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Lifestyle

Four seniors lounging on beach chairs, reading books by the ocean under clear blue skies.

Best Vacation Locations for Senior Travel

By Lifestyle

Finding the right opportunity for senior travel, whether that involves relaxation and leisure or fun activities, outdoor exploration, and more, is achievable. Discover some of the best places to vacation for seniors, exciting activities to do on vacation, and tips for planning your next getaway.

Where Do Seniors Go on Vacation?

Choosing to travel within the United States can help eliminate costly international flights. Pick a state or town you’ve always wanted to visit and consider exploring fun and exciting activities.

Travel to any of the recommended below places on your next vacation:

  • San Diego, California – Enjoy sunny weather and outdoor activities like nearby attractions, gardens, spas, and golf courses.
  • Key Largo, Florida – Visit a tropical paradise with great things to explore, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and swimming in warm, crystal-clear water.
  • Santa Fe, New Mexico – Enjoy the colorful, rich history and an abundance of art galleries, museums, and the town square, all within a walkable distance from each other.
  • Phoenix, Arizona – Beyond beautiful accommodations at a luxurious resort, find yourself hanging out poolside, playing golf, tennis, pickleball, or visiting a spa.
  • Bluffton, South Carolina – Nature preserves, picturesque villages, riverfront marinas, and more allow you to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

For ideas on what to do on vacation as a senior, and how to plan your trip, from Life Care Services, CLICK HERE.

A small chalkboard on an easel asking Whats your plan for retirement? next to a calculator and plant.

Make Your Retirement Work for You: Pension vs. 401k

By Lifestyle, Senior Living

Are you looking towards retirement in a few years? Maybe you have already retired from work, downsized, and enjoying your freedom. Whatever stage you’re in, you’ll always need to examine your finances and make necessary adjustments. Planning for retirement early is best, but it’s never too late to start. We’ll look at the differences between a pension vs. a 401k and how you may be able to maximize your retirement options.

What is a Pension Plan?

A pension plan is an employee benefit where an employer makes monetary contributions to a fund. The employer promises to pay the eligible employee a certain amount after retiring. Pension plans are more likely to be offered in unions, government positions, and the public sector. However, these traditional pension plans are harder to come by as an employee benefit.

To learn more about public pensions plans versus private pensions and 401(k)s, and what may be best for your retirement options, CLICK HERE

A collage of happy, diverse seniors smiling outdoors in various colorful outfits.

It’s Time to Throw Out Stereotypes on Aging

By Lifestyle, Senior Living

In late 2021, journalists at National Geographic magazine and AARP discussed working together to explore how Americans perceive aging as we emerge from the COVID pandemic. That began a research collaboration focused on asking people like you questions that would probe the full breadth of aging issues — from health and finances to attitudes about happiness, home, optimism and even dying.

To make the study as useful as possible, we posed the same questions to Americans from age 18 into their 90s, to see how opinions vary over the arc of adulthood. More than 2,500 people participated, representing the full range of America’s backgrounds, demographics and ethnicities. Another 25 adults 40 and older participated in in-depth interviews.

Many of the often surprising results of the AARP–National Geographic “Second Half of Life Study” are in your hands. No single sentence can capture the gist of all that people told us, but we can say with confidence that most prevalent opinions and stereotypes of aging were proven wrong.

Overall, the message was refreshingly positive and reassuring. On the whole, life is good, especially for older Americans — especially those over 60. And the person you see in the mirror is far different from the type of person younger generations might think you are.

To view the results of this interesting AARP and National Geographic survey, CLICK HERE.
Smiling senior volunteer with crossed arms, surrounded by other volunteers in a park.

The Best Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors

By Activities, Lifestyle

Older adults have valuable life experiences, and retirement is an opportune time for seniors to give back by sharing what they have learned.

Senior volunteers can be assets to any project, organization, or initiative, and the agreement is beneficial for both sides. From physical activities to sharing knowledge in a variety of settings, retirees have plenty of options for volunteering, and just need to know where to look.

Life Care Services® has compiled a list of top volunteer opportunities for seniors, and we’ll go over why volunteering for seniors is important. To view the list, CLICK HERE.

Smiling elderly couple enjoying each others company at a transportation hub.

7 Senior Travel Tips: What to Consider When Planning a Trip

By Lifestyle

With a return to cross-country and cross-continent travel well underway, seniors are heading around the world to enjoy adventures and relax in exotic locations. Senior travel is a top priority for many older adults who have the time and resources to see the sights with friends or visit loved ones. If you are planning a trip, it’s important to have a solid understanding of what you will need to travel safely and without delay. With the perfect roadmap, you will also be able to have uninterrupted fun!

Life Care Services® has put together a list of seven of the best senior travel tips so you have an easy-to-follow plan to make your trip memorable. To view the list, CLICK HERE.

Transgender text with heart shapes in pink, blue, and white on a gradient background.

Is Your Retirement Community Transgender-Friendly? Here are Some Questions to Ask

By Lifestyle

Although data varies, it’s estimated there are currently 3 million LGBT Americans ages 50+, a number projected to grow to 7 million by 2030. These adults face unique challenges as they age. A SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders) fact sheet reports that LGBT seniors are twice as likely to be single and live alone, and four times less likely to have children. They’re also more likely than their straight peers to have been subjected to discrimination, social stigma and prejudice because of their sexual orientation.

If you’re a transgender or gender nonconforming adult, you’re probably no stranger to discrimination socially, at work or in a health care setting. Thankfully, public acceptance of transgender individuals is growing. And this extends to retirement communities too. Communities are evolving to better serve the increasing numbers of LGBT seniors and their diverse needs.

To learn about additional considerations to consider to ensure that a senior living community is equipped to support you, CLICK HERE.

Woman walking along a coastal path with a view of the ocean, rugged cliffs, and green hills.

Traveling Local in 2021: 10 Places in the US That Feel Like You’re in Europe

By Lifestyle

With spring in full swing and summer on the horizon, people are starting to think about vacation plans while also navigating the possibility of travel restrictions. Many may have hoped to visit the best places in Europe, and while it’s too soon to know what’s possible, keep in mind that there are plenty of amazing sites to see in the USA that offer the European experience.

To view 10 places in the US to have on your list if you are looking for European flavor, CLICK HERE.

couple dancing on dance floor

How Moving to a Retirement Living Community Can Help Seniors Feel More Independent

By Lifestyle

We don’t fear the unknown; what we fear is losing the known. If you’re like most seniors, you want to retain as much freedom and self-direction as you can. You already know what you like and how you want to live. To many older adults, maintaining independence is their number one priority. While you may say you don’t want to move to a senior independent living community because you don’t know how it could affect your lifestyle, what’s probably closer to the truth is you fear losing what you have now. But consider this: What would happen to your lifestyle if you had a medical emergency?

For information on how to help seniors stay independent and show the ways today’s senior living communities are specifically designed to promote senior independence, CLICK HERE.

The Bayshore Hilton Head site image

The Bayshore on Hilton Head Island Inspires Residents to Live Their Best Lives: Body, Mind & Spirit

By Lifestyle

Welcome to The Bayshore on Hilton Head Island, a new upscale, next-generation senior living community in coastal South Carolina. It is widely known for its beautiful campus and views but is also building a strong reputation for nurturing the bodies, minds, and spirits of its residents. Its idyllic location on South Carolina’s Intracoastal Waterway provides the perfect backdrop for seniors looking to write the next chapters of their lives in style. Island life is both lively and tranquil; a perfect combination for a balanced life. Read More

The Bayshore Hilton Head site image

The Peaceful and Powerful Impact of Aging By The Bay

By Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Senior Living

Do you have a Blue Mind?

According to marine biologist and author Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D., we all do. Nichols describes the “Blue Mind” as the incredible sense of peace each one of us experiences when we’re near water, and in his recent book of the same name he explores the substantial scientific evidence that proves the many health and happiness benefits of living in a place like, well, the Bayshore on Hilton Head Island.

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