As an over 55 or retiree looking for ways to make life easier in your home, the thought of having an assisting service to solve your problems can be either a relief or somewhat of a concern. So how can you be sure that home-care is the right choice for you- and what exactly will it involve? This article aims to shed light on Home Care as a service and why so many people come to value the many benefits it brings.

What is ‘Home Care’?

Home care is a term used to provide assistive care to an individual, usually over 55, from the comfort of their own home.  Home care is not generally referred to those already in a nursing home, but if your living conditions are relatively independent, the service you receive from a carer can be classed as home care. Home carers normally provide assistance in every aspect of life, from regaining mobility to preparing meals and making sure you’re feeling good in general.

How much Home Care do people need?

The level of home care provided to you will be based on the unique level of need expressed, for example, during recovery from a surgery or illness, you may need help dressing, bathing, eating, or making your way around the house. Home care covers all these areas and more.

What credentials do carers have?

Only skilled and monitored carers are able to care for those with special needs during this period, they are referred to very generally as carers, but may have specialised experience according to need or the condition you’re recovering from. For example, carers can be nurses, occupational therapists, masseuses, dieticians, social workers, even speech pathologists. Home carers can often be sourced from private agencies, equipment supply dealers or community medical bodies.

What can I talk to my carer about?

You can talk to your carer about anything and everything. Carers are trained to deal specifically with the needs and requests of those in recovery or undergoing a period of time in which they aren’t able to appropriate consistent self care. As professionals in the field, you can trust a home carer to be confidential in all matters.

Victoria Towers are recognised as the home of luxury 5 star apartments for hundreds of over 55s on Australia’s iconic Gold Coast, at our picturesque Southport address. To find out more about the many apartments we have available or to speak with us about the additional services we provide for our happy residents, please contact us on the office number provided. We look forward to your call.

It’s important to be prepared, so you can be at your best while enjoying the company of your loved ones, and so they can enjoy their time with you! We’ve put together some frequently asked questions and areas of concern to help you form a better idea of how your family’s trip can work for you.

Having your family stay with you

If you live independently in an apartment style lifestyle village, chances are that having visitors won’t pose a problem for your other residents at all.  However prolonged stays may be an issue you need to address. First, check with management for any visiting rules or regulations you may need to know about. Ask about immediate family staying with you versus friends visiting, as there may be different regulations that apply to either.

Activity planning with your family or friends

It’s a great thing to have your family visit and to play the tour guide for a few days. Why not write down some favourite places you’d like them to see and introduce them to the family? It’s a wonderful thing to show off what you love about your new home.

Taking time out

Remember to leave days for doing nothing much at all, as these are the times many people cherish most with their loved ones. Simply sitting around and catching up in person can be one of the loveliest things about having guests. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a lot of activity, be sure to take rest where you need it- stopping for cake and coffee at any point along the way is a great way to recharge the batteries!

It’s great to have your family visit you in a lifestyle village where your focus can be on the ones you love. With so much to think about, it’s best to be reassured that the time you have to spend with them in your new home no longer has to be about constant cleaning, tidying, cooking and planning. This time is simply yours to enjoy.

Sunshine Towers is a leading lifestyle village based on the Gold Coast, providing 5 star quality residences for over 55s and those with aged care needs. We’re recognised for offering luxury living arrangements for our residents, who enjoy and make the most of this iconic stretch of coast while benefiting from the tailored care systems and convenient outset by which we operate. Please contact us for more information about our fully serviced luxury apartments.

When we talk about aging, most us just want to take the barbs out of the way we view all those candles on the cake. 

Aging doesn’t have to mean bearing the brunt of a whole new set of limitations and constraints. While it’s true to say that aging has obvious impacts, it doesn’t have to impact on our achievements, and the way we look at ourselves.

When it comes to being happy about growing older and becoming a part of an older community, the integrity of a great life as a senior might be simpler than you think. A sense of positivity and happiness places a real impact on how we perceive aging, and you can start making changes that enhance your happiness today!

Finding new ways to connect with others

Aging in the world today is very different from the process of aging even just a few years ago. While there are newer limitations on the aging population, there are also broader opportunities for over 55s to find a way to meet, connect and interact with people.

Take for example emailing, Skype and other methods of social networking. While not so long ago it may have been considered something for the younger generations, the popularity of these means of communication is quickly gathering strength, which in itself is something to celebrate for many people feeling left out when their families or long term friends live further away.

Not only have we witnessed incredible leaps and bounds in medical technology that has positively altered the aging process for so many people, it’s also true on a critical social level that aging is becoming more comfortable.

While the physical activity required for you to take part in so much of life may have been much higher as an aged person a few years ago, technology has made it easier for the aging population to maintain strong relationships stay socially active and stay engaged with the world, now more than ever!

Putting ALL the candles on the cake

While so many of us are tempted to round off our age, acknowledging how many years you’ve enjoyed and experienced life and the loved ones around you can help you to see how much you mean to others. Sometimes, simply seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes can shift the perspective of aging into a more encouraging and positive light.

Victoria Towers provides luxury 5 star apartments to residents over 55 in a superb Gold Coast based Southport lifestyle village. Recognised for delivering on the retirement everyone dreams about, we are committed to bringing a high quality of life to our residents. For more information about our apartments, please call our team at reception today.

Would you like to know more about ways to incorporate modern technology into your lifestyle?

Are you over 55 and keen to know more about the many benefits of social networking through the Internet? If you like many other over 55s are curious and enthusiastic about utilising technology to enhance their current lifestyle, you may still be unsure of the best way to embark on this exciting new adventure! For beginners, emailing and Skype are popular activities you can look into that almost everyone who uses a computer uses.

Emailing

If you don’t have an email address and would like to explore how to use email’s, it might be helpful to have someone show you in a class or course tailored to suit your needs. Email provides a fun, fast and easy way for you to communicate quickly with others.

You’ll need to set up an account, which can be done in minutes, and after that, contacting friends and family from an affordable source is easier than ever.  Why not find an emailing pal to practise with in the beginning?

Skype

If you’ve been asked to ‘Skype’ but don’t have an account, now may be the time to fire up your own Skype account. Skype is easy to use and gives you the option of talking just as you would over the phone to those you care about, but with the added optional extra of seeing their face while you chat.

Simply set up a profile (which will require some very simple details and your email address) and use either your smartphone or desktop computer’s web connection to host a conversation! Its fun to plan a Skype session with your friends and family, and it keeps you visually updated as well!

What to remember:

While there are lots of warnings out there about protecting yourself online, it’s important to remember that staying safe is simple and easy when you follow the golden rules.

1. Keep long, strong passwords made of numbers, upper and lower case letters.  Never offer your bank details to anyone via an email account.
2. Only ever make financial transactions in secure stations that banks endorse, such as PayPal, which is payment method that links your account with a very secure online system.
3. Spam emails can infect your computer with a virus, so don’t click on emails from people you don’t know or sources you can’t trust

Victoria Towers are committed to satisfying the interests and needs of the over 55s community residing at our 5 star Southport apartments. For more information regarding our sensational apartments or available care systems, please contact the office number provided for further information about the many services we provide.

Did you know that stress, anxiety and depression are cited as very common symptoms that follow dramatic change in one’s life? If you’ve recently undergone a significant change in your life such as moving, and the effects have been less positive than you expected, it’s crucial to stay on top of things and find a way to bring more balance back into your life.

The reasons for this are simple. When put into context with staying healthy and putting the brakes on aging, we know diet and poor health in general has a heavy impact on our aging rate. What is somewhat lesser known is that our aging response is accelerated when we’re stressed, feeling negative or worn out.

For over 55s, having a bounce-back strategy against stress is not only directly great for your health; it’s fantastic for slowing down aging.

So what are some of the most effective methods of slowing down the aging process? Recent studies continue to point to one extremely effective method of relaxing, calming down and introducing life-affirming elements of balance back into your life.

Meditation – why does it work?

Neuroscientists continue to study the effects of meditation on the brain and body as you read this article. What we do know is relatively straightforward in the anti-aging context:

Meditation Relaxes

Even without being a professional mediator, the value of relaxing it brings about is clear. Meditation encourages the relaxation response, which positively alters the heart rate, breathing or respiratory rate, blood pressure and brain chemistry.

Meditation Calms

Your nervous system responds readily to meditation. This means it may actually regulate the sympathetic nervous system by preparing the body for vigorous activity, which means your body is prepared to take on a challenge more than ever after meditation.

Meditation and Hormones

• A study undertaken in the US to de-construct the effect meditation has on hormones accomplished some astonishing revelations. For example, while the hormone DHEA is the sole hormone that our body stops producing as we age, meditating regularly was found to increase it to rates of between 40 and up to 90%.

• Meditation also increased a sleep hormone, melanin, making rest and sleep more attainable for those with sleep disorders.  Melatonin is also an anti-aging immune-boosting hormone and also a strong anti-depressant hormone.

• Meditation decreased cortisol, the body’s stress hormone which also causes thinning of skin, by up to 47%.

When so many millions of people champion the effects of meditation across the globe, it’s easy to see why it’s touted as an effective way to develop a better attitude to stress and aging. Why not look into some literature on meditating or find a group to connect with to kick-start your new anti-aging journey?

Victoria Towers provide the lifestyle you always dreamed of with 5 Star apartments to over 55s in the heart of Southport on Australia’s beloved Gold Coast. For more information about our picturesque apartments in this highly prized location, please contact us today.

If you, like many other over 55s intend to stay fit and strong during your retirement, you might be interested to learn more about the varying benefits of weight training and why it’s such a great way to enhance your level of health in the senior years.

What are some of the benefits of weight training?

Weight training improves posture, brings muscle tone into focus, regulates metabolism and improves circulation. The breathing techniques applied in weight training also bring strength to the core, all while the brain thrives on the fitness rush delivered through the surge of happy hormones it releases when you exercise and challenge yourself. Ask at your local fitness centre or gym for classes you can attend and learn basic moves from, and even practise at home as you like.

Who can safely weight train?

As with all new exercise programs it’s important to consult your general practitioner or your specialist health advisor about starting a new fitness journey. While existing conditions may be impacted through weight training for some people, for the majority it brings significant improvement and a higher quality of life into focus.

How long will it be before I start feeling the benefits of weight training?

If you’re a relatively fit person, you may not feel the effects of weight training as readily as someone with less experience. In essence, the fitter you are, the easier weight training will be. However, if you’ve always focused on cardio training, for example, walking, swimming or another low impact exercise, you’ll definitely notice your body responds to resistance weight training and the use of muscle groups not usually impacted by those exercise. 

What are some innovative ways to get more weight training into your day?

Whether you’re an indoor person, an outdoor person, an early bird or a night owl, you can adapt a schedule to suit your individual preference.

The trick is to start small, and then progress to more challenging exercises as you gain strength. If you’ve never used them before, invest in some 0.25 kilogram hand weights that sit neatly inside your palm. Use them when taking a brisk walk to introduce some upper body resistance.

When the weight becomes less noticeable after a few weeks, it’s safe to increase the weight by 0.25 of a kilogram.

At Victoria Towers, we’re committed to bringing a high level of quality to the lives of over 55s on the Gold Coast, providing 5 Star living to residents in our beautiful Southport Lifestyle Village. Especially designed to suit the many interests and all levels of need our residents have, Victoria Towers is recognised for making the retirement of your dreams a reality. Please contact us for more information today.

In Part Two of this article, we look at ways to adopt anti-aging strategy into your social life, focusing on our habits and the way we interact with others as a means of slowing down the aging process. Read on to learn more about slowing down the clock with a healthy social life!

What is it about feeling young that we all want so badly?

When we reflect on what makes us feel youthful, it’s easy to see why we associate youth with happiness. We’re generally more mobile, less restricted, more energetic… but most essentially, we’re more active with other people than ever during these years.

The tendency with some of us as we age unfortunately is to become less socially active and more introverted. While introversion in itself isn’t an aging factor, too much time spent alone can eventually leave us feeling depressed, lonely or isolated. These are all factors that really do place unnecessary stress on the body and inhibit the release of the feel good hormones our brain sends out when we connect with others in a positive way.

Introvert or Extrovert? It’s still important to socialise.

If a highly social person ceased to socialise, meet with friends and satisfy their curiosities about others, it’s likely they would spiral quickly towards a state of unhealthy introversion. While this can be a result of many age related conditions, such as loss of hearing or mobility resulting in a lack of confidence around others, it’s important to deal with the source in order to satisfy the personality of the individual.  It’s all about maintaining your identity or the way you see yourself.  Aging does not have to result in an identity crisis but it does warrant rising to the challenge!

For an introvert who thrives on time alone and manages to operate happily, it can be sufficient to simply connect in a class or a group once a week. When you find your balance, the value of recharging with others is extremely restorative! Often timing and schedule is important to an introvert.

Whatever your social type and however you prefer to stay connected, it’s important to understand that your social life plays a vital role in giving you a feeling of youth in the senior years. Blocking out your calendar with a couple of hours each week to learn something new and connect with those sharing your interests is extremely restorative, and encourages the release of those happy hormones that make us feel youthful and energetic. Get your share today!

At Victoria Towers, we’re committed to providing a wholesome and well rounded experience for residents, one that champions the positive effects of a healthy and balanced social life, from the comfort of your very own 5 Star world class apartment- all this against the spectacular backdrop of Australia’s stunning Gold Coast.  Contact us for more information today. 

While almost every over 55 knows that aging is an unstoppable force, there are easy and enjoyable life changes that can be applied that will persuade the way we age to slow down a little-read on to find out more!

There are a number of ways to adopt age-resisting practises in your life.  The key is not just to find a single area of life in which to invest your anti-aging practise, but more to spread and balance your interests in order to develop a rounded perspective of life. In this article, we’ll focus on some of the areas your diet can play an important contributing factor in the aging process.

Diet

The common contributors to aging are heard time and time again- the biggest offenders being excessive amounts of trans-fats and processed sugars, alcohol, caffeine, and cigarette smoke that age us. While these consumables extend into our social lives as well, it’s easy to confuse their role with feelings of being connected and happy.

It’s not the easiest thing to make a significant change to your diet, or to curb addictive substances when they play a role like this in ones life. It’s advised, rather, to step down to a less problematic solution, or to substitute where you can. For example:

Four cups of tea a day?

This is too much caffeine for the system, many professionals say. Try stepping down with one green tea, and make the remaining cups a little weaker. Step down every couple of weeks until you’ve adjusted. Aim for one cup of real tea or coffee a day.

Love to bake or snack on sweet or high-fat foods?

Find a specialist store that sells great quality dark chocolate or anti-oxidant rich cacao. There are many ways to eliminate nasty fats from the diet that block your body’s own anti-aging strategy, and often, they taste even better than ones you can find on the shelves. You’ve got a great reason to share and celebrate when you alter your favourite recipe so it turns into a health-promoting food rather than a health-demoting one!

How many Standard Drinks per day?

Alcohol is particularly hard on the body. It’s important especially as you age to limit your intake as much as possible. If you love to drink socially, be sure to space your drinks with a non-alcoholic beverage in between each alcoholic beverage and know your limit. Professionals say to limit your intake to no more than 2 standard drinks per day.

In Part two of Slowing Down the Aging Process During Retirement, we’ll also discuss aspects of life you can look at where the process can be delayed. We’ve got more anti-aging info on:

• Social Exercise
• Mind Power
• The Value of Celebrating

Read on for more information about staying happy, healthy and stress free in your anti-aging project!

Victoria Towers are committed to bringing a high level of value and comfort to the over 55s community in retirement. Recognised for providing 5 star quality apartments to our residents in the spectacular Southport location of our Gold Coast apartments, we’re focused on bringing a desirable retirement to you. Please call us for more information on the number of quality services we provide. 

Stepping into retirement opens up possibilities we’d always dreamed of, endless hours that stretch out, beckoning to be filled with the things you love to do the most- unfortunately for some, the concept of endless empty hours leaves them feeling overwhelmed and underrepresented.

If you’ve always been a very active person who appreciated the many challenges working life provided, it’s unlikely that the idea of a long period of time with very few challenges on the horizon appeals to you. Particularly in retirement, the benefits and disadvantages can become clear very quickly if they aren’t planned around and considered first. This short article aims to discuss ways you can plan around some of the pitfalls that can occur in retirement.

Busy people often thrive on the energy that a dynamic workplace provides, so it’s essential that your living environment and social circles reflect the aspects of life you’ve lived by and valued. The trick is, to find a way to merge your personal life preferences with your new home life.

Moving Home? Start off on the right foot.

Getting your living environment right the first time is the critical aspect of your choice. When choosing a new living environment, the work you put into deciding what is best for you will be a deciding factor in your happiness. Three appropriate key factors for many retirees to include:

• Financial Outlook: Maintaining a comfortable level of financial stability
• Social Outlook: Placement in an active social zone
• Environmental Outlook: Your proximity to activities you’ll enjoy

Choosing a new living environment that offers you the choice of distributing your interests gives you the best chance of making retirement the highly enjoyable, fun and exciting time it should be. Creating a good balance between these life enhancing aspects of social, financial and environmental health will give you the best chance of a successful retirement, and a choice you can be confident of in the years to come as you adjust to these changes and settle into your new enhanced lifestyle.

Victoria Towers proudly provide 5 star apartments to suit every level of need in new retirees. Our gorgeous apartments in Southport on the Gold Coast provide style, luxury and a range of stimulating and fun opportunities for the over 55s community. We look forward to demonstrating our quality lifestyle options to enthusiastic sea-changers. Please forward your interests to us via the office number provided today.

Even if some aspects of your physical ability restrict you in retirement, it’s important to understand that a healthy retirement is about taking the best possible care of yourself. A great retirement embraces:

Regular Mental Exercise

Keeping your brain active is just as important as keeping your body fit. In fact, studies show that a healthy mind can help to inform and influence the choices we make for our physical fitness. Join a trivia team, demolish the crosswords to improve your memory, make use of your local library – whatever your interests keep your mind ticking!

Regular Physical Exercise 

It doesn’t have to be about heavy-set awkward cardiovascular exercise, though it’s fantastic if you can get the blood pumping around the system. 30 minutes 5 days a week is great- but if you love to use your body, it’s often said your later years will be more comfortable, so keep moving for a retirement you’ll love!

Avoid Stress

While a little stress is great, unnecessary stress or worry is hazardous to the health and can impact on your immune system quickly. Want to stay fit? Avoid drama and brush off stress with a solid and well-planned exercise routine.  Why not look up a local class for meditation, yoga or tai-chi?

Important: It goes without saying that alcohol consumption in excess, and cigarettes place a negative stress on the body and should be avoided where possible. If your history with alcohol is problem free, you can continue to drink as normal. However, your doctor can assist you in finding the best way to cut down where you need to.

Hopefully, retirement is the green flag you’ve always looked for to take things at your own pace, an opportunity to divert your energy and challenge yourself in areas you’d like to explore. At Victoria Towers, our services cater to all levels of need in health and aged care. For more information about our highly rated apartments, please contact us via the office number provided and speak with a member of our team.