Shea Homes at Jubilee - An Olympia Active Adult Community

Shea Homes at Jubilee

Shea Homes at Jubilee is an age-restricted Olympia active adult community located within the larger Hawks Prairie community. Located in Lacey, Washington this suburban community is only ten minutes from Olympia and approximately 60 minutes from Seattle. This active adult living community is situated near naturally preserved forest space, yet close to several local shopping centers and only a couple of miles from Puget Sound.  Residents of Jubilee can sit back and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle with breathtaking views of Mt. Rainer and the Puget Sound.

With its prime location, Shea Homes at Jubilee enjoys both an abundance of natural beauty and all the world class dining, shopping, and cultural attractions available in the surrounding cities of Olympia and Seattle.

At the heart of Jubilee is The Lodge, a spacious clubhouse featuring many active adult communities resort-style amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor pool and spa, social rooms, and hobby rooms. The game room includes both billiards and card tables, and the library features comfortable seating for a cozy socializing afternoon. There is an abudance of outdoor activities that include hiking, bike riding, tennis, bocce ball, and basketball.

Olympia Active Adult Community

A beautiful 36 hole golf course is available to residents at the Golf Club at Hawks Praire, where the homes of Jubilee are being built around The Links Course.

These amenities rich homes are very affordable and range from 1300 - 2450 square feet.  All of them have views to the surrounding golf course and natural woodlands which Lacy offers.  The Estate collection has unique courtyards, high ceilings and windows, and gourmet kitchens with beautiful cabinetry.  This is truly a luxurious Olympia active adult community.

A Great Northern Las Vegas Active Adult Community

Tucked away in a quiet corner of highly desirable active adult communities in North Las Vegas is Ardiente, a Shea Homes master-planned active adult community.  Ardiente is just minutes away from the excitement of The Strip, and just steps from the tranquility of the mountains and desert. There is plenty of local shopping and all of the conveniences one could every dream of needing a short ride from our gates. A mere three miles away is Nellis Air Force Base with its commissary shopping and a brand new, nearly completed VA hospital within 1.5 miles of the community. Venture a little further to Los Angeles’ beaches or the outdoor adventure of southern Utah. With the Las Vegas International Airport only 20 minutes by car, the world is never far away.

Since 2005 active adults, age 55 and older, have chosen Ardiente for its ideal location, guard gated security, private clubhouse, outdoor recreational amenities and superior lifestyle. Today, Shea Homes at Ardiente delivers energy efficient choices, and home building innovation, at very reasonable prices.

With nearly 300 full time residents here you’ll find numerous clubs in full swing! From card clubs to car clubs or travel adventure to nature hiking there is something for nearly everyone seeking active adult living at its finest.

If you are looking for a little culture in Las Vegas there are plenty of Museums, Galleries and attractions to fulfill your needs. Plan a visit to a few of the only in Las Vegas sights to make your active adult retirement community that much more interesting. Art is all around you in Las Vegas and history has been made so many times in this city that often is seen as very one sided. Take a look at all that Las Vegas has to offer.

Take a trip to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offering a one-way 13-mile scenic drive, hiking, biking, rock climbing and seasonal camping. A newly remodeled visitor center at the base of the scenic drive offers in-depth information about the area's history, recreation, geology, wildlife and vegetation. You will also find a gift shop and interactive indoor & outdoor exhibitions. Northern Las Vegas has many other activities for active adult living in a Nevada retirement community.

So...You're Not Much Into Golf But Want To Retire In La Quinta, Ca?

Funny thing about retiring as an active adult these days; everyone assumes you play golf and want to live in an active adult golf retirement community. If you do play the game, then it’s a correct assumption and no big deal. But what if you don’t? Some of us played more golf when we were about to go to college than we do as we about to plan a retirement. Some of us have been just been busy with careers and families, right? What if you still enjoy the occasional game, but it’s not your raison d’etre. Or, maybe you live with someone who’s slightly less involved with the game than you are.

Retirement is supposedly life’s next big adventure. So, in considering where to live out that adventure, it’s a good idea to think about what do with the time that you’re not out on the links. Or, for those obsessed with the game, it’s a good idea to think about what your significant other is going to do while you play golf every day.

Whether due to your own or your significant other’s obsession - If golf is associated with your retirement, an active adult community in La Quinta, CA will probably be a part of the conversation. According to the Robb Report, La Quinta is the “Best Place to Live for Golf” thanks to over 20 exceptional golf courses, including the famous PGA West and the nationally acclaimed Arnold Palmer Classic Course at SilverRock Resort. It’s a virtual smorgasbord of golf with an unparalleled reputation in the golf world; a siren’s call to the golf enthusiast.

But did you know that there’s more than golf to La Quinta? Were you aware that the city embraces art and culture? Ever hear about the La Quinta Arts Festival, live theatre by the La Quinta Playhouse, or the variety of public art pieces? The Old Town Village is enchanting, and features the very best in shopping and dining experiences.

Okura, which offers a fusion of Japanese and California cuisine, has a legendary sushi bar. Arnold Palmer’s (look, there’s no escaping the golf thing…) offers “Progressive American Cuisine served in a private club setting.”

If you’re retirement includes taking the time to cook for yourself, check out the Certified Farmers Market at Old Town. Offering live music from 9 AM to 12:30 PM, the Farmers Market is the best way to find the freshest, best tasting fresh fruits & vegetables. You can also get honey, nuts, cheese, plants and cut flowers, as well as fresh-baked breads from the local L'Artisan Bakery. Check out the Old Town website for details and other events such as the nightly live music shows.

As for where to take those fresh veggies back to cook, take a look at the retirement community Trilogy La Quinta. Nestled against the Santa Rosa Mountains in the Coral Mountain area of south La Quinta, it’s a 55+ active adult community that’s surrounded by all of the natural beauty that La Quinta has to offer. The resort-like setting is maintained with natural landscaping and seasonal flowers, and owners have the use of the Santa Rosa Club facilities, front yard landscaping service, and 24 Hour Guard-Gated Security. There’s even an on-site spa!

Canadians Flocking to Active Adult Golf Communities in Phoenix, AZ

Looking for Relief From the Cold Weather?

Look no further! Encanterra, an Active Adult Golf Community in Phoenix is attracting Active Adults from all over.

In fact, according to John Korobanik from the Edmonton Journal, Canadian residents are flocking to Phoenix and its surrounding areas to take advantage of the warmer weather and escaping Alberta's long, cold winters. Many of those are actually buying new homes. Approximately 60 percent of the 140 homes already sold in Encanterra, one of the newest golf-resort housing developments in the Phoenix area, have been bought by Western Canadians from Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

Encanterra is a 745-acre gated residential community in the Queen Creek area, about an hour's drive from the Phoenix airport. Here you will find new homes, an 18-hole Tom Lehman signature-designed championship course, and La Casa, the 60,000-square-foot clubhouse. Architecturally, Encanterra is a combination of Old World charm and New World design and technology.

The Active Adult Community spends a great deal of time and energy promoting residents’ health and wellness.

200 to 300 luxury homes will be built per year for a total of about 2,400 by 2016. The 1,437-to-3,764-square-foot homes are built on the cutting edge of energy efficiency and feature a variety of green and cost-friendly amenities.

Each house comes with solar panels integrated into the tiles for an esthetically pleasing look while producing three kilowatts of power, about a third of the house's typical energy needs – providing big savings in utilities and tax rebates.

Active Adult New Homes range from $204,000 to $254,000.

Active Adults Love a New Golf Course

Active Adult Living

If you haven’t already noticed, Trilogy Golf Club at Mountain House is currently under construction just outside Tracy, California. It will be the latest addition to the Trilogy portfolio of daily fee courses by designers Fred Couples and Gene Bates.

Numerous water features and lush exterior landscaping are a major part of the design strategy (a signature of many Fred Couples’ designs). Rolling terrain will be surrounded by lakes on 14 of the 18 holes – requiring a great deal of accuracy off the tee! And, if the wind blows (as it sometimes does in this area) anticipate quite a test of skill…

Active Adult Lifestyle

Trilogy Golf Club at Mountain House will complement other Shea Homes Resort & Golf facilities in the area – Trilogy Golf Club at Rio Vista in Rio Vista, and the 27-hole Brentwood Golf Club in Brentwood, California.

Trilogy Golf Club at Mountain House, set against the rolling foothills of the East Bay area, is anticipated to open in late 2010.

Who doesn’t love a new, challenging course?

Active Adult Communities

Metabolic Syndrome in Active Adults

Active Adult Living

Over the past few decades there has been an increase in a condition called metabolic syndrome, which is considered to be a pre-cursor to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Nearly half of adults forty and over have a disturbance in blood sugar metabolism, putting them at increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. What is even scarier is that beyond diet and exercise, the traditional medical world currently has very little to offer to help battle this manifestation.

According to the American Heart Association, you are considered to have metabolic syndrome if you exhibit three of the following: hypertension, elevated fasting glucose, a large waist circumference, low HDL, and/or elevated triglycerides. It is very possible that you have this condition and no one has ever mentioned it to you. It is usually first detected with an elevated fasting blood sugar result on your yearly lab-work. A fasting glucose above 100 but below 121 signifies that you probably have metabolic syndrome. Levels over 121 are diagnostic for having diabetes. See below for more details on the diagnostic criteria for Metabolic Syndrome.

Active Adult Lifestyle

Diagnostic Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome

Having three of the following is considered Metabolic Syndrome.

• Blood Pressure: Equal to or higher than 130/85 mmhg
• Fasting Blood Sugar: (Glucose) equal to or higher than 100 mg/dl
• Large Waist Circumference: (Distance around the waist) of 40 inches or more for men, and 35 inches or more for women
• Low HDL Cholesterol: Under 40 mg/dl for men, and under 50 mg/dl for women
• Triglycerides: Equal to or higher than 150 mg/dl

Metabolic syndrome, like diabetes (NIDDM, formerly type II or adult-onset), occurs as cells begin to become insulin resistant. This resistance can increase with age, due to lack of exercise, excess sugar consumption, and especially for those with a genetic predisposition.

Luckily, in addition to proper nutrition and exercise, nature can be helpful in effectively balancing blood sugar and lowering risks. Nature can help one decrease blood sugar levels, as well as lose weight.

Nutrients including chromium and vanadium can help make insulin receptors more sensitive.

Herbs including Gymnema, Fenugreek, and bitter melon have been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels as well. In addition, one of the most effective herbs is cinnamon.

Prior to taking nutrients and herbs, discuss with your primary care, integrative, or naturopathic physician.

For a more in-depth article on Metabolic Syndrome view Amy Whittington, NMD’s article in Trilogy Life Magazine.

Active Adult Communities

Maintain Your Active Adult Lifestyle With Good Vascular Health

Baby boomers who want to have an active adult lifestyle need to understand how to maintain a healthy vascular system as they become seniors. The number of vascular disease cases is expected to rise dramatically as 87 million people are expected to be 55 and older by 2015. Vascular disease typically affects those in their senior years.

The vascular system is made up of arteries and veins that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to vital organs, the brain, and legs. As aging occurs, arteries tend to thicken with a build-up of plaque and cholesterol, get stiffer, and narrow. When blood flow is restricted, vascular diseases can lead to stroke; peripheral arterial disease can lead to problems walking and in the most advanced cases, foot ulcers, gangrene and possible amputation; and abdominal aortic aneurysm can result in death if not treated early.

Active Adult Living

Know what you can do to protect your vascular health!

The following five practices can have a very positive impact on your vascular health:

1. Stop smoking

2. Eat a healthy, low fat diet

3. Maintain good cholesterol levels

4. Take care of your blood pressure to keep it in a normal range

5. Exercise regularly -- even a moderate walking program can be effective

Active Adult Communities

People aged 55 and older should talk with their primary care physician about their vascular and overall health. The good news is that vascular disease can be controlled if diagnosed and treated early.

Golf Retirement Communities a Big Hit with Boomers

Retirement Golf Communities

According to baby-boomers-life.com, retirement community living is a popular option among baby boomers.

Many senior golf retirement communities offer a country club resort lifestyle at a very affordable price. Baby Boomers coming to age 55 are eligible to join one of these active retirement communities - one of the perks of this generation along with a few gray hairs and accumulated wisdom!

Retirement communities range from extremely luxurious to quite modest, so there are many choices. Of course there can be changes in latitudes and changes in attitudes as well. Depending on the location, a retirement living community offers a world of recreation activities including golf, tennis, swimming, boating, skiing, cycling, kayaking, spa treatments, educational opportunities, and a wonderful social life.

Active Adult Living

If the idea of driving your golf cart down the street to hit a few balls at the range sounds appealing, then a golf retirement community might be in your future!

To view, or even plan a “test drive” stay, at a retirement community that offers golf course style retirement living, visit www.TrilogyLife.com.

Trilogy retirement communities offer active adult lifestyles for baby boomers on the move!

Active Adults Can Reduce Risk of Injury From Exercising

Active Adult Living

If 40 is the new 30, and 50 is the new 40, and 60 is the new 50, that leaves even more opportunity for baby boomers to live their fit, active best!

After all, the baby-booming 42- to 60-age group is accustomed to leading active adult lifestyles, and they’re not going to let 10 years here or there stand in the way.

Unfortunately, the increases in activity and exercise are being accompanied by increases in injuries. Not good, and for the most part, avoidable.

It’s a fact that as we age, our reaction time increases, our joints become less lubricated, and our muscles and tendons become less elastic. But, baby boomers can reduce their risk of injury associated with such factors, by ...

Taking Care To Warm-up & Stretch

Cardio and resistance workouts should always begin with a 10 to 15 minute warm-up. You can warm-up with various activities — marching, walking, jogging, swimming — the key is to simply move at a low-level of intensity and with smaller range of motion movement. Once you feel your body temperature rising and your muscles becoming warmer, it’s safe to begin stretching. Perform static, non-bouncy stretches, for all your major muscles and you’ll have better prepare your body for whatever cardio or resistance training activity you choose.

Exercising Regularly, Moderately & Consistently

Weekend warrior exercising or on-again-off-again exercising can be really hard on the body. The greatest benefits come from consistent exercise. You will build your endurance and lessen your risk of injury by exercising regularly, at moderate levels of intensity that are mindful of the fact that Rome truly was not built in a day. If your goal is to experience greater weight loss, or an improved fitness level, you can always increase you’re the duration, intensity or frequency of your workouts. Just do so gradually, and never by more than 10 percent each week.

Active Adult Communities

Using The Right Equipment

Whether you’re walking, jogging, or riding a bike, make sure your shoes and equipment are those best suited for your activity and body type. Proactively selecting the best and safest equipment can save you the pain and aggravation of a sidelining injury.

Cross-training/ Balanced Approach To Exercise

Try a balanced variety of workouts. Cardio, resistance, and stretching routines each serve a unique purpose. You will achieve the greatest degree of balanced fitness when you get a bit of all three.

As a rule, stretching should be part of every workout. Cardio activities — 30 minutes, three to five days a week — and resistance training to hit all major muscles groups twice a week on non-consecutive days.

Start With A Visit To Your Doctor

Discuss your fitness plans and get a good once over from your physician before beginning your exercise program. Try to find a doctor who actually exercises and who — from experience — can guide and motivate you toward your desire to live a healthy, active adult lifestyle.

Post contributed by Eugenie Jones, M.B.A., ACE. Eugenia is a workplace performance and lifestyle training expert and can be contacted at eugeniek@comcast.net.

Active Adults Improve Overall Fitness Through Strength Training

Active Adult Living

As reported by RetirementHomes.com, people of all ages and fitness levels, particularly women between the ages of 65 and 75, may benefit from strength training, according to the New York Times.

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine asked 155 women who were active adults to break into two groups. One team did strength training exercises on a weekly basis, and the other did toning exercises.

After a year, the researchers found that those who were in the weight-lifting group improved their overall fitness levels by between 10.9 and 12.6 percent, while individuals in the toning group actually experienced a 0.5 percent decline, according to the news source.

In light of these findings, active adults might consider incorporating strength training into their daily routines as part of a healthy active adult lifestyle.

The Mayo Clinic reports that strength training on a regular basis will help preserve muscle mass and bone density, help maintain a healthy body weight and could even reduce a person's risk of insomnia.

Many active adult communities today incorporate amenities that support active adult lifestyles such as gyms, yoga and other exercise classes, golf courses, pools, etc.

Visit www.TrilogyLife.com and learn more about Active Adult Communities.

Stargazing for Active Adults at Your New Home in La Quinta, CA

Here’s something for the Active Adult Night Owl!

The Astronomy Club of Trilogy at La Quinta, founded in 2008 by Trilogy community member Mike Wagner, is an informational and social club that helps people learn about the objects on view in the night sky, and by extension about the earth’s place in the universe.

Star gazing get-togethers are held every four or five weeks. Meeting dates are adjusted to take advantage of special events, like eclipses, meteor showers, or comets. A typical meeting is held on a Thursday evening close to the new moon. During a new moon, the moon isn’t visible, so the sky is darker and the stars can be seen more easily.

Active Adult Communities

Get-togethers are held at the driving range at 8:00pm (8:30pm in the summer months). This time may also change to take advantage of a sighting of the International Space Station or other interesting phenomena.

Stay tuned for upcoming events…In the next few months, Mars will become visible overhead, and the Beehive Cluster will fill the telescope eyepiece with its 1,000 stars. Then, in April, Saturn will become visible again. This will first appear in the east, and will be higher in the sky each month through the summer.

The Astronomy Club is open to all Trilogy La Quinta members (there are no dues). Interested members and guests are invited to come to a star gazing session to learn about the night sky, solar system, Milky Way galaxy, and the earth’s place in the Universe.

For an in-depth interview with founder Mike Wagner, visit Trilogy’s online magazine at http://www.mytrilogylife.com/?section=sec-connection&aid=37410&pagenum=1

Now’s A Great Time for a New Home at Redmond Ridge, WA!

Reduced rates on new homes at Trilogy Redmond Ridge make it a great time to purchase a home in an Active Adult Retirement Community. And, you can even save $68,000+ on many new home models!

Seattle is just 20 minutes away where you’ll find cultural events, pro sports, universities, restaurants and shopping. And the world-class wineries and microbreweries of Woodinville are close as well.

Active Adult Community

Redmond, surrounded by 500 acres of protected wetlands and forest preserve, is known as the bicycle capital of the Northwest, and with 12 miles of trails surrounding your new home, there are plenty of opportunities for running and hiking, too.

If water sports are more your speed, you’ll have a ball at nearby Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish where you can sail, kayak, canoe and fish.

And no experience in the Seattle area would be complete without taking in the stunning mountain surroundings—whether you hike, bike, horseback ride or go for a scenic drive. Why not hop on the ferry to Victoria, B.C where the breezy mountain air is a perfect match to your outlook? Did we mention skiing?!!

For a look at designer new homes at reduced prices, visit Trilogy Redmond Ridge.

New Homes in Golf Resort Communities

Golf Resort Communities for Active Adults

Trilogy and Shea Homes provide beautifully designed communities for all those who want to experience life to the fullest. Trilogy communities represent a new vision for living, a vision that will enrich the lives of all those who make Trilogy their new home. Each Trilogy community offers exceptional opportunities for personal growth, learning and activity. Here, you'll find new friends and new ways to expand your interests and explore your world.

Every Trilogy golf resort community is set amid the beauty of nature in some of the West's most beautiful areas. That makes it easy to enjoy an active and exciting life, where each day is an adventure and a new beginning waiting to unfold.

If you’re looking for a place to call “home” with greens that are no more than a hop, skip and jump away, consider:

• Trilogy at La Quinta and Rio Vista in California,
• Trilogy at Vistancia and Encanterra in Arizona, and
• Trilogy at Redmond Ridge in Washington

Visit http://www.trilogylife.com/ for more information about a new home in a Trilogy golf community.

Active Adult Fitness - Baby Steps for Boomers

Looking to ease your way into an Active Adult Lifestyle?

Here are a few great tips from Kathi Casey, ERYT, CPI:

It’s all about those first “baby steps”: start out with a few easy, fun exercises and stay with those until you’re ready to add one or two more. It doesn’t matter how long it takes for you to work your way up to 10 or 12 exercises, what matters is finding something that you enjoy.

Setting small, achievable goals is important for your success. This is a secret that the best Olympic coaches use when training young athletes, and it works for anyone at any age. When you continue to achieve your goals, you feel great and you want to keep going.

Active Adult Communities

Here’s a simple exercise to try:
While on the couch watching TV, lie on your side and raise your top leg up toward the ceiling slowly while inhaling to the count of 5 (slowly – it’s not a race) and then exhale 5 counts while you bring it back down. Do 2 or 3 to begin with, making sure that you breathe deeply and make your movements slow and purposeful. If you try to throw your leg up into the air you will be using momentum instead of leg muscles and you’ll be throwing your hip joint out – not fun! During a commercial, sit back up slowly and carefully and then lie on your opposite side to work your other leg. This is easy and you don’t need to set aside extra time from your busy schedule. Set an achievable goal for yourself like doing 2 or 3 leg raises on each side for 2 weeks. You’ll feel so good when you complete that goal that you’ll be ready to add more! At your own pace, work up to doing 10 on each side.

The muscles that you use with this easy, slow, purposeful leg raise are those deep muscles that are so important for strength and balance. And did you know that when you build lean muscle, your body burns more fat to keep those lean muscles working? This means that the more you do this simple, easy exercise – the higher you’ll be able to lift that leg, and then the more repetitions you’ll be able to do, and then the INCHES will drop from your thighs and hips! In fact, I recommend that you measure your thighs before you begin and then again after one month. You will see and feel a difference and that will encourage you to keep going. Now, understand that you may not have lost any weight during that month because muscle weighs more than fat, but you’ll fit into you jeans a little better, and your friends and family will begin commenting that you look “fabulous” and asking what you’re doing different.

When you have a minute, take out a pen and paper and write down some of the activities you loved as a kid. Was tennis your game? How about riding a bike? I’m sure you’ll find something that has slipped out of your life due to busy careers, raising families, etc. Now is the time to go back to those activities and have fun while getting fit at the same time.

For information about Active Adult Living Communities visit www.trilogylife.com.

Retirement Communities Suited to Your Active Living Style

No matter what your taste, retirement communities for active adults are built just for you...

Imagine enjoying your retirement years...

...minutes outside of Seattle among towering pines that bring a breath of fresh air that allows you to choose or pace of life, or

...enjoying views of California's central coast while sipping a glass of local wine and knowing that you are only a few hours drive from a trip to San Francisco or Los Angeles, or

...soaking in year-round sunshine, beautiful mountain vistas and taking your best swing on PGA quality golf courses, or

...working on your Florida tan while taking in the sights of Orlando...

Ready to enjoy a new home in a community suited to your active living style?

To explore active adult retirement communities in these areas and more, visit www.trilogylife.com.

Swimming Good Exercise for Baby Boomers

Active Adult Living Retirement Communities

There are an increasing number of people that are starting to want to improve there health and baby boomers are no exception. Swimming appears to be one of the most popular forms of exercise among the baby boomers. Swimming provides a full body workout without the danger of overdoing it because it is one of the least stressful forms of exercise that you can do.

Most people do not realize all of the benefits that can be obtained from swimming. Swimming and water exercise is the second best form of exercise that has the lowest rate for injuries. Walking is still the leader in that aspect for low injury rates. There is a great deal of doctors that will recommend that you do water exercises so that you can strengthen your muscles without harming your recovery. Swimming is great physical therapy for people of all ages no matter what their current physical condition is.

Baby boomers like swimming as it allows them to utilize almost all of their major muscle groups at the same time, so that they can get a complete total body workout with minimal strain. The water works as a great form of resistance so that you can use it as strength training and even for aerobic exercises. The baby boomers like water fitness as it can work well for people of all fitness levels. It can help people strengthen their muscles and build up their endurance as well as making them much more flexible.

Many people are not aware that swimming actually provides almost all of the same effects as running does. The difference between running and swimming is that you are not putting a strain on your connective tissues as you do when you are running or doing weight training. Many baby boomers find that swimming allows them to easily maintain the fitness lever or to improve on it as well. You can also do exercise in water more often then you could if you were doing them out of water because the amount of injuries is so low. When you are in water, your body weight is reduced my nearly 90% your movements are 12 times greater then just doing them in the air, therefore you can do much more while in the water.

You will want to look into swimming for your recreational activities if you are from the baby boomer era and want to maintain an active adult lifestyle. Not only will swimming help to fill your need for exercise but it is safe as well. This low impact form of exercise can help to increase the amount of range of motion that you have as well. You will want to talk to your doctor to make sure that you are doing the right thing as with any new exercise program that you begin. To ensure you are not over doing it your doctor will be able to suggest some water exercises to suit your actual fitness level.

Swimming as exercise for baby boomers is a popular pastime as more and more baby boomers near and enter the retirement phase of their lives.

If you are looking for retirement communities that cater to active adult lifestyles, visit http://www.trilogylife.com/.

Article provided by Juliette Crane of Women's Health.

Retirement Community Living: An Environment for Healthy Aging

Active Adult Living Communities

As more of the population pushes the previous life-span boundaries, more and more of us become concerned with aging in such a way that we can maintain our quality of life. Of course, at the core of healthy aging is making good choices about eating right, maintaining a healthy body weight, and having regular medical checkups, but did you know that where you live can have a factor in your overall health as well?

In many neighborhoods there may not be readily available exercise facilities or social opportunities. This can make it difficult for retired people to maintain a previously healthy lifestyle. Keep in mind, a healthy lifestyle doesn’t just include exercise, but also social connections and mental stimulation as well. All of these factors can be supported by living in a new home in a good retirement community. Exercise helps keep up Active Adult Living and even moderate exercise can help keep you more mobile and able to enjoy both daily life as well as special outings.

Mental exercise is also an important factor to consider; the more mental stimulation we participate in, the sharper our minds remain. Mental exercise can be as simple as having regular trips to the library for reading materials, playing a game of bingo with friends, visiting a local museum, or connecting with friends and family. Both kinds of exercise also help keep our stress levels down as well. Prolonged stress can deteriorate most of the systems of the body and even affect your memory. Enjoying a relaxing and active adult living environment can be one way to help combat stress in your life.

A good retirement community can help you with all of these issues and more. It might include such simple elements as walking paths and close proximity to shopping, medical care, as well as entertainment such as a theatre. Some retirement communities have swimming pools or shuffleboard as well, giving you that holiday cruise feel!

Some aspects of healthy living, such as choosing whether or not to smoke, having regular medical checkups, and eating healthy are very personal decisions; while other aspects can be greatly influenced by the environment you live in. Whether choosing either a new residence for living in all year round, or just winter accommodations to help you escape a harsh climate, keep in mind what kind of environment would support you best in your retirement.

For information about Active Adult Living Communities visit www.trilogylife.com.

This article provided by the Editor of Medical Rag.

Active Adult Resort Living - Retirement Communities

At Trilogy, we simply don't believe in cookie-cutter homes. Instead, each community offers a variety of floor plans that honor the local design style, from desert contemporary in Arizona to bungalow influences in coastal California.

All of our homes are finished with flexible living space you can tailor to fit the way you want to live -- including options from a separate casita for visiting guests to an office studio to your own cigar and wine tasting rooms.

At Trilogy, it's about combining the ease and value of a production home with the advantages of custom; it means you get a home that's uniquely yours without all the hassle (or expense!).

Click to learn about our Retirement Communities today!

US Census Reports 78 Million Baby Boomers: New Homes Cater to Active Adult Living

In its first report on Baby Boomers in 13 years, a new US Census Bureau analysis of 2006 data released in November 2009, found that California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania are the five US states with the largest numbers of Baby Boomers. In 2006, Baby Boomers age 42 to 60 totaled an estimated 78.0 million and comprised 26.1% of the total U.S. population.

With 78 million people nearing retirement age, it is not surprising that retirement, or “Active Adult Living”, communities catering to the needs and interests of the Baby Boomer generation are increasing in popularity.

Some new home builders even offer a resort-like lifestyle in the form of forward-thinking, master-planned communities complete with diverse amenities like world-class resort clubs, tons of recreation choices, restaurants, scenery, and spa services.

WOW....Who wouldn’t want the live that way….EVERY day?!!!

If you are in the market for a new home in an active adult living community look into the amazing, eco-friendly, energy efficient new home communities located in California, Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania by Trilogy of Shea Homes.

For more information on the November 2009 census on Baby Boomers visit www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/age/2006%20Baby%20Boomers.pdf

Active Adult Communities – on the Rise

Active Adult Communities – on the Rise

By Senitra Horbrook
 
Communities catering to active adults are springing up in rapid numbers. Research from the National Association of Home Builders found that more than 100,000 units constructed in 2008 will be targeted to this growing niche market. Growing just as fast are the number of adults 55 and older, which is expected to
exceed 85 million by 2014.
 
But if they build it, will active adults come?
 
So far, they have and the reasons why active adults are choosing age restricted communities are quite
varied.

“We wanted to downsize and get something smaller,” said Beverly Massi, a 68-year-old who sold a single family home on one acre in Elmer, NJ nearly two years ago, to move with her husband to a school converted to condos for active adults in Clayton, NJ. 
 
“This particular one was cost-effective and more reasonable than anything else around. We had been looking at another community nearby. Then it opened and the taxes were out the ceiling, before we even moved in. The maintenance fee was also high. Then we found this, and it has worked out fine. We’re good.”

Rich Shakarjian, Director of Sales for J.S. Hovnanian & Sons, which currently has three active adult communities in Southern New Jersey, has noticed that location plays a large role in choosing an active adult
community.
 
“They want to stay close to where they currently live or they’re moving here to be closer to their kids or to a brother – to be near family,” Shakarjian said. “It’s also interesting that a lot of our active adults are still working, so they’re still not moving too far from where they’re
working.”
 
Selecting that perfect location is the next big decision, and active adults base that choice on a number of factors. According to the American Housing Survey data provided by the National Association of Home Builders, most buyers (77 percent) chose a new home in a particular age-restricted community because they liked the home’s look and overall design. Twenty-eight percent chose a community, so they could be close to friends and relatives. More than half of all new buyers in 55+ communities move within the same county as they currently live.
 
“Active adult buyers know what they want, and they want everything in their home,” Shakarjian said. “Even though they’re downsizing, it’s not like they really want to give anything up.” 
  
Other well-liked features include a second bedroom on the first floor and a nice, large, open kitchen with an island, all of the amenities, and an eating area.
 
“They want a nice, big, family room or great room and they also want a study. A lot of them are still working and they still want an office,” Shakarjian said.
 
Community amenities are also an important consideration for many active adult homebuyers. Communities that include outside maintenance and snow removal, as well as a clubhouse with exercise equipment, are popular. At the Clayton condo community Massi lives in, there is no yard work. In addition, the school’s old gymnasium is in the process of being remodeled into a recreation center with a sauna, a pool
table, and exercise equipment. 
 
With so many variables to consider in choosing an active adult community, be diligent and do your research. Review each potential community carefully. Massi advises others like herself to choose wisely. “Think about things like taxes and amenities. We got to pick everything that was inside. Know what your options are.
 
“I wish we had done some things differently. We picked out granite in the kitchen and two baths; we don’t need granite in the bath. We could have cut some expenses, but we made money on the house that we sold, so we had money to spend, so we upgraded a lot.”