Wellness Month: Encouraging Healthy Aging in Lancaster, CA

Are you ready to breathe in the crisp desert air as the sun warms your shoulders? Lancaster, CA, a hidden gem, offers its residents, especially seniors, a sense of adventure and a spot for wellness and vibrant living.

Whether you're looking to enjoy local parks with friends or want the best local cuisine from incredible eateries, Lancaster is an ideal spot to celebrate National Wellness Month. From countless ways to stay active and connected, this helpful guide offers healthy aging tips, inspiration, and wellness activities designed to help seniors thrive.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Being outside is excellent for overall wellness. Lancaster, CA, boasts numerous excellent parks to enjoy. These include:

• Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park
• Apollo Community Regional Park
• Prime Desert Woodland Preserve
• Tierra Bonita Park
• Rawley Duntley Park

Go for a walk or enjoy a picnic with friends. Bring plenty of water, pack lunch and snacks, and apply sunscreen.

You'll also want chairs and blankets for seating. If you enjoy birdwatching, use this time to appreciate nature.

Some walking groups meet at parks, so check into this if you're looking to exercise while chatting with new friends. If you can't find a walking group, consider starting one yourself!

If mobility is limited, sit near a window and enjoy views of greenery. You can also watch nature videos and documentaries to offer similar benefits.

Stay Mentally Active

Some of the best ways of celebrating Wellness Awareness Month include keeping your mind busy. This includes:

• Puzzles
• Games
• Reading
• Creative hobbies, such as scrapbooking
• Knitting and crocheting

Activities such as Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, or card games are also excellent options, as they can stimulate various parts of the brain while providing holistic support for aging. Plus, you can play with friends and make a day of it!

You might even want to try a free or low-cost app to learn a new language. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to focus on your mental health.

Keep Up With Preventive Care

There's no time like the present to keep up with routine checkups, vaccines, and screenings, such as hearing and vision tests. Wellness for older adults can't be overlooked, and your doctor can keep track of what tests you're due for.

This includes:

• Mammograms
• Colonoscopies
• Prostate exams

And more. Preventive care is essential for maintaining good health, as it enables the early detection of potential problems. This makes them easier for doctors to treat.

Additionally, stay up to date on all your recommended vaccines, including flu shots and pneumonia vaccines, as well as any additional vaccinations your doctor recommends.

Make Time for Fun

Senior wellness in Lancaster is more than physical health -- it includes focusing on your emotional well-being. Discover things that bring you happiness and incorporate them into your daily routine. For example, you might want to visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve or indulge in a delicious meal at Iron Cactus Steakhouse. 

Whatever you do, make time for fun. Grab a few friends and go see a movie, or listen to your favorite song.

Invite family over for a baking session with the grandchildren. Laughter can help reduce stress, so be sure to incorporate it into your wellness plan. 

Reach Out When You Need To

If you're feeling lonely, sad, or overwhelmed, don't ever hesitate to reach out to friends and family. Asking for help is one of the best ways of combating feelings of loneliness and depression, and speaking with friends, family members, or counselors can do wonders for your mental well-being.

Many communities offer support groups and resources for seniors combating loneliness, so be sure to look into these. National Wellness Month is an excellent reminder that you're not alone in how you feel, and help is available all year long.

You might consider hosting a small gathering at your home to connect with friends and family. An open floor plan can make entertaining easier and more enjoyable -- simply turn it into a potluck by asking everyone to bring their favorite covered dish. You could also ask everyone to bring an appetizer or dessert, keeping things light and easy. 

Focus on Hydration

Thirst reduces with age, which means you need to focus on staying hydrated.

Seniors can quickly become dehydrated, which is why it's essential to carry a water bottle with you and sip from it regularly throughout the day. If plain water is boring, consider adding a slice of lemon or cucumber. As a bonus, staying hydrated helps digestion and is great for your skin and brain function.

You can also try foods with high water content. This includes:

• Cucumber
• Watermelon
• Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Bell peppers

It's recommended that older adults drink between six and eight glasses of fluid every day. 

Volunteer or Give Back

Volunteering is an incredible way of bringing great satisfaction to seniors and members of the community. Senior living in California encourages residents to give back by volunteering.

By lending your time and talents, you can help others while building community bonds and meeting new people. You might consider volunteering at any of these programs:

• Local food banks
• The library
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Community gardens

If physical limitations make volunteering challenging, consider locations that offer virtual volunteer opportunities. When you help others, it boosts your mood and can improve your physical health.

By volunteering, you're staying active and engaged while feeling valued. You're also contributing to holistic aging support for seniors.   

Celebrate National Wellness Month All Year

Although seniors might use National Wellness Month as an opportunity to jumpstart healthy living, it's a wise idea to implement these tips and tricks throughout the year. Focus on things you love, which can aid your mental health, while also adopting healthy eating habits. Don't forget about your emotional well-being, and reach out for help if you feel lonely or isolated. 

At Bellamar Lancaster, an Integral Senior Living Community, we believe that wellness is more than a routine; it's a way of life. Conveniently located in Lancaster, CA, we offer residents more than just care. We offer connection, purpose, and adventure during National Wellness Month and all year.

Reach out today and discover how our personalized approach can enhance your life, allowing you to enjoy the best that our vibrant community has to offer.