Gardening is a great way for seniors to feel a sense of purpose, gain a renewed appreciation for nature, and grow something beautiful to enjoy. Its also a fantastic way to stay active. Not everyone has the space or ability to maintain a large garden, which is where patio gardening comes into play. With these seven tips, you can create a beautiful and manageable garden right on your own patio!Start small: If youre new to gardening, we suggest beginning with a small garden that is easy to manage. Choose a few plants that are low maintenance and require minimal effort, and grow from there.Use containers: One of the biggest advantages of patio gardening is the ability to maintain your plants in containers easily. This allows you to control the soil quality, water levels, and sunlight exposure for each plant. Plus, it makes it easier to move your plants around as needed for optimal growth. You can even get creative with your containers by using repurposed items like old buckets or teapots.Ensure proper drainage: Look for containers that are the right size for your plants and have adequate drainage holes to prevent overwatering or waterlogged soil, which can lead to root rot. Also, use a good-quality potting mix with good drainage properties.Choose the right plants: It's important to choose plants that are well-suited for container gardening and can thrive in the limited space and conditions of a patio. Look for plants that are labeled as "patio" or "container" varieties, and consider factors like sunlight, water needs, and temperature tolerance. Some great options include herbs, succulents, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and flowers like marigolds, petunias, and geraniums.Provide sufficient sunlight & water: Most plants require at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Make sure your patio garden is located in a spot that receives adequate sunlight. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so youll need to check the soil regularly and water as needed to ensure your plants are moist but not waterlogged.Use the right tools: The best gardening tools for seniors offer lightweight materials, ergonomic shape or design, longer handles, and electric or automated features. These tools can help reduce strain on joints and muscles and make gardening enjoyable. If you need new tools, Amazon has a great list of senior-friendly gardening supplies!Ask for help: Don't hesitate to ask for help from friends or family members if needed. Gardening can be a fun social activity, and sharing the workload can make it more enjoyable. In fact, gardening is a favorite pastime for many residents at Resort Lifestyle Community. Here are a few recent highlights.Many of our communities love growing plants and nurturing friendships along the way. If this sounds like a lifestyle youd love, contact Stone River Retirement Community today. Wed enjoy the opportunity to welcome you!

Weve all been impacted by the storm, and now more than ever its essential to take charge of your healthcare. We realize you may have other things on your mind, but your health is a priority. And staying healthy starts with the right healthcare coverage, which is why we want to help you with this years Medicare Open Enrollment. Whether youre aging into Medicare, or youve been covered for years, you have options when it comes to coverage, and the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (which runs from October 15 to December 7) is your opportunity to assess your healthcare needs for the coming year. Learn what new plans have to offer, compare benefit options and enroll, so you can make sure you have the absolute best health coverage for you. You can opt for Original Medicare coverage, which is Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (doctor coverage), but you could be on the hook for 20% of your expenses. Youd have to pick up additional drug coverage to cover prescriptions and supplemental coverage if youre concerned about out-of-pocket costs. Or you can compare the many options available from Medicare-approved private companies offering what are called Medicare Advantage Plans (or Medicare Part C.) These plans are often called all-in-one plans because they can include several different benefits in one, which can be any combination of drug coverage, hearing, vision, and/or dental, plus they can be low-to-no cost and offer spending caps. Open Enrollment Options     Original Medicare     Part A - hospital coverage     Part B - doctor coverage     Medicare Advantage (Part C) Medicare Advantage Plans Can Include     Drug coverage     Hearing     Vision     Dental     Spending caps This enrollment period really is your chance to make sure youre in great shape for the next year! Call our partners, the Medicare experts at HealthShare360 for help learning about your options, comparing coverage, and enrolling during the Open Enrollment Period. Connect with HealthShare360 at 844.878.5012 or FLMedicare.com. * If you already receive Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will automatically enroll you in Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B). Theyll mail you all the information you need a few months before you become eligible. If you dont receive Social Security benefits and are not ready to apply for them yet, you should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday.You can do this using the SSA online application or you can make an appointment by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), 8:00 am 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  

Many investors were glad to see the end of 2022. But whats ahead this year? And what moves can you make in response to last years results? To begin with, heres what happened: 2022 was the worst year for the financial markets since 2008, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping nearly 9%, the S&P 500 losing more than 19% and the technology-heavy Nasdaq falling 33%. Several factors contributed to these results, including the moves by the Federal Reserve to aggressively hike interest rates to combat inflation, the Russia-Ukraine war, recession fears and increased concern over COVID-19 cases in China.However, 2023 may be different. Many experts believe that inflation may moderate considerably, especially during the second half of the year. If that happens, the Fed may well pause its interest rate hikes and perhaps even consider cutting rates a move that is often positive for the financial markets. Also, if a recession emerges, but its relatively short and mild, as expected, the rebounding economy may be favorable for the investment outlook.   Regardless of what transpires this year, though, you can help move toward your financial goals by following some basic steps that make sense in all investment environments. Here are a few to consider: Focus on the long term. It can bedisconcerting to look at investment statements containing negative results, as was the case for many people throughout 2022. But its important to view a single years outcome in the larger context and historically, the stock market has had many more positive years than negative ones, though, of course, past performance is not a guarantee of what will happen in the future. In any case, its generally not a good idea to overreact to short-term downturns and make moves that could work against your long-term strategy. Keep adequate cash in your portfolio. Thevalue of your investments may have gone down in 2022 but you didnt really sustain any actual losses unless you sold those investments for less than what you paid for them. To avoid having to sell investments to supplement your income or to pay for unforeseen costs, such as a major home or car repair, try to build the cash portion of your portfolio, so it covers a few months worth of living expenses.When youre retired, and it becomes even more imperative to avoid selling investments when their price is down, you may need an even bigger pool of available cash. Look for opportunities. Although 2022 was certainly a down year for the financial markets, some developments have presented new opportunities for investors. For one thing, the contribution limits have increased for IRAs, 401(k)s, and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), all of which are pegged to inflation. Also, with interest rates considerably higher than they were a year ago, fixed-income investments may offer more income and provide added stability in portfolios during times of economic weakness.When youve been investing for a long time, you will experience down years in the market, such as the one in 2022. These years are an inevitable part of the investment process. But since you cant control what happens in the financial markets, you need to concentrate on what you can control and that may be a lot more than you think. Chad Choate III, AAMS Edward Jones828 3rd Ave W. Bradenton, FL 34205 941-462-2445 chad.choate@edwardjones.com

For more information on the author, Community Eye Centers, CLICK HERE!Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, pupil and lens. These light rays are focused on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. The retina sends signals through the optic nerve to the brain where these signals become the images we see.The retina has two areas: the peripheral retina which gives us our side or wide-angle vision and the macula the small area at the center of the retina. The macula gives us our pinpoint vision allowing us to see clearly.Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over the age of 60. It occurs when the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates. The retina is the light- sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. Because the disease develops as a person ages, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration. Although macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, it can be a source of significant visual disability.Wet and Dry Macular DegenerationThe dry form of macular degeneration occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula gradually break down, resulting in distortion of sharp, central vision.When this form becomes advanced, it can result in the wet form of the disease. Blood vessels in the eye begin to leak blood and fluid. Loss of vision can happen very quickly.Symptoms can include wavy or distorted vision, blind spots in vision dark, blurry areas in the center of vision and diminished or changed color perception. Any of these changes warrant a prompt visit to your physician.When AMD is diagnosed and treated in its early and intermediate stages, vision loss can often be slowed and the risk of its progression to the wet form reduced. While there are numerous medications and treatments available, treatment has to be aimed at the patients specific manifestation of the disease. Seven different forms of the disease exist and no one treatment is effective for every patient. Years ago, AMD often resulted in legal blindness. However, new treatments have produced much better outcomes. Healthy choices can also help the prevention of developing this disease.