Senior Living

By Jessica Murray

If your twenties were longer ago than you care to admit, that’s ok. But there’s nothing wrong with feeling as healthy and energized as you did back then! As you age, taking care of your body is essential to your well-being and livelihood, but finding a place that offers healthy and comfortable lifestyle options can be a daunting task. The good news: There are some great choices out there. Take some time to explore these healthy living communities and services, guaranteed to make you feel as youthful and invigorated as ever.

Courtesy of Winchester Homes

Winchester Homes – Artistry
The Winchester Homes-Artistry Collection, located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley at Lake Frederick, is the perfect senior living option for those 55+. The homes, which start at $269,900, offer spacious one-story living in a gated community, providing all residents with the assurance of safe, yet comfortable living. If you aren’t quite ready to give up the comforts of your own home, but are looking to downsize a bit now that the kids are grown, this is the picture-perfect community designed just for seniors. Here you won’t have to worry about giving up your personal garden, a garage full of storage, or you own backyard, and you’ll still have plenty of room for when the grandchildren visit.

Promising to be an ideal place for those still wanting to maintain their independence while staying healthy and active, the available activities here are truly endless. The property, situated on a 120-acre lake, offers an infinite number of indoor and outdoor recreational options to keep you moving, morning, noon and night. For the early riser, try your hand at fishing or canoeing on Lake Frederick, an excellent way to begin your day. Located just a short distance away from your front door, getting to the lake in time for the sunrise poses no challenge at all; watch it come up over the lake from the perfectly placed community pier. There are also plenty of local trails to enjoy for an early-morning jog, or an after-dinner walk. The golf enthusiast will feel right at home with six local courses ready and willing to let you test your drive.

For those not as attuned with what Mother Nature has to offer, the on-site fitness facility offers a multitude of exercise options. With the center overlooking the beautiful Lake Frederick, there will be nothing keeping you from working out daily and experiencing the views. From weights to treadmills, and a group of aerobics rooms, the fitness center offers a variety of programs for all levels. The self-starter will be fine going solo in this facility, but if you need a bit of encouragement, the group fitness programs will be sure to keep you motivated. Try yoga, Pilates or aerobics, with all of your new friends and skilled instructors. Year-round swimming options keep you in the water during the harsh winter months. The indoor pool is the perfect place for water aerobics or swimming laps while the snow is falling outside. You’ll definitely be able to keep your muscles moving and your heart pumping. Once the summer is in full swing, enjoy the glistening outdoor pool; it is the perfect place to take your grandchildren over for a swim and cool off from the relentless heat. Keeping up with daily workouts won’t be an issue in this vivacious community.

Wellness doesn’t only come from a great exercise routine and keeping your body strong, it is important to keep your mind and spirit thriving as well. With an on-site activities coordinator there is always opportunity for interactions with friends and to create new hobbies. The board games club will sure keep your mind sharp, as you strategically bring down your opponents. You’ll also have the option to explore the art of picture taking with meetings of the Photography Group. Enjoy Bible study sessions and gardening club gatherings as well. Currently under construction is the 25,000-square-foot Social Club. With a dining café and media room, it is a great place to laugh and share with friends and family. Don’t forget to check out the library, once opened; there is no better way to stimulate your mind then by enjoying a great book. In this community, age really is just a number; youth is a state of mind.

Courtesy of Ashby Ponds Retirement Community

Ashby Ponds Retirement Community
Ashby Ponds retirement community by Erickson Living provides you with the necessary tools to stay in control of your wellness and live the healthy and vibrant retirement you imagined. Situated on a picturesque 132-acre estate, residents won’t find themselves far from area attractions. Local movie theaters, restaurants and other entertainment options are just a short drive off of the property. However, if you aren’t in the mood to venture far from home, you don’t have to worry; at Ashby Ponds everything you need is right in your reach, or just outside of your door.

The idea of “Healthy Aging” is embodied in this facility. Taking all necessary measures to create the best preventative healthcare possible, living healthfully in your golden years was never this easy. Offering bone density scans to help diagnose and avoid osteoporosis, as a resident here, you will realize that prevention is not only the number-one goal but simply a way of life. Also, offering the Viva! Program, which is set in place to test your physical and mental functions, as well as the balance class designed to help keep you stable and on your feet, residents have peace of mind knowing the full range of their abilities. If you do require personalized assistance, Ashby Ponds is more than happy to accommodate you. Help with shopping, cooking and light cleaning is available to those who are in need.

With an on-site medical center, staffed with a primary care provider who can be reached 24/7, the stress and worry of late night emergencies and frequent trips to the hospital can go right out the door. If you wake up in the morning and are feeling under the weather, same-day appointments are rarely a problem. The center, which employs full-time board certified physicians, strives to provide more quality time with your doctor. You’ll be able to address all of your concerns and questions with a certified health professional, whose primary priority is to see that you are happy and healthy, without the feeling of being rushed out the door. For those requiring in-apartment medical assistance, the team at Erickson Living can provide medication management and nursing care.

At Ashby Ponds aging can be fun, and staying healthy, a breeze. With an indoor pool and fitness center, residents have the opportunity to stay in shape, build confidence and create friendships. With a long list of amenities including group fitness classes and top-of-the-line exercise equipment, anyone can find their niche. To keep yourself in the best state of mind, try out yoga and tai chi, aimed at creating the perfect mind and body balance. For those looking for a more personalized experience, on-site personal trainers can help develop an individualized plan that suits your health and fitness needs. The best part of it all, everything is right out your front door.

Here you won’t be the only one looking for excitement and activities to enjoy on a daily basis. With dozens of clubs and resources, you can keep moving from noon until night. Find your true passion by participating in one of the many resident-run social clubs. Take up a new hobby and find a place to gather with your neighbors. Enjoy billiards, the library and the computer room. Get creative in the art studio or the woodshop. At Ashby Ponds, you don’t have to sacrifice any of things you enjoy. With the facilities and amenities right in your reach, you can do more than you ever thought. Don’t think about settling down, just think about the possibilities.

Ascent Audiology & Hearing
Growing older doesn’t mean having to give up on listening to the sounds you love. Hear your grandchildren’s laughter, the rustling of leaves and the sound of the ocean. It is true that with age comes a variety of health concerns and issues, but hearing doesn’t have to be one of them.

Ascent Audiology & Hearing in McLean, offers both preventative treatment and ongoing hearing solutions. The center is headed by Dr. Ana Anzola, a Board Certified Audiologist with more than 14 years of experience in diagnosing and treating hearing-related issues.

At Ascent, a wide range of services are offered, including comprehensive audiological diagnostics, hearing rehab, repair services, seminars and support groups, and computerized hearing aid analysis. For those in need of permanent hearing solutions, Dr. Anzola provides each patient with specialized care after determining their individual needs. With a full line of hearing aids that use digital hearing technology, Ascent Audiology will be able to find the option that is best for you. Ninety-five percent of the population can be successful treated with the use of hearing aids.*

As you age, it is important to pay attention to the warning signs of hearing loss. There are a few that Ascent Audiology specifically notes, including: difficulty holding conversations with groups or in loud places, favoring the use of one ear over the other, often asking for people to repeat themselves, and finding it difficult to hear in large venues, such as churches, museums and auditoriums.

By the time we reach age 80, more than half of us will have suffered from significant hearing loss.* If you are heading toward retirement or even if you are still several years away from it, don’t wait until it is too late to get your hearing checked. Come into Ascent Audiology & Hearing today for a diagnostic and allow yourself to experience a lifetime of healthy hearing and the happiness it provides.

(May 2011)