PINEBROOK FAMILY ANSWERS HOMECARE

10 Steps to Living Your Best Life at 50+ in Allentown

10 Steps to Living Your Best Life at 50+ in Allentown

Family Answers HOMECARE has built our success as the premiere Non-Profit in home health provider in the Lehigh Valley by providing exceptional care for our senior clients for the past 49 years. A recent article on the AARP blog site by Barbara Hannah Grufferman shares "Ten steps to living better" for members of the Baby Boomer Generation and beyond. To read more from Barbara Gruffeman and the original article visit www.aarp.com and search on October 9, 2013 postings. Thank you and enjoy:

Ten Steps to Living Your Best Life at 50+

Start with no regrets and move on from there?

• One of the keys to living your best life after 50is to steer clear of regret.
• Accept the results of your earlier choices but understand that it's probably time to make some adjustments to how you live your life going forward.
• Think about your future and imagine what you would like it to be. Not sure where to start? Ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I staying engaged with the world and the people I care about?
2. Am I taking care of my body, mind and spirit?
3. Am I making "me" a priority?
4. Am I in control of my finances?
5. Am I having fun?

Here are 10 tips that will help you answer all those questions with a yes:

1. Keep networking

Whether you're working, retired or thinking about reentering the job force, networking is essential. Engaging with people on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and face-to-face in industry groups will keep you current and connected. Keep your résumé up to date, too.

2. Build a personal board of directors

Life after 50 is filled with change and can be confusing. Whether you're looking to switch careers, pursue a relationship (or end one) or buy a house, having a trusted posse to review life's bigger questions helps. Invite several nonjudgmental friends who will encourage and guide you. And do the same for them.

3. Don't smoke

This is a no-brainer, but it's shocking that we still see smokers on the street. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death, according to the American Lung Association. If you're over 50 and still smoking, get help to quit.

4. Have safe sex

Don't think because you are over 50 you are immune to sexually transmitted disease. You are not. Make sure you know the scoop on your partner before you proceed, even if you're in a steady relationship. Use condoms. Discuss your risk factors with your doctor and get tested for the most common STDs, especially when you start a relationship. Insist that your partner do the same.

5. Move your body

Give your body, mind and spirit the daily gift of movement, whatever it is. Even going out for a brisk walk will put you on the right path. It's not about being skinny; it's about being strong and as fit as possible.

6. Strengthen your bones

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that we associate with aging, and rightly so. Getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D (which helps the body absorb the calcium) is essential. Equally important is doing strength-training exercises to build muscle mass and bone density. Added bonus? Your body will be toned and strong.

7. Save more and spend less

The more money you have saved after 50, the less stress and anxiety you'll experience. A big fear among those over 50 is not having enough money to live well later in life. (The AARP Retirement Calculator can help you see how you're doing.) The sooner you start saving more and spending less, the better you will be down the road. Take the advice of the top money experts: Use a fee-only financial planner to get you on the right path.

8. Be a person of action

We're all busy with family, work and friends, but that's no excuse to stop thinking about causes that are important to us and to the world. We have wisdom and ideas. Don't just pass the baton to the next generation. Hold it with them so we can solve the world's problems together.

9. Hug your inner kid

Smile, play, laugh, have fun with family and friends. Take up a hobby or activity, perhaps one you can do with others who care about you.

10. Embrace your age

Don't fight aging. It is a very powerful concept - letting go of your younger self, and embracing and loving your aging self. Treat yourself with kindness and respect, and take care of you - body, mind and soul - as you would your children, your family and your friends.

Read Barbara Hannah Grufferman's "best of everything" posts on the AARP Blog.

Bill Arnold is the Program Director of Family Answers HOMECARE, Bill is a CSA, Certified Senior Advisor and a graduate of the Boston University Geriatric Social Work Certificate of Aging program. Bill also holds a MDiv from United Theological Seminary and in presently working on his second masters in Pastoral Counseling. For the past six years Bill has been directing the in home health aide program of Family Answers, this past January under his leadership that program was expanded to add the option of a very cost affordable option that lowered the out of pocket cost to the consumer and offered 24x7 care givers services. Thanks to Pat Nemetch of APRN who along with Family Answers held four community forums in October addressing the "The Nuts and Bolts of Eldercare" -- these free programs we greatly appreciated by those who attended and reflect our commitment to the aging population of Seniors in the Lehigh Valley.