PRIME LIVING

Wellness for the golden years

Growing older doesn’t mean you have to stop growing, period. Opportunities abound for Dallas-area senior citizens to be involved and active in the community, keeping up with longstanding interests and nurturing new ones along the way.

Those who live within neighborhood retirement centers (or know someone who does) will find there an emphasis on wellness, learning and connections –keeping the mind, body and soul engaged and alive, as it’s described at C.C. Young, a continuing care retirement community.

The C. C. Young campus, located on 20 acres of land near White Rock Lake, consists of eight buildings and offers services that include independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice and home health. Additionally, The Point, Center for Arts and Education provides creative and fitness outlets for both campus residents and seniors from the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“People don’t come to here to retire. They come here to live,” said Russell Crews, C.C. Young president and CEO. “Our 400-plus residents are continuously seeking activities, resources and offerings appropriate for them.”

We’ll clear it all up for you. Call for Your Appointment Today!

Our audiologists want to give you the opportunity to try amplification for 30 days. We’ll include:

• FREE Hearing Screening

• 100% RISK FREE MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

• $400 OFF A PAIR OF PREMIUM HEARING INSTRUMENTS www.totalhearingcare.com

Lakewood: 214-827-1900

4130 Abrams Rd. @ Mockingbird (SE Corner)

Richardson/Plano: 972-380-0222

7615 Campbell Rd. @ Coit (NW Corner)

In this vein, C.C. Young last month led a campaign to launch Senior Thursdays, a collaborative partnership of arts, education, fitness, and dining organizations. The goal is to connect seniors to engaging activities while promoting what D-FW has to offer. Organizations involved with the Senior Thursdays campaign show the community that they have offerings specifically designed for seniors.

Partners include Bass Performance Hall, Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, LOOK Cinemas, Nasher Sculpture Center and The Sixth Floor Museum.

Despite the name, Senior Thursdays features activities each day of the week through multiple websites as well as social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.

Additionally, C.C. Young will soon introduce an expanded sensory therapy program called “The Spirit is Ageless” (or “Ageless” for short). This experience will include music therapy, aromatherapy, and other sensory stimulation. It is based on a program designed by Joyce Simard, who has been working with dementia patients for more than 35 years and is a specialist in geriatric consulting. Simard will visit the campus in November to train staff members and help set up the program.

C.C. Young is also recognized locally for opening its doors to seniors – those 55 and better – to enjoy an array of community programs, many of which are offered at no cost. Yoga, singing, dancing, movies and more are available to seniors looking for opportunities for recreation and time with friends.

At The Forum at Park Lane, the activity program is known as Healthy Generations. An inaugural Park Lane Open putting contest at a 9-hole putting green behind the community proved so popular that it became a regular weekly activity. Since D-FW has so many beautiful courses, residents visit and have lunch at a different course each month.

“The foundation of our programs is based on continually providing opportunities for physical and mental interaction that helps older adults thrive,” said Darrell Baltimore, executive director of The Forum, which is owned and operated by Five Star Quality Care. In independent living, there is morning exercise six days a week, yoga twice a week and Tai Chi twice a week. The Forum also provides exercise opportunities in the health care side of the community that includes assisted living and long-term care.

“We feel there is some truth to the saying ‘use it or lose it’ so in addition to the focus of providing physi- cal exercise and low-impact sessions, we place the same focus on mental exercise opportunities,” Baltimore concluded. Throughout the month, The Forum schedules speakers covering topics such as current events, politics or the arts. The Dallas Library Bookmobile visits monthly and there are resident computers for residents to stay in touch with family members, as well as check their own social media accounts like Facebook.

Ongoing opportunities for residents to monitor their own health include hearing clinics, weekly blood pressure and weight checks and vision support groups. All useful tools, especially the hearing clinics, which may help an otherwise uncommented-upon struggle come to light.

Dr. Debbie Schirico describes hearing loss as an often undiagnosed, invisible handicap, one that can damage relationships and make it harder for seniors to stay mentally sharp. She encourages seniors, their doctors and caregivers to place the same emphasis on addressing hearing loss that they would if the issue were sight or mobility.

“The gift of hearing is too precious to lose, and we are fortunate to have so many advances and options that even patients with just a slight hearing loss can once again enjoy their lives,” said Dr. Schirico, the founder and owner of Total Hearing Care. “Every member of our staff is dedicated to helping every client achieve the highest possible improvement in hearing.”

A past president of the Dallas Association of Hearing Aid Dispensers and a former representative for hearing aid manufacturers, Dr. Schirico is a recognized expert in hearing instrumentation. She understands well that when it comes to something as essential as hearing, one size does not fit all.

The board-certified audiologists of Total Hearing Care treat each client as an individual with specific, unique needs. By listening and understanding the needs of each person, they can find solutions to maximize their hearing.

Dr. Schirico and her team recognize that using hearing instruments can be a challenge, and they are committed to being there to help each person and their families through the learning curve – ensuring that these challenges are met and solved. ◆

Websites www.ccyoung.org www.seniorthursdays.org www.theforumatparklane.com www.totalhearingcare.com

Please join us at The Forum at Park Lane as we celebrate the completion of our $1.5 million renovation with a special GRAND RE-OPENING event. Experience the fresh new look of our community and meet with members of our leadership team while you enjoy live entertainment, hor’doeuvres, tours, gift bags and more!

THE FORUM AT PARK LANE FEATURES:

• Elegant, full service retirement living with no buy-in fees

• Assisted Living, Independent Living, Skilled Nursing, Respite Stays, and Rehabilitation

• A staff of long-term caregivers

• Healthcare building with free WiFi

• A beautiful and very convenient Park Cities location

• And much more...

Launching into service

LaunchAbility, a local nonprofit that supports children and adults with developmental disabilities, announced its spring event, A Special Evening With Smokey Robinson hosted by Alliance Data. The event is at 8 p.m. March 31 at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Preston Hollow residents Doug and Holly Deason (left) are among the sponsors. Kathryn Parsons (center), the CEO of LaunchAbility, will attend the event, along with Piper and Mike Wyatt (right) of Preston Hollow.

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