Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

• 8 • The Pinecone | January 2024 Congratulations to our CHAMPION of the Month RACHEL WARD Assistant Resident Programs Director Rachel is hard working and dedicated. She makes sure things are communicated properly between departments to make sure things run smoothly. She is the perfect team player and a budding leader. Rachel has stepped up to the plate in both Independent Living and Assisted Living while we search for a permanent Activities Director. She is willing to help with anything and is also extremely kind. - Skye Sanders, Dining Room Manager Describe Your Family: Loud and sarcastic, but very loving. Describe yourself in five words: Determined, resilient, witty, adaptable and big-hearted. What do you do for fun: Read, listen to music & play games. Pets: 3 cats & a dog named Henry. Do you have any hobbies: Writing & learning to cook new things. What is your favorite thing about your job: Having residents who love me as much as I love them. Your favorite food: Loaded Baked Potato Soup. Your favorite song: Agnes Water by Jamie Rose. What is something you are proud of: The friends I've made and challenges I've overcome. What would you like people to know about you: I'm a terrible singer, but that doesn't stop me. While your life might look different now than it did when you were younger, it’s never too late to set goals and improve yourself. These new year’s resolutions for seniors will prove that you don’t ever have to settle for things the way they are. You still have the power to improve your life, your future, and yourself, no matter what stage of life you’re in. 1. Eat more nutritious foods. Your health matters now more than ever. Adding more nutrient-dense foods to your diet can help you feel better and have better energy. 2. Move joyfully. Find a method of movement or exercise you truly enjoy, and incorporate it into your daily habits. Physical activity is especially important for older people as it supports heart health, strengthens joints, and reduces the risk of injury from falls. 3. Learn something new. What have you always wanted to do, but never had the time for? A language, sport, or hobby? Learn it now! Set a goal to keep learning this year. 4. Make new friends, or spend more time with old ones. Feeling lonely and isolated actually has serious health concerns. Loneliness increases the risk of heart attack and stroke as much as smoking! So set a goal either to make new friends, or keep in regular contact with old ones. 5. Organize your life. If you need to create a will, organize your finances, clean out your closet, or coordinate your medical records, this is the year to do it! What can you organize this year that will make your life easier in the future? 6. Sleep better. Stop settling for low-quality sleep! Find solutions to sleep problems you might have, create a better nighttime routine, or talk to your doctor about insomnia or other concerns you might have about your sleep. 7. Stay creative. Find creative outlets for your mind this year. You can try a new form of art, like watercolor painting or sculpting, or take up an old hobby you haven’t visited in a while. Creativity is important for brain function, so prioritize being creative. 8. Preserve your life story. Your grandchildren and great- grandchildren want to know about your life, all of it, including the parts before they were born. Memorialize your life story in some way for your descendants to read or watch. You could scrapbook, compile photo albums, write a memoir, or record videos of yourself talking about your life. 9. Learn new technology. It can seem pointless or impossible to keep up with technology these days, but failing to do so means you’re missing out on ways to connect with the people who matter most to you. Try to learn and keep up with today’s tech, so you can continue to experience everything good the world has to offer. 10. Bemore authentic. We sometimes spend most of our lives not having the hard conversations and not saying how we really feel about things. Now is the time to be truly honest with all those around you. Be your most authentic self. What do you have to lose? Kirby Pines offers many options to help acheive your New Year's goals. Whether it's a new exercise class, dancing, playing cards, wood-working, cornhole, tech time, art class, volunteering, etc. or joining a club; book baggers, garden gro'ers, writer's group and more, there are ways to meet new people, learn new things and enrich your life in 2024 - HAPPY NEW YEAR! 10 Ideas for NewYear’s Resolutions for Seniors.