It's no secret that, with all of the advances in medical science and our improving knowledge on healthy diets and exercise, people are living better, longer. Based on the 2014 World Health Statistics, a child born in 2012 can expect to live 6 years longer than a child in the same setting and area who was born in 1990. Aside from the life expectancy numbers, there is a lifestyle change occurring in recent generations of seniors— older adults are maintaining a more active lifestyle. If 40 is the new 20, then 80 is the new 60, and there's no reason to slow down on the things you enjoy. In fact, senior apartments and retirement communities are geared for the exact opposite— energetic, fully invested seniors who want to contribute to their community and enjoy these prime years.

How to Stay Young

You can't turn back the clock, but it's evident that some people can feel and function at a higher level well into their golden years. There are 2 ways you can look at this. First, how do people stay feeling young? Or, from the opposite angle, what makes people age prematurely and how can you avoid those things?

What's important to note is that it's never too late to regain some of your health. Many people fall into unhealthy lifestyles, whether that means eating a poor diet, lack of exercise, or over excess of alcohol or tobacco. Eliminating the bad habits and increasing the positive behaviors will have a direct and immediate impact on the way you feel.

What are some of the behaviors that can prematurely slow a person down?

• Lack of Socializing. Believe it or not, lack of interaction with others is one of the key factors that can cause depression and lead to physical decline. For a lot of seniors, pulling away from social activities happens naturally over time, because key members of their circle move or pass away, or they have restrictions on driving and traveling. One of the best features of senior apartments is the ease in which residents can find social circles and get re-engaged in their community.
• Poor Diet. Diet is important at every stage of life, but a lot of seniors like you pay less attention to what they're eating because they're no longer cooking for a large family on a daily basis. You also may be accustomed to a poor diet that never seemed to have an impact on them when they were younger.
• Little Exercise. If you’ve never established a regular exercise routine, it can sound like something outside of your reach. But it's actually more important for seniors to exercise regularly because slowing down from the life routines of work and errands take away the exercise they did naturally get. What most seniors find is that once they start, they have more energy than they did prior to exercising.
• Lack of work or hobbies. Many seniors have trouble finding things to occupy their minds after retiring. Work issues keep your mind sharp and engaged, even if it's not a career that you have a passion for in general. Retirement years are actually the perfect time to study and immerse yourself in all of the things you never had the time or funds for when you were building your career and raising your family.

Turning Back Your Clock

One of the reasons people choose senior apartments once they've downsized from their family home is the ability to have access to all of the culture and events they enjoy, while still maintaining their independence. If you're interested in staying healthy and active well into your golden years, participating in exercise programs and a healthy diet are only part of the equation. Don't forget all of the things on your "Some Day" list that you haven't gotten to yet. The time to try new things and expand your horizons is today.