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17 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A ugust 4,2022 insidehalton.com 1 Sixteen Mile Drive, Oakville On Sixth Line, north of Dundas (289) 725-6000 | vivalife.ca Independent Living | Assisted Living | Respite Suites Memory Care for Seniors Completing the puzzle Tuesday, August 9 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm In-Person* or Online Amanda Lynde, Healthcare Consultant and former V!VA Retirement Community Director, will answer your questions about V!VA Oakville Retirement Community's patient, loving, compassionate and supportive memory care. Amanda will be joined by two guests whose own loved ones faced memory issues and cognitive impairment while living at a V!VA Retirement Community, and the wonderful care they received. Registration is required. Please RSVP at (289) 725-6000, oakville@vivalife.ca or scan the QR code. Scan to register: vivaoakville.ca Amanda Lynde Healthcare Consultant Memory loss in our loved ones can leave us feeling helpless to provide the support they need to thrive. Your wellness after 50 Once individuals cross the threshold and enter their 50s, they can look to some addi- tional strategies to maintain their physical and mental well-being for decades to come. • Get a pet. Many people 50 and older qualify as "empty nesters," a term applied to adults whose children have grown up and moved out of their homes. Some empty nesters experience a phenomenon known as "empty nest syndrome," which the Mayo Clinic notes can be marked by feelings of sadness or loss. Pets can help people over 50 with no children at home overcome feelings linked to empty nest syndrome. In 2018, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 86 per cent of pet owners felt their pets make them feel loved while 73 per cent said their pets provided a sense of purpose. Pets also can ensure individuals over 50 stay physically active and provide opportunities to connect with other people. • Prioritize learning. Whether it's taking music lessons, going back to school or mas- tering a new hobby, learning has a profound effect on aging brains. For example, a 2013 study published in the journal Psychological Science found that memory function is improved by engagement in demand- ing everyday tasks. That study reported that people who learned new skills experienced greater memory improvement than people who only socialized or participated in activi- ties that were not as cognitively engaging. • Improve balance. Various factors contrib- ute to a decline in balance as adults age. For example, a decline in muscle mass that begins when people are in their 30s is a normal part of aging. Over time, that natural decline affects strength and agility. Balance exercises can be a valuable component of a fitness regimen that help individuals reduce their risk for falling as they advance through their 50s and into their 60s and 70s. That's a significant benefit, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one out of every three adults age 65 and older experiences a fall each year, and as many as 30 per cent of those falls lead to serious injury. (MCC) Lifestyle