September is Healthy Aging Month. There are many healthy habits that you can incorporate into your daily routine, which can promote a healthier lifestyle as you age. OSCR encourages healthy aging by offering a variety of physical and cognitive activities through our Healthy Living Programs, as well as providing well-balanced and nutritious meals prepared by our Food Services department. Healthy Aging Month highlights the importance of making healthy choices each and every day to ensure you are thriving in your senior years! Keep Fit Regular movement is an important part of staying healthy as we age. Daily walks can bolster your heart and lung health, as well as maintain muscle mass and strength. Frequent physical activity keeps you limber, strong, and enhances your overall mobility. Participate in the group exercise classes that are offered regularly at OSCR to keep fit. Get Enough Sleep Ensure you are getting enough sleep at night; experts usually recommend 7 to 9 hours. Take a short nap if you feel tired during the day. When you are sleeping well, you are more likely to have a positive mood and more energy to partake in your favourite hobbies and social activities with friends. Eat a Balanced Diet As we age, our dietary needs change. Eating a balanced diet can help maintain a healthy weight, as well as prevent high cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The Food Services department follows Canada’s Food Guide to ensure all meals served at OSCR provide the proper nutrients for our clients. Exercise your Brain Keeping your brain stimulated can benefit your mind and help to keep your memory sharp. Stay up to date with current events, tackle brain teaser puzzles, or read a book. Participate in the trivia sessions or group discussions by the HLP department to stimulate your brain and keep your mind active while engaging with your peers.

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Staying socially connected is vital for our well-being. This is especially true for seniors, as they may experience reduced social interactions due to factors such as retirement from the workforce or new health issues. There are many ways seniors can stay engaged- maintaining social connections offers many positive benefits and helps foster a sunny outlook as you age. Enhanced Health Staying engaged in your senior years has been shown to reduce health issues as you age. Being physically active and participating in fitness classes or group walks can lower your risk of certain health conditions and improve your overall well-being. Social interaction can also have a positive effect on your mental health, reducing feelings of loneliness or isolation. Whether you connect with someone in person, over the phone, or online, having social connections in your senior years is very important. Living at OSCR provides seniors with many opportunities to create and foster social connections with fellow residents, whether they are neighbours, tablemates, or connect through HLP activities. Greater Sense of Purpose When people are involved in social activities, they feel an increased sense of purpose. Having a connection to an organization or your community can reduce loneliness amongst seniors and encourages them to connect with others who share similar interests. Group activities create a sense of belonging, and having a busy social calendar keeps you engaged on a regular basis. Consider taking part in the activities offered by the Healthy Living Programs department. Join in on an art class or game or simply gather with others to enjoy the live musical entertainment. Living amongst peers at OSCR creates strong social connections and keeps seniors engaged. Our community is inclusive and welcoming to all!

The 1970s was a decade marked by significant social, economic, and political changes. Read on to take a walk down memory lane! A Decade of Significant Events This decade followed the carefree “Swinging Sixties” and saw the end of the war in Vietnam. The economy suffered a recession in the early part of the decade, which led to high inflation, stagnant wages, and unemployment. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau implemented wage and price controls to help boost the Canadian economy. Progressive Social Changes The 1970s ushered in an era where women’s rights, environmental movements, and gay rights gained momentum. Social progressiveness continued to grow during this decade; historians often refer to it as a pivot of change following the postwar boom of the 1950s and 60s. In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister in the UK. The 1970s saw a rise in the push for equal rights in many countries around the world. Pop Culture Icons This decade saw the rise of new musical genres. Punk and disco dominated the music scene, with artists such as the Ramones, Donna Summer, the Clash, and the Bee Gees topping the charts. The world mourned the death of Elvis Presley and the breakup of the Beatles. People flocked to theatres to see blockbuster movies like Star Wars, The Godfather, and Saturday Night Fever on the big screen. Fashion & Trends Clothing trends of the 1970s were a drastic change from the styles worn in previous decades. Men and women were wearing bell bottom pants and platform shoes. Tie-dye clothing was popular amongst the hippie crowd. High-waisted jeans were all the rage, and women everywhere were asking their hairstylist for the “Farrah Fawcett” hairdo with feathered face-framing layers. We hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane as we looked back on the 1970s! 

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Maintaining mobility is an important part of healthy aging. There are many ways living at OSCR can help improve mobility in your senior years. Read on to learn how senior living can help keep you moving. Convenient Access to Fitness Classes There are a variety of drop-in exercise classes regularly offered on-site at OSCR. Certified instructors lead a variety of classes which aim to improve senior’s strength and mobility, while teaching various Falls Prevention techniques. Yoga and stretching classes are also offered on-site, where clients can work on their flexibility and balance. Participation in these activities can help reduce the risk of falls, as well as make you feel more confident in your physical abilities. Proper Nutrition & Hydration The Food Services department at OSCR prepares nutritious meals each day. Eating well and staying hydrated provides your body with the energy and strength to lead an active lifestyle. Meals served at OSCR are well-balanced with your health in mind; protein and calcium are essential for repairing muscles and maintaining bone strength, which supports mobility. A variety of beverages are offered at each meal, which help to keep you hydrated; dehydration can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and muscle cramps, which can negatively affect your mobility. OSCR residents are required to make their way down to the dining room for meals, which promotes daily movement. Escorted Group Walks in the Community OSCR’s Healthy Living Programs department regularly schedules group walks to Lake Ontario and the local Bronte neighbourhood led by HLP staff members. These walks are a great way to increase your mobility while socializing with your peers. You can feel safe and supported by the HLP team while you are getting exercise out in the community. Peer Encouragement When you live in a senior’s community amongst your peers, there are many opportunities to build friendships with your fellow residents. Many people living at OSCR go out for daily walks with their friends or take the bus to nearby shopping malls to stroll the shops. Having fellow residents who enjoy being active is a great way to stay motivated and enhances your overall mobility and quality of life. Supportive Living at OSCR can help improve your mobility and encourage you to live your best life!

The OSCR community gathered on a beautiful day for the 2 nd annual Summer Carnival. The back property was transformed into a fun fair, complete with live entertainment, games, and carnival refreshments. Residents and their guests enjoyed the lively atmosphere, which offered something for everyone, both young and young at heart. The upbeat sounds of the band set the mood as residents mingled and danced along to the music. Children and adults alike enjoyed the petting zoo, getting up close with the adorable animals. Carnival style games delighted everyone as they tried their luck to win a prize. Faces were painted with cute motifs, and the caricature artist created amusing works of art. The 2 nd annual OSCR Summer Carnival was a great success thanks to the efforts by the Healthy Living Programs team. They did an outstanding job of putting on an amazing event for our clients and their guests. The sun was shining, and the weather was ideal for this joyous summer celebration. The Summer Carnival is a day everyone looks forward to- we can’t wait for next year!

Every year on July 1 st , Canadians across the country gather to commemorate Canada Day. This is a day to reflect on what it means to be Canadian, and to show our love for the great country that we proudly call home. It is a time to come together and celebrate the true north, strong and free. Canada marked confederation on July 1 st , 1867, with the signing of the Constitution Act, thus marking independence from Britain and creating the Dominion of Canada. Originally called Dominion Day, Canada gained full patriation from Britain with the creation of Canada Act in 1982, and the day was renamed Canada Day. For 158 years, Canadians have come together to celebrate the birth of our nation. Across the country, communities gather to honour Canada’s birthday by holding celebrations complete with musical performances, traditional cuisine, spectacular firework displays, and other patriotic activities. Many people come decked out in red & white to honour the colours of our flag. The celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, are the largest and most exuberant. From coast to coast, Canada Day is a special time when Canadians come together to celebrate our beautiful, diverse country and show our true patriot love for Canada. Happy Canada Day!

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