social Security benefits will now be part of the conversation. Investment strategists will provide you investment advice catered to fellow retirees and throw around concepts like low-risk and high yield. Though most of us would rather get a root canal than sit down and accurately assess the health of our wealth, advance planning is critical to optimizing this long awaited and much deserved chapter. It’s Never Too Early to Begin As you approach that retirement date, the first step is analyzing just how much you are spending and try to predict how much you will need going forward. One of the best retirement investing tips we can give is to evaluate recurring costs like health insurance and taxes, work on eliminating debt, and plan for an emergency fund. Life has a way of throwing curve balls and a little cash cushion can make all the difference. You might want to consult online resources like AARP’s retirement calculator to help you run the numbers. Diversify As your investment counselor will tell you, diversifying is always an important investment strategy for seniors. A portfolio with different stocks, bonds and other various types of investments is a safeguard against major losses and an important piece of the post paycheck financial puzzle. The closer you get to retirement, the more you will want to focus on investments with limited risk and consistent yield. Younger investors can afford to incur higher risks as they have more time to recoup any major losses. At this stage spreading your money across a variety of low-risk investments – with no more than 3% of your assets in any one stock - will help increase the stability of your portfolio. Best Bang for the Buck Investments with a moderate dividend yield can potentially allow you to enjoy the use of dividend income and leave the bulk of your money in the market. Experts recommend a target yield of 2.5% to 5%. Annuities – or Not? A well-known investment tool for retirees, annuities guarantee a regular income stream for a certain number of years. However, annuities come with some complexities like high commissions and fees. Ask your investment advisor if annuities are a good choice for your income level. Social Security As you begin to add up the retirement numbers, it is important to see just how your Social Security payment fits into the equation. Visit My Social Security , and you can easily sign in and create an account which will give you all the pertinent information about your benefits. Getting your financial house in order – which ironically may include selling your actual house – will allow you to create a realistic budget and give you the peace of mind to enjoy retirement. Book a tour of the Overture senior apartment community of your choice today. Once you experience the resort worthy facilities and the reality of stress free, turnkey living, you’ll be calling the realtor on the way home. Overture senior living apartments are focused on filling up your new found free time with an unlimited list of activities and social opportunities. That’s great news for newly retired married couples who might have to adjust to spending so much more time together. Because you know what they say. Marriage is for better or for worse – but not for lunch!

Smart Home Solutions for Seniors: Transforming Your Apartment into a Tech Haven

First there was the fax machine. Remember when it seemed like the innovation of the century? And now if you tried to explain that technology to your grandkid, they’d ask where you parked your dinosaur! Seriously, how can you talk tech to somebody who has no idea how cool the electric typewriter was. Hey, you tell those naysayers it was truly life changing at the time. To say today’s world is slightly more technically evolved than the one you grew up in is the epitome of gross understatement. Did you ever imagine getting into your car and having it already know where you are going? Did you ever imagine your 2-year-old grandkid grabbing your Ipad and finding their favorite show in 5 seconds flat? Yep. Your car and your grandkids are smarter than you. Sure, it can all be a bit intimidating. But it can also be wonderful. There are so many ways in which smart tech for seniors can streamline and enhance this chapter of life. Check out these devices and apps specifically designed to make life in senior living apartments easier, safer, more comfortable. Voice Activated Assistants Voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home’s “Hey Google,” and Apple’s Siri can answer questions, dictate news and weather, set timers in the kitchen, and control other smart home devices like lights and televisions. If they are connected to an account, they can make purchases at your behest. These devices can also set automatic reminders for tasks like medication and events like doctor appointments. In the event of an emergency, they can place outbound calls and receive voice activated first aid instructions. Are the kids and grandkids teasing you about being technologically out of step? Tell them to take it up with Alexa! Smart Pill Dispenser This is a piece of smart tech that can literally save your life. Load your medications into a smart pill dispenser and program it to disperse them according to the prescribed schedule. Some of these devices even come with locking mechanisms to prevent accidental overdose. Taking the right medication at the right time can be the difference between life and death. Fall Detection Sensors When it comes to smart home technology for seniors, fall detection sensors rank high on the list. Falls are a major concern for seniors. These sophisticated sensors have the ability to detect a fall and immediately alert connected family, friends or first responders. Smart Thermostats Smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature in your senior living apartment from your phone. If you’ve left home and forgotten to turn down the heat, you can simply pull out your phone and adjust it. When it’s really cold outside, you can turn up the heat on the way home so the apartment is nice and cozy when you get there. If you’re lying in bed and feeling a little cold, there is no need to get up. Just reach for your phone and voila! Your wish is your thermostat’s command. Robotic Vacuums What Donna Reed wouldn’t have done for a robotic vacuum! She spent an awful lot of time in shirtwaist and pearls wielding that heavy vacuum cleaner. These nifty devices can navigate the floor on their own hunting down dust and dirt for you. They can move around and underneath furniture and get to those hard-to-reach places. Pour a cocktail, put your feet up and let your robot do its thing. Once you rightsize into an Overture senior apartment, you can look forward to a community that works for you on every level – physically, emotionally, socially…and of course technologically! Book a tour at the Overture community of your choice today. Now that’s smart.

DIY Home Décor: Simple and Creative Ideas for Personalizing Your Senior Apartment

Bravo! You’ve done the heavy lifting – both emotionally and physically. First, you made the important decision to jettison the family home and rightsize into a senior living apartment. Then you waded through the decades of accumulated flotsam and jetsam to prepare for the move. Now you’re ready for the fun part: Transforming an apartment into a home that reflects your taste and personality. Decorating a senior living apartment is all about simple math. Take less space and generate more warmth, charm and comfort. Start with efficient furniture placement that designates specific areas of function. Once you’ve got appropriately scaled furniture set up in strategic seating arrangements it’s time to get the DIY home décor party started. With minimal investment you can create maximum impact and a very special place to call home. Color Your World The colors we choose for our surroundings can profoundly affect our moods and energy levels. For example, blues and greens echo the tones in nature and support relaxation and restoration. Paired with warmer grays and whites, these color families promote a feeling of peace. Before you head to the paint store, think about the colors that bring out the best in you. Once you’ve made your choices, invite family and friends over for a painting party. Area Rugs Area rugs are the apartment décor element that serves two masters. First, they anchor your furnishings and create spatial boundaries. But they also provide opportunities to tie your other room décor together. If your furniture has a lot of busy fabric, you might want to tone it down with a solid, more muted area rug. If your furniture is solid, you can easily add a fun colorful rug to the mix that will brighten up the ambiance. Area rugs come in all price points and are an easy way to completely redefine the mood of a room. Smaller Space, Larger Art A large piece of art can create the illusion of more space. It can be the focal point that ties together the room’s color scheme. How you fill that wall space is entirely up to you. It can be a painting, a map, a sign, or even a decorative hanging rug. You might choose to personalize the wall space with DIY wall art like photos or mementos that have particular sentimental significance to you. Whatever you choose, it will dominate your room, so be sure you love it. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall A valuable resource for DIY apartment décor, mirrors offer so much more than just a reflection. Whether you want to check yourself out as you leave the apartment or are looking to create the impression of more space, a mirror can be a wall sculpture that adds visual interest and perfectly finishes your room. Bring the Outdoors In Plants and flowers are your apartment’s best friend. They are inexpensive, they don’t take up a lot of space and they will add color, scent and texture to a room. Even a row of tiny pots on a windowsill filled with easily maintained succulents can make their presence felt. Enhance the Boudoir Nothing is simpler than changing the color or print of your duvet cover. And nothing can immediately change the tone of a room like new bedding. Pick a new color, pattern or style and you’re completely changing the design of the bedroom. Swap out an old lampshade and you’ll see your bedside lamp in a whole new light. Pillows Add Punch Accent pillows are truly an apartment dweller’s secret weapon. As the quintessential portable décor element, they can easily alter the color scheme and overall look of any room. Instead of replacing a couch that may feel dated or out of sync with the rest of the room, switch out the accent pillows. Whether you change patterns or move to a whole new color family, your friends will be sure to ask if you got a new couch. Book a tour at the Overture senior apartment complex of your choice today. Your senior apartment is a new canvas waiting for you to personalize it into the space you can’t wait to come home to.