The numbers of people over 45 is growing every year. People are hoping to stay active and vibrant as long as possible. There are over 76 million baby boomers today over 50, and the first of the 82.1 million Generation X-ers are about to reach that milestone in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).According to Carolyn Worthington, editor-in-chief of Healthy Aging Magazine and creator of September is Healthy Aging Month(Opens in a new window), its never too late to find a new career, a new sport, passion or hobby. Healthy Aging Month is an annual observance month designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older that began over 20 years ago.Tips for Reinventing Yourself As You AgeTo get you started on re-inventing yourself, here are 10 tips from Healthy Aging Magazine(Opens in a new window):Do not act your age or at least what you think your current age should act like. What was your best year so far? 28? 40? Now? Picture yourself at that age and be it.Be positive in your conversations and your actions every day.Have negative friends who complain all of the time and constantly talk about how awful everything is?Walk like a vibrant, healthy person. Make a conscious effort to take big strides, walk with your heel first and wear comfortable shoes.Stand up straight. You can knock off the appearance of a few extra years with this trick your mother kept trying to tell you. Fix your stance and practice it every day. You will look great and feel better.Hows your smile? Research shows people who smile more often are happier.Lonely? Stop brooding and complaining about having no friends or family. Do something about it now. Right this minute.Start walking not only for your health but to see the neighbors.Make this month the time to set up your annual physical and other health screenings.Find your inner artist. Sign up now for fall art or music classes and discover your inner artist!WebMD - Healthy Aging TipsFollow these tips from WebMD to stay at your peak!Get moving - Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy body and brain.Stay social - Take a class, volunteer, play games, see old friends, and make new ones.Bulk up - Eat beans and other high-fiber foods for digestive and heart health.Add some spice - Add herbs and spices to your meals if medications dull your taste buds.Stay balanced - Practice yoga or tai chi to improve agility and prevent falls.Take a hike - Brisk daily walks this September can bolster both your heart and lungs.Sleep well - Talk to a sleep specialist if you dont sleep soundly through the night.Beat the blues - If youve been down for a while, see a doctor.Dont forget - To aid your memory, make lists, follow routines, slow down, and organize.Fall PreventionFall prevention is an important component to healthy aging. Elderly people can lose their sense of balance, judgment and motor skills as they get older. This results in awkward falls, and with weakened bones, extreme cases can lead to severe breaks or even further gravely complications.

Naples, Florida is on or near the top of a lot of lists: Best Places to Live, Best Places to Retire. Safest Place to Live. Fastest-Growing City. Sunniest Places on Earth. And Best Beaches. These are just some of the accolades our beautiful city has earned.And now, theres another list-topper: Blue Zones Community. As of August 22, 2022, Southwest Florida is a certified Blue Zones Community  one of the few in the U.S. to achieve this milestone. And Naples has been part of this important health initiative since 2015.A Blue Zone is a term introduced first by Blue Zones Project founder and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner. He discovered five areas across the world where a large number of people lived significantly longer lives and identified the productive lifestyle habits they shared. Begun in 2009, the Blue Zones Project is dedicated to helping communities across the world become healthier, happier and more productive.Over 800 business and organizations across Southwest Florida have participated in the Blue Zone Project. These include supermarkets, restaurants, schools, park systems, faith-based organizations, employee worksites, homeowners associations and governments.By committing to best practices for making healthier choices easier, participants have helped to reduce major health risks compared to Florida as a whole. These include 36% lower tobacco use, 28% lower in poor nutrition; 17% lower stress, 23% lower obesity, and 9% lower in lack of exercise.The Arlington is extremely proud to have done its part. Were the first organization in Southwest Florida to be triple Blue Zones Project Approved: as a Worksite, a Homeowners Association and a Faith-Based Organization.Of course, wellness programming from healthy eating and customized fitness regimens to life-enriching daily activities has always been an essential part of our lifestyle since we opened in 2015. And thats one reason why we were eager to join in the Blue Zone Project.Heres just one example: We took part in a Blue Zones Project Track Your Trek challenge, which is designed to encourage people to get on their feet and get moving. We enrolled more than 70 enthusiastic residents and employees who walked a total of over 25 million steps over four months. In case you dont have a calculator handy, that adds up to a remarkable 12,813 miles. One resident was happy to report losing 13 pounds!Personal choice is key to Blue Zone Project success. As the Blue Zone ProjectSouthwest Florida says, We dont mandate that you adopt certain health practices. We invite you to make small changes which will lead to big health benefits in the long run. At The Arlington, we heartedly agree.Learn more about the Blue Zones ProjectSouthwest Florida and how you can participate by visiting southwestflorida.bluezonesproject.com.

Finding the perfect holiday gift is something we all struggle with. People spend weeks leading up to the holiday season going from store to store and checking online deals, when sometimes the best gift isnt a physical product, but something intangible. This season, give your adult children the peace of mind knowing that youre taken care of. Consider the Arlington of Naples and learn about the peace of mind we offer residents and their families.Its helpful to develop a plan as you age, for your own wellbeing and your familys. All children want the best for their parents as they get older, so why not get them involved earlier in the process. Letting them know your plan or having them assist you develop one will help you both tremendously down the road.Becoming part of a Life Plan Community like The Arlington allows you to take control of your future. Uncertainties you had before will begin to fade and new possibilities will start to blossom. Youll be able to live life to its full capacity. Visit places youve always wanted to go, pick up old hobbies or start new ones, and create lifelong friendships with the confidence of being financially and physically secure. The Arlington is the premier luxury senior living community in Naples. We offer resort style living with a pool, clubhouse, spa, fine dining, and friendly faces at every turn. Your children wont be able to wait to visit you! Just to check in and make sure youre doing alright, of course. Deciding to stay in our community will put your familys minds at ease, but whos really going to be raking in all the benefits?Not only do we offer an ample number of amenities, but personal security as well. The Arlington has an on-site health clinic for all residents to use, plus visiting physicians so you dont have to travel far for doctor visits. There is a maintenance team just a phone call away to solve any issues that arise with your apartment/home and 24-hour security so youll always feel safe while enjoying our campus. When we say we offer residents and families peace of mind, we really mean it.Developing a plan as you age isnt an admittance of defeat, its the exact opposite. Planning for the important things like health, finances, and housing now, will open new opportunities for what you truly want to do during retirement. So, this holiday season, give your family a gift that will keep on giving for years to come. Happy holidays from The Arlington family!