Aging Archives - Waterstone Senior Living

Do you know someone who, no matter their age, always appears to be youthful and vibrant? We all seem to be striving for eternal youth, and some individuals are more successful at it than others. What’s their secret? The answer lies in their lifestyles, says Charlene Yerkovich, Senior Advisor of Waterstone of Westchester, a new luxury rental retirement community coming to White Plains, NY.

“Aging gracefully is simply about caring for yourself through whole-person wellness,” says Charlene. “It’s not about trying to look younger than you are or even act younger than you are. It’s about living a lifestyle that helps you stay healthy in mind, body and soul. It’s not about fighting the aging process; it’s about embracing it and taking steps to care for yourself at every stage.”

The first step, Charlene says, is to forget everything that society tells you about growing older. “Look in any magazine and you’ll see countless messages about how cherished youth and beauty is, but look instead at the benefits that you’ve gained: a strong sense of self, a better financial footing and wisdom that comes from many years of experience.”

A positive attitude is a great place to launch an “aging gracefully” wellness-focused lifestyle. Once you’ve set that as a goal, here are some other steps you can take to ensure you’re living healthy, happy and well.

Baby your skin.

Did you know that your skin is your body’s largest organ? Just as you do your best to protect your other (internal) organs, caring for your skin can go a long way to helping you stay healthy and aging gracefully. Taking care of your skin will better protect your body from the elements and help you keep a regulated body temperature. Good skin care also helps reduce your risk of melanomas … and also can protect against wrinkles. Be sure to wear sunscreen regularly, stay hydrated and get yearly skin cancer screenings.

Get plenty of exercise.

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy. Getting at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week of regular aerobic exercise reduces your risk of cancer, heart disease and other diseases. It also reduces stress, boosts your mood and improves overall physical health. What’s not to love? It’s generally recommended that adults get 2.5 to 5 hours a week of moderate-intensity exercise, as well as muscle-strengthening activities two or more days a week. Some great exercises for older adults include walking, swimming, cycling, dancing and gardening. Don’t think you have to sweat it out at the gym to get your daily allotment of exercise – even a little bit of exercise goes a long way. Look for ways to increase physical activity in your everyday life by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from the store or doing leg lifts while you’re standing at the counter.

Eat a healthy diet.

You are what you eat, and a healthy diet helps ensure a healthy lifestyle. Make sure that you’re eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, whole grains and low-fat dairy. Stay away from fatty meats, processed foods, refined sugars and too much salt. Eating well will help reduce your risk of a variety of different diseases, as well as keep you feeling well throughout the day.

Lower your stress.

Stress can significantly affect your body, from premature aging to higher risks of heart disease and more. That’s why it’s so important to relieve stress and live a lifestyle that is conducive to your mental health. Some ways to reduce stress in your life are:

Practicing relaxation techniques that pair the mind and body, such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises.
Spending time with friends and loved ones – Meaningful relationships have long been linked to a better quality of life and longevity
Keep a positive attitude about getting older – Studies show that people who have an optimistic outlook can live longer and recover more quickly from various ailments and injuries.
Do something you enjoy daily and seek out opportunities for happiness, such as enjoyable hobbies or activities.

Keep on top of your health.

Make sure you’re seeing your doctor regularly and getting a yearly physical. Staying on top of your health can help you and your doctor identify problems early or even before they start. Ask your physician how often you should be having checkups and screening tests. Make sure that, if you have a chronic condition such as hypertension or diabetes, you’re adhering to your medication schedule and paying attention to any changes.

Get a good night’s sleep.

A good night’s sleep is like a “reboot” for your brain and body. Research has shown that deep sleep helps purge the brain of toxins that could be linked to mental decline and illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease. Plus, good sleep improves your mood, boosts your physical health and makes your skin look great. In order to ensure the best chance for sleep, make sure that your bedroom is at a comfortable temperature, is dark enough and is quiet enough. Adopt a bedtime routine where screens are turned off at least an hour before bedtime. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine too late in the evening, which can disrupt your sleep cycle.

Keep learning every day.

Finding new hobbies and activities – or even picking up old ones that have fallen by the wayside – will keep your brain nimble and active and help stave off cognitive decline, boredom and even loneliness. Learning doesn’t have to involve hitting the books (although if you decide you want to go back to school, there are many courses of study for older adults). Playing games, making music or even socializing with friends are all great ways to fire up your brain cells and keep you active, engaged and happy.

“Age really can be a state of mind,” says Charlene. “Living a lifestyle that’s focused on wellness and dedicated to making the most of each day can do wonders for your mental, physical and emotional health and help you feel years younger than you actually are. Our premier rental retirement community is focused on providing a maintenance-free, carefree lifestyle focused on whole-body wellness to help our residents age gracefully and live well every day.”

Now Accepting Reservations!

We look forward to introducing you to the definitive, distinctive lifestyle at Waterstone of Westchester and welcoming you as one of the first residents at our community. For more information or to reserve your space, please call 914.295.2177 and discover how you can help shape the future of our luxury rental community for seniors 62 and over.

Live the Life You Love. Opening Early 2022.

Welcome home to Waterstone of Westchester – a community that takes the idea of home to an entirely new level. In this premier independent senior living community, you’ll thrive in curated elegance and style in a beautifully appointed apartment with designer finishes. Plus, enjoy connecting with friends and team members in our welcoming common areas.

Located right in the heart of White Plains, Waterstone of Westchester is the perfect sophisticated, urban setting for active seniors. Directly across from the flagship Bloomingdale’s, the community is just a short walk away from the finest shops and restaurants and less than a mile from I-287, making it easy to get away and enjoy everything the area has to offer.

Waterstone of Westchester offers independent living for active, independent seniors while also providing supportive care services through an innovative partnership with VNS Westchester. As a rental community, residents enjoy a maintenance-free, carefree life with no steep entrance fees. Delicious dining, a focus on wellness and engaging programs are always on the menu.

Continue living your dream life, here, at Waterstone of Westchester. Fill your days with favorite pastimes, delicious and healthy meals, stimulating exercises and educational programs. Enjoy spending time in your beautifully designed apartment, alone or with friends – because everything here is designed to make you feel right at home.

Welcome to Waterstone of Westchester! Join the experience of what life is like at this premier senior living community by calling 914.295.2177.

Our brains are amazing organs: available to hold our feelings, emotions, memories and so much more. It’s no surprise, then, that research is continuing to discover how our brains are linked to our overall health – and how keeping our brains “young” can help us age well, too.

The brain-body connection has long been talked about, but it’s only recently that we’re starting to gain actual, quantifiable information that validates this hypothesis. As we learn more about this connection, we’re uncovering ways to help make the aging process as beneficial to older adults as possible.

This involves finding ways to help reduce the risk of dementia and other cognitive diseases.

According to guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization, paying particular attention to the brain and body link may help slow or delay the onset of dementias like Alzheimer’s disease. The key is to pay attention to the aspects of health you can control, avoiding unhealthy triggers and providing the best possible environment for optimal body and brain health.

Physical health results in brain health.

We all know what needs to happen in order for us to stay physically healthy (even if we don’t necessarily do it): eat a healthy diet, get enough exercise and find purposeful and meaningful activities.

Let’s start with the healthy diet and lifestyle aspect: Eating right and getting enough exercise results in a healthy cardiovascular system, which means you’re less susceptible to diseases like diabetes, strokes, heart diseases and hypertension. Why is this important with regards to brain health? Because our brains rely on a healthy, consistent flow of blood to nourish them. When health issues arise that cause hiccups in this flow, it can lead to damaged or dead brain cells. It stands to reason, then, that maintaining a heart-healthy routine results in a brain-healthy routine.

Experts generally recommend that adults partake in a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats like avocados and olive oil, and antioxidant-rich foods like berries. The other side of the equation is staying physically active, which helps keep your heart in tip-top shape. Getting regular exercise (the CDC recommends approximately 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week) and maintaining a healthy weight are both excellent ways to help improve your brain health while reducing your risk of diseases like dementia.

Brain exercise is important as well.

Your brain is an organ, but it’s also a muscle in its own way. It’s essential to “flex” your brain cells in order to make sure your cognitive function is operating at its peak. Doing so helps your body generate new brain cells as well as new connections between neurons. It all results in neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, shift and flex as issues arise. Forget the saying that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Research shows that learning is possible throughout your whole life – eand is even accessible in individuals with dementia.

Exercising your brain doesn’t mean you have to do advanced math or learn a completely new language. Instead, it simply means that older adults should seek opportunities to learn new things, pursue favorite habits and stay socially active (among other things). Anything that gets your brain firing is a good thing, so look for opportunities that are interesting and challenging to you individually.

Get a good night’s sleep.

When it comes to brain and body health, we often forget about the benefits of sleep. As it turns out, getting a good night’s sleep is more essential to overall health than you might have previously thought. Think of it as a “reset” function. Current research shows that a good night’s sleep helps clear brains of toxins, including beta-amyloids. These are proteins that have been shown to connect to dementia development as well as cognitive decline.

Sleeping well can get more challenging as we get older, which is why it’s more essential than ever to focus on maintaining good sleep hygiene. This includes things like:

Making sure your bedroom is comfortable: Keep the room at a comfortable temperature and make sure that light and sound are suitably buffered. You may wish to consider investing in blackout curtains and a good white noise machine.
Clear the area of distractions: Yes, that means removing television and other screens from the bedroom. Make sure that your sleep area is dedicated to sleep. Having this level of calm will help your body more easily adapt to the idea of “sleep” and “rest.”
Create a calming bedtime routine. Start developing a routine in the evening that signals calm and sleep to your body. This can be reading a few chapters of a book, taking a warm bath or meditating. Whatever works to get your mind and body in a good place is worth investing in.

A healthy brain means a healthy body which means a healthy aging process. The good news is that, no matter how young or old we are, there are things we can start doing now to improve our brain and physical health immediately, setting us up for success for the future.

Reserve Your Apartment Today!

We look forward to introducing you to the definitive, distinctive lifestyle at Waterstone of Lexington and welcoming you as one of the first residents of our new community. For more information, please call 781.728.3037 and discover how you can help shape the future of our premier rental community for seniors 62 and over.

Welcome Home to Waterstone of Lexington. Opening Late Summer 2022.

For seniors in Middlesex County who desire a carefree lifestyle, we welcome you to Waterstone of Lexington. The mid-century style of this dynamic community was inspired by the nearby Gropius House and the area’s tradition of innovative, modern architecture. In this classic, beautiful new community, you’ll be inspired by all the amenities and programs to take up a new hobby, exercise in our fitness center and indoor pool, and make new friends while dining and enjoying social events.

Offering independent living and assisted living, Waterstone of Lexington provides myriad ways for seniors 62+ to enjoy their retirement to the fullest. Bridges® by EPOCH at Lexington, a dedicated memory care assisted living community, is also conveniently located across the street from us.

Step inside Waterstone of Lexington and experience the calming yet engaging atmosphere that our talented architects and designers have so beautifully crafted. Waterstone of Lexington is filled with energizing and convenient amenities such as an indoor pool, fitness center, salon, underground parking and more. Then, enjoy your elegant living space – a large, sunlit apartment complete with a full-size designer kitchen, well-appointed bathroom, walk-in closet and more.

Our rental apartment community means no steep entrance fees, providing greater financial flexibility. Everything at Waterstone of Lexington was all created with you in mind, where our attentive team members, extensive programs and luxury amenities give you the ability to make life your own – how you like it.

Welcome to Waterstone of Lexington. Join the experience of what life is like at this premier senior living community by calling 781.728.3037.

Age Gracefully with a Wellness-Focused Lifestyle

The Connection Between Brain Health and Healthy Aging