Posts Tagged ‘retirement community Berwyn’

Too often, the term “aging,” invokes negative images which can stigmatize older adults. But more and more, leaders in the healthcare field, the media, and seniors themselves are focusing on the positive elements of healthy aging over a lifetime. Perhaps the aging Baby Boomers have wrought this change, but it is indeed refreshing to think of post retirement years as a time to consider new roles, new relationships and creative ways to communicate.

Let’s think of the advantages older adults have. At last there is time to stay engaged in one’s social life which can lead to greater health and longevity. I’m convinced isolation and loneliness age people faster than the years going by. Remaining social, especially being helpful to others, promotes wellness by keeping older adults physically active and mentally connected.

Another advantage is a senior’s vast accumulation of experiences, skills and knowledge. It’s like a very deep toolbox. From showing a grandson how to use pliers to adjusting, yet again, to setbacks and losses, older adults have the benefit of knowing they have coped before and will again. Many seniors have developed solid confidence because of this wisdom. It’s almost as if they now truly believe, “If I got through that, I can get through this!”

More older adults see their lives as valuable resources that should not be wasted by passivity. Even older adults with physical limitations can find activities and social events that suit their needs and challenge them to remain engaged.

In conclusion, thinking of aging in positive terms can help prevent the well-known pitfalls of lost ability, relationships, and autonomy. By remaining engaged socially, mentally, and physically, older adults can make post retirement some of the “best days of their lives.”

Visit the Oak Park Arms website to learn more about how we engage our residents. http://www.oakparkarms.com

The Oak Park Arms Book Club announces its February selection: The Kite Runner. Written by Kahleed Hosseini, The Kite Runner is a story of friendship, tragedy and reconciliation taking place in 1970s Afghanistan and modern-day California. The book has won multiple awards and has been featured on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Members of the book club will begin reading the selection this week and meet for discussion and review on Friday, February 26 at 2pm. This month’s discussion will be facilitated by Arms’ resident Adrian Jackson. We’re excited to be offering another fantastic opportunity for our readers!

The Oak Park Arms Book Club is free and open to the public. Those interested in joining should contact Judy Peterson, Life Enrichment Coordinator at Oak Park Arms at (708) 386-4040. For additional information on the Oak Park Arms Retirement community, give us a call at (708) 386-4040 or email at info@oakparkarms.com. You may also visit our website for a full listing of our activities and events.

Hello blog readers, welcome to Oak Park Retirement Community dot com, The Oak Park Arms’ blog. We’ll be blogging about a variety of senior related topics, and we hope you find the posts interesting. We invite you follow us on our social networks and subscribe to the RSS Feed. We currently maintain pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Here is a little background on our retirement community:

The Oak Park Arms is an independent and assisted living rental retirement community located in Cook County’s historic Oak Park, Illinois, just minutes from downtown Chicago.

The Oak Park Arms was once a luxury hotel in the middle of Oak Park. In the mid 1970′s, the Arms was purchased by two friends who wanted to create active retirement living in a community that would be full of life, service and spirit. That vision and their experience have created the Arms of today. Now, with more than 30 years of experience, the Oak Park Arms has been the leader of senior living. By combining exceptional senior care in an ideal setting, the Arms has been used as a model in developing many other senior communities.

The Arms houses the Oak Park Township Senior Services and the Lifelong Learning Center (the local Senior Center). In addition, it offers office space to ten other providers of senior-centered care. The winner of many awards, the Oak Park Arms has maintained its original charm while realizing its vision of being an affable and affordable home for older adults and a great resource to Oak Park and surrounding towns such as River Forest, Forest Park, Berwyn, Cicero, Riverside, Elmwood Park, Maywood and Chicago. The Oak Park Arms’ events and activities draw people of all ages. The large scale ballroom is frequently alive with “the sound of music” at monthly ballroom dances for residents and the public. The Oak Park Arms, an industry leader, provides unsurpassed services, amenities and programs.

The original vision continues to this day as the Oak Park Arms is still owned and operated by the same two partners who created it. They remain involved and committed to excellence. Their strong support to the management staff ensures that the Arms continues its legacy of distinction.