Aging Well: Making Smart Choices

Aging Well: Making Smart Choices Back

For many people, aging well is a choice affected by daily decisions, habits, and lifestyle. During your senior years, making smart choices for your body, mind, and spirit enriches your life and brightens the aging process. Of course, there are many things out of our control when we get older, and these changes are inevitable. For example, mental sharpness and reaction time may decline, we lose muscle and bone mass as we get older, digestion slows, balance may become impaired, and vision and hearing may decline. These and other age-related changes may sometimes occur whether we want them to or not. However, there are many smart choices you can make to not only maintain your physical health, but to let your natural charisma and charm radiate.

Smart Choices for Your Body
There are many steps you can take to be proactive when it comes to your physical health. Exercising daily, maintaining a healthy weight, eating fruits and vegetables, staying out of the sun, and decreasing salt intake are a few measures you can take to nurture your body as you age. Dr. Patricia Harris, a geriatrician and professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA says that, “Time and again studies show true benefits of not smoking, keeping weight down and keeping major health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes well controlled.” Take time to visit your doctor, follow their orders, take medication as prescribed, and be intentional when taking care of your body.

Smart Choices for Your Mind
For many people, staying mentally strong while aging is a choice. These regular (if not daily) choices to keep mentally alert definitely take energy and planning, but the benefits are worth it! Studies have shown that mental alertness increases when you maintain good social relationships with active, regular friends. Friends that show you love and provide you with purpose and care improve your mental health. Another smart choice for your mind is to challenge it! Try a new hobby, learn another language, take a class at a community center or local school. Dr. Harris reminds us that,” staying mentally active in some way staves off dementia. It has to be something that continues to engage your brain as you get older.”

Smart Choices for Your Spirit
Many people view aging as an opportunity for inner transformation. This opportunity may be accompanied by joining a church, club, or organization that allows you to deepen your perspective. Decisions such as having gratitude in your heart, being generous and giving back, having a curious attitude about the life around you, and trying to be flexible are choices you can make to nurture your spirit as you age. All of these choices are yours to make, and guess what? It’s never too late to start! You can quit smoking, or start eating healthy today. You owe it to yourself to stay as healthy and happy as possible as you age well.

On August 2, 2019, my Mom, Frances, gained her wings. She had spent the last 6 years of her life at Lake Forest Park, her last 5 months in Memory Care. I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Staff. They are all truly phenomenal caregivers. From the receptionist, to the hairdresser to the laundry staff, to housekeeping, to maintenance, to the kitchen staff. They are all just such wonderful, caring people. I have to mention here the extremely kind gesture from the kitchen staff who came to mom's room to see her just before she passed. Mom passed soon after. Just after the Crisis Care nurse called me, she held the phone to Mom's ear and I got to tell her for the last time that I loved her, and my 2 sisters loved her. One half-hour into my drive over to see her, she passed but heard those last words "I Love You". Also, I want to give a big thanks to Ryan, Virginia, and Stephanie who made sure mom was taken to any activities she was able to take part in. Last, but not least, the kind, caring and loving nursing staff who treated Mom as if she was a member of their own family. All the CNA's (sorry I have forgotten names and apologize) are all exceptional people whom I've gotten to know and love. It meant the world to me and my family. Again, thanks to all. I will never forget your kindness to me. It is absolute proof that angels walk among us. I will keep you all in my prayers, and may God bless you abundantly.

O'Neill Family

Having lived at Lake Forest Park for 10 years, I am very happy and feel lucky to be here. It is a very pretty place, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the food is good. I love the trivia games and puzzles they offer on the activity calendar; they keep my mind alert. Living here is like belonging to a huge family; we all get along great. I don't have to cook and clean anymore, so I am getting lazy and fat! I never thought I'd live to see that! I am grateful each day.

Edna Wood

I love it at Lake Forest Park! It is now my home. The other residents are my loving extended family. The staff is always courteous, knowledgeable and helpful. Dining and housekeeping staff are always cheerful, conscientious and highly, highly efficient. It is a pleasure seeing the staff smiling and keeping us happy and content. Our activities are varied with something for everyone. We all enjoy participating in activities. I am happy to call Lake Forest Park home.

Hilda Mott

When I first moved to Lake Forest Park, it was the most difficult time of my life. Now, after being here 9 months, I have made friends and am really enjoying myself. Everyone is like family to me; we are so close and we have a lot of fun.

Delores Byczek

I visited this facility. This building is beautiful, from the moment you walk in the airy sheer curtains the décor, the music, the atmosphere is wonderful. We met a very cute young girl who gave a great tour of the building. The entire management team made it a point to introduce themselves, the head young lady was so warm and eased our concerns. We were shocked that fort pierce had anything as nice as this. When we left everyone wished us well. The folks living there look healthy. It didn't smell either.

charlesny49

I am a senior who has lived and worked in St. Lucie County since the fall of 1972. I have worked as both a teacher and a minister for a large part of that time and have had the opportunity to visit many different retirement facilities over the years. I am presently a part of a group that meets once a month at Lake Forest Park for a luncheon. I have also toured their facilities and am quite impressed. They provide a secure and challenging program of activities and I know of no other place that I would rather consider retirement than LFP. Their facility is conveniently located near shopping and Lawnwood Medical Center, and they provide transportation for most every need of their residents. The staff is helpful and friendly and the food is delicious and well prepared. I'm impressed by the fact that the chef goes out of his way to accommodate special dietary needs. In addition, one never gets the feeling that he/she is an imposition. i would highly recommend Lake Forest Park to anyone looking for a nice, clean, secure place to retire and enjoy their "golden years".