Celebrate Healthy Aging Month this September

When the baby boomers first started turning 50 there was an extremely negative attitude about getting older. People didn’t want to talk about it or even think about it. So Healthy Aging Month was created for the month of September as a way for people to have a more positive outlook about growing older. The month is meant as a way for older people to reevaluate and reinvent. Here are a few ways you can participate and benefit.

It is never too late to start feeling better. If you find yourself not moving as much as you used to, make September the month you change that. Get up! Get moving! Ask a friend to go for walks, sign up for a water aerobics class, or dust off that old bike. Don’t let the excuses or the television set hold you back any longer. Adding additional movement of any type is good for you and will make you feel healthier.

If you are in a slump at work, dust off the resume and see what else is out there. Retired and missing the workplace? Look at volunteering or interning. Have you seen The Intern with Robert De Niro? If not, you should, it’s fantastic. There are literally hundreds of organizations supporting a myriad of causes that could use any and all help. Help build houses with Habitat for Humanity, provide disaster relief with the Red Cross, or simply take adoptable dogs for walks with the Humane Society. There is something for everyone. Find out what your friends are doing and make it a social activity.

“Retired and missing the workplace? Look at volunteering or interning.”

Finances are one thing that frustrate many people approaching retirement. Use Healthy Aging Month to reassess your budget and retirement savings. Talk to a financial advisor and find out if you have the right investments and insurance in place. Start looking into long-term care insurance (LTCI) as a way to protect your retirement and your family. Talk to a specialist about your options and request a quote for coverage from the top LTCI carriers.

Getting older doesn’t have to be about slowing down and staying in. In fact, many people find that once the kids are out of the nest, they rediscover all sorts of great hobbies and social settings. Use this September as a reawakening, combat any negative connotations in your own mind about getting older, and see how you can improve your life. Join a book club, make plans to travel someplace on your bucket list, or get in touch with an old friend. Go wine tasting, take a writing class, or learn how to golf. There is an entire world of opportunity just past your front door.