Wellness Forum

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Article / JanuaryExperience wellness in Touchmark’s Full Life™ program

In our culture, January is a time for new beginnings. The holiday season is over, and reflections on the year(s) gone by have renewed relationships, awakened memories, and reconnected many with a giving spirit.

Article / DecemberHonoring Transitions

Our lives are filled with rituals—both formal and informal—that often have roots in holiday traditions. These may include gatherings with family and friends, special events, and seasons we have celebrated over the years.

Article / NovemberAttitude and practice make a difference

Volunteerism may have more of an impact on mental health and well-being than any other self-initiated behavior.

Article / OctoberOctober Highlights Well-being

Volunteerism may have more of an impact on mental health and well-being than any other self-initiated behavior.

Article / AugustCreativity and community intertwined at Touchmark

Is there a limit to the amount of creativity anyone has in their DNA?

Article / JulyCelebrating good citizens

Do you remember learning the fundamentals of being a good citizen?

Article / JuneAlways Something New Under The Sun

The history of self-directed learning goes back at least as far as Socrates and arguably even further than that.

Article / MayThere is no limit

The function of aging does not guarantee a life well-lived or a life in balance. What, then, does it mean to create a life in balance?

Article / AprilLife balance and legacy

The function of aging does not guarantee a life well-lived or a life in balance. What, then, does it mean to create a life in balance?

Article / March Generations together: imagining the possibilities

Intergenerational relationships have fostered outreach to the community in the arts, gardening, creative writing, photography, cooking, social media, and environmental stewardship, to name a few.

Article / February Reflections on nurturing your heart

There is a lot of knowledge gleaned through research that results in recommendations and resources to deal with heart disease—the number one killer of men and women worldwide.

Article / January Imagine The Possibilities

The theme for 2011 in all Touchmark/Waterford communities is Imagine—and Live—the Possibilities! The intent of this yearlong focus is to nurture and support the unique talents, skills, hopes, wishes, and dreams of people who live and work in Touchmark communities.

Article / December The Spirit Of Renewal

As 2010 ends and the New Year approaches, it’s an ideal time for reflection and renewal.

Article / November Touchmark Gives Thanks

Touchmark develops, owns, and operates retirement communities in eight states and one Canadian province. November 10, 2010 marks Touchmark’s 30th anniversary as a provider of services for older adults. Today, more than 2,200 residents directly experience Touchmark’s mission: “To enrich people’s lives.” More than 1,585 team members bring to life Touchmark’s values: teamwork, service, integrity, compassion, and excellence.

Article / October Healthy Aging Tips From The Real Experts

It can be daunting to keep up with the research about healthy aging that comes out almost daily. I thought it might be interesting to compare the data gleaned over the last couple of years from prestigious international researchers to the data collected in 2008 when interviewing 100 healthy centenarians, who gave their top 10 “tips” for healthy aging.

Article / September Successful aging lived by a mentor

... it is not the experts—scientists, scholars, researchers, physicians, and other health professionals—who define successful aging. It is the elders worldwide who share their wisdom and experience about navigating the journey of life over the whole lifespan.

Article / August I remember when ...

Are citizens in your community in concert with preserving the environment for your enjoyment—and generations to come?

Article / July I remember when ...

Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to never stop questioning.

Article / June Dare to seize the day

... research shows that ... older adults ... are more skilful at learning complex new information.

Article / May Unexpected Consequences

... As research results continue to be shared, we realize that we are raising a generation of individuals who have not benefited from the wisdom of the elders.

Article / April Moments of Pride—in the future

“... never before have so many people lived so long—and never before have so many lived so strong.”

Article / March Intergenerational Moments of Pride

Each Touchmark community’s Life Enrichment/Wellness calendar lists a wide array of projects. The calendars are available online and also can be requested by contacting the community.

Article / February Lessons from our elders

“... when I was a child, men worked, women kept house and we children were left to our own devices. ... And what happened to us? We grew up to be the Greatest Generation!”

Article / January 20in10 What’s in your list today

“We live in an age of shortcuts and innovative tools—electronic, mechanical, and structural—that support spending less time doing more ‘things.’”

Article / December Nurturing our spiritual selves

“In balancing our time, energy, work, recreation, family responsibilities, community commitments, and daily tasks, sometimes the last priority is the nurture and care of our spiritual selves. In fact, sometimes we run out of day before we run out of “have-tos” that are all outside the domain of spiritual nurturing. ...

Article / November Celebrating legacy, giving thanks

“Organic legacy” is much more than the property and resources that are left to family members, foundations, and charitable causes ...; It’s the accumulation of a life well-lived—memories, good works, honor, shared moments of pride, and wisdom gained from overcoming life challenges. ...

Article / October Fall ... a time for a change

... the gift of putting oneself first can be the most important gift to loved ones. ...

Article / September Proactive Aging

... Over the past century, we have added 30 years to our life expectancy. The challenge is to ensure the quality of life during those years.  ....

Article / August Going green—making a difference

... Whether they realize it or not, when residents move to a Touchmark community, they are making a commitment to conservation of resources. Environmental sustainability is Touchmark’s vision, and the individuals who work and live in the community are the changemakers who contribute to the success of reducing the carbon footprint. ....

Article / July Citizenship—a call to action

... Good citizens understand and accept the fact that they have a responsibility to their neighbors, the community, the environment, and the world. They realize it takes commitment—and actions ....

Article / June For some, curiosity never retires

... Putting aside the benefits of continuing to activate and develop new brain cells and fine-tune short- and long-term memory, the process of learning new information provides a major source of satisfaction to the lifelong learner ....

Article / May Celebrate activity—step into spring

... Physical activity also has been shown to improve mental health and cognitive function and has been found to contribute to the management of disorders such as depression and anxiety. ....

Article / April Humor helps

... They say that a sense of humor is essential to navigating not only the aging process but life as we know it in 2009. Humor is an essential component of resilience and life balance.. ....

Article / March Measured exchanges: Intergenerational programs change lives

... The intergenerational programs at Touchmark communities focus on connecting the generations. Plus, each program has an associated goal with measurable outcomes. Above all, Touchmark’s overall goal is to support programs and services that benefit the community at large as well as the participants. ....

Article / February Pursuing whole-person wellness

... Most of us come into the new year with thoughts and intentions for positive change. Some actually make resolutions—usually regarding weight loss, smoking cessation, or some other health-related habit. Sadly by February a number of “resolvers” have abandoned their efforts and returned to previous habits. Perhaps that is why the American Heart association, the Heart and Stroke Association of Canada, and several other consumer health organizations emphasize heart health during February ...

Article / January Celebrations!

... In the broader scope of celebrations in 2009, the yearlong “author in residence” series will celebrate authors living in Touchmark communities who have published books. Part of Touchmark’s ongoing Let Your Spirit Soar activities, the series will be featured in newsletters and on the Touchmark Web site at Touchmark.com/Authors-In-Residence ...

Article / December Make daily deposits in your bank of well-being

... If we are going to maintain the equilibrium in our lives, we must make a commitment to well-being each day. Whether it is reading familiar passages, listening to music that reaches into the heart, meditating, doing yoga, walking in the early morning, or talking to a special friend—there is an activity for each of us that can define the day as one of good memories and contentment ...

Special Article / December Diabetes: a worldwide epidemic

... The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 180 million people have diabetes, and it projects that number will more than double by 2030 ...

Special Article / November Research to practice: CDC targets older smokers

... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took the lead in preparing a new report about smoking. It notes that of the 45 million people who smoke cigarettes in the United States, about 13 million are age 50 or older. Yet, according to the United States Public Health Service, older smokers make up 68 percent of all deaths from tobacco smoking. ...

Article / November Celebrating, giving, and receiving

... Once again, it’s the season of celebration and for many of us a time of reconnection with family, friends, traditions, and celebrations ...

Article / October Nutrition news—eat those blueberries

... If whole foods—specifically fruits and vegetables with antioxidants—are the answer to combating damaging free radicals that cause brain cell death, what about supplements and food replacement products? The American Dietetic Association has reaffirmed the principle of getting appropriate nutrients and vitamins from whole-food sources whenever possible ...

Article / September Use it or lose it—redefined!

... the phrase “use it or lose it” has been around for at least four decades. In the past, we have associated it with the importance of physical activity over the life span ...

Article / August Living with intention

... Is the “science” of living with intention hocus-pocus, or does it make a difference in the quality of life to use focus, positive thinking, and conscious change to create one’s destiny? ...

Article / July The greater good of all

... Lucas was six days past his 17th birthday in February 1945 when his heroism at Iwo Jima earned him the highest military honor. He used his body to shield three squad members from two grenades ...

Article / June Defining leisure

... It may be hard to realize the importance of leisure as one of the personal drivers that defines whole-person wellness for an individual, but the value of this key component is distinct ...

Article / May Whole-person wellness

... Senior living communities are increasingly focused on cultivating a culture of wellness for their residents, staff, and community—to improve quality of life and to avoid illness ...

Article / April Changing lives-affecting communities

... older adults who consistently participate in activities with youth have very little awareness of the major contributions they are making to the culture of communities ...

Article / March The “3 Cs” of life balance

... The “3 Cs” of a life in balance are one way to conceptualize the important elements of aging well and simplifying our lives so that we can focus on a life that continues to provide meaningful opportunities for engagement ...

Article / February It is never too late

... The daily pursuit of cardiovascular exercise with biweekly doses of strength training has a positive effect on maintaining an optimal weight, providing the energy needed throughout the day ...

Article / January Destination ... Discovery

... I didn’t realize how lonely and isolated I had become until I moved in and started participating in the activities and events. I made new friends and found others ...

Article / December Celebrate the spirit

... there are universal themes that bring people together, lead to positive change and make a difference to all of us and the planet ...

Article / November Giving and Sharing

... The awareness of how fortunate most of us are to have a home, bed, electricity, food, and shelter rekindled our gratitude for the things we so often take for granted ...

Article / October Ideal dining experience—a blend of many ingredients

... It has been a long time since North Americans were dependent on the fall harvest for provisions through the long winter months. Today, almost all food is available—for a price—during any season of the year ...

Article / September People can affect onset of progressive memory loss

... each one of us can make choices that help compensate for age-related changes in regard to cognitive capacity and staving off the onset of dementia-related illness ...

Article / August Leisure—it’s more than a commodity

... The marketing and providing of leisure services have grown to a multimillion-dollar industry, designed for the most part to capture what individuals consider their “disposable” income ...

Article / July We have not forgotten

... The stories of these men and women were remarkable—a reminder of how a life can be shaped by the belief in the greater good for all and the sacrifices countries and individuals make to protect and defend their beliefs ...

Article / June Building intentional community

... Each person who lives in a Touchmark community has made the decision to move to a new home, live with others he/she has not met before, and share many community spaces ...

Article / May From research to practice

... In addition to the benefits of improved cardiovascular health, strength, balance, and flexibility in regard to functional fitness, the impact on reducing chronic illness can be measured in real dollars and real time ...

Article / April The changing of our lives

... the activity level of the grandparent generation has gone up, due in part to improved health, increased fitness over the life span, and a worldwide emphasis on supporting lifelong learning ...

Article / March Optimism affects global wellness

... While that may sound like something New Age or “soft” in the annals of research study and outcomes, it is in fact becoming very important in trying to figure out how the global population can cooperate and work together ...

Article / February Follow your heart

... How is it that we continue to attribute the heart with being the center of human emotions? In reality, the emotional data center for humans is the prefrontal cortex of the brain ...

Article / January New year ... new you

... In a world of quick fixes and New Year’s resolutions, it is important to pause and realize that there is no one prescription for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being ...

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