7 minute read
SATISFACTION
the goodlife
PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT GUIDE
SATISFACTION
SEX AS A SENIOR CAN BE SPECTACULAR
BY NORA HESTON TARTE
Challenge those who say you reach sexual prime in your 20s. For many seniors, satisfaction is increased as they age. The Mayo Clinic cites factors such as less distractions, more free time, increased privacy, and reduced fear of pregnancy for contributing to more enjoyable sex for those in their golden years. So why does it seem like sex as a senior is downplayed in the media?
We’re not sure, but we’re here to tell you your sexual prowess doesn’t have to decline as your age increases, and with a few tips you can be more satisfied now than ever.
It starts with being active. After all, someone who is fit, agile, and possesses endurance, will have the right tools for a solid sex life. “No matter your age or gender, staying active can help you feel better about your body, help you appreciate your older self, give you more confidence and happiness, and your overall outlook can be very attractive to others,” says Suseela Kumar, MD, Internal medicine/geriatrics at Kaiser Permanente Central Valley.
Start with exercise. If you aren’t currently working out often, embark on a new routine that includes a mix of aerobics and strength training for a well-rounded outcome. In addition to improving overall health, these activities can also help to increase stamina and endurance, which is a benefit in the bedroom regardless of your age. Even trading in those TV hours for simple activities such as standing, stretching, moving around the house, cooking, gardening, or taking the dog out for a walk, can have a big impact on mobility. To get more benefit, sign up for a yoga or Tai Chi class that can improve flexibility, overall stamina, balance mobility, and reduce fall risk. Stretching is especially important as it can reduce the possibility of injury but also make movements between the sheets easier. As you exercise more and more, your sex drive may naturally increase as well as your energy levels.
While exercise can certainly increase your physical abilities, which are important for an enjoyable sex life, just as much of it is mental. “People who are active and lead a healthy lifestyle live longer and have a satisfied happy life,” Dr. Kumar says. Exercise releases endorphins that boost your mood but it can also create a sense of self confidence you may be lacking. Whether the confidence comes from tackling a new challenge, feeling more spry, or looking different in the mirror, that self-esteem will show on the outside and make you more attractive to a spouse or potential partner.
Some sexual barriers exist for older couples. Poor cardiovascular health is one factor that can lead to problems in the bedroom as blood flow is reduced. Treating underlying conditions that affect the heart, lungs, or even other parts of the body, can help, too.
Before starting a new exercise routine, check in with your physician. And don’t take on too much too fast. The goal should be to start slow and work your way up to longer workout sessions more frequently. Dr. Kumar says, “Once regular exercise becomes a habit, seniors can be encouraged to incorporate more vigorous forms into their program.” Other tips to help seniors ease into exercise include getting a personal trainer, joining a gym, going to yoga classes, or getting acupuncture.
Creekside Center
5 star facility with medicare.gov
Creekside Center is a skilled nursing facility located in Stockton, CA. Our center has an attractive warm atmosphere in a neighborhood setting. Patients and family can stroll the beautiful courtyards and sit in the lounge by the fire. At Creekside Center, we offer select menus and snacks in dining rooms with a garden setting. The facility offers in-house therapy 7 days a week in our Rehab Recovery Suites. All care is patient-centered and promotes independence The goal is to return our patients to good health and spirit.
Joseph Colcol
(Administrator) Rebecca Alfonso
(Director of Business Development) Kenneth Lim
(Director of Nursing)
Thank you for Voting us one of the best in Skilled Nursing!
Creekside Center | 9107 N Davis Road | Stockton CA 95209 Phone: 209-478-6488 Offering 24 Hour Admissions 7 Days a Week creeksidecenter.com
Creekside Center
Whether you’re looking for a long-term option or a short-term care facility, Creekside Center in Stockton is there to care for you and your loved ones. The Skilled Nursing Facility offers post acute services, memory support, ShortStay care, LongTerm care, respite care, palliative care, and rehabilitation therapy, and patients will feel at-home during their time at Creekside, a charming facility in a neighborhood setting that boasts beautiful courtyards, a fireplace, a beauty salon and barber services, on-site housekeeping and laundry, mail and newspaper service, pharmaceutical delivery service, cable, and wireless internet. Regardless of how long you stay, patients can take solace knowing they will be comfortable in their spacious private and semi-private rooms, each with private bathrooms, with time spent lounging in the reception area, recovering in the rehab gym, or dining from a menu of meals and snacks. The goal in every case is returning each resident to good health and spirit, with seven-day-perweek, in-house therapy and rehab-recovery suites, amenities catered to caring for the whole patient, and a talented and professional interdisciplinary team there to meet all patient needs.
CREEKSIDE CENTER
9107 Davis Rd., Stockton (209) 478-6488 CreeksideCenter.com
Creekside Center
Hospice of San Joaquin
Hospice of San Joaquin is one of the most trusted Hospice Providers in San Joaquin County, providing quality hospice care that allows their clients to live life to the fullest. With the first and only Hospice House for hospice patients in the county, the Hospice House offers 24-hour nursing care, meals, laundry, activities, and all the amenities necessary to make their patients feel comfortable and at home. Their wide variety of programs at Hospice of San Joaquin include Camp Caterpillar for children who are experiencing grief and support groups for adults. Hospice of San Joaquin’s Pacific Palliative Care Program is for those who aren’t quite ready for Hospice Care. Hospice of San Joaquin’s mission is to honor life by ensuring patients and their caregivers are given the care and freedom they need to enjoy and live their lives fully.
HOSPICE OF SAN JOAQUIN
3888 Pacific Ave., Stockton (209) 957-3888 HospiceSJ.org
Community Hospice
As the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider in the Central Valley, Community Hospice has embraced individuals and families facing life-changing journeys, enhancing quality of life for all for more than 40 years. Care extends to more than 2,000 families each year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, retirement communities, and at the 16-bed inpatient Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice believes no one should face their journey alone, providing community members an array of services and programs including community-based palliative care, hospice, grief support services, community crisis response, school-based youth grief support, Camp Erin of the Central Valley, and more. Services and programs are provided in Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Calaveras, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and parts of Contra Costa, Sacramento, Alameda, and Santa Clara counties.
COMMUNITY HOSPICE
2431 W. March Lane, #100, Stockton (209) 477-6300
4368 Spyres Way, Modesto (209) 578-6300 HospiceHeart.org
Discover O’Connor Woods
O’Connor Woods, a gated Life Plan Community in the heart of San Joaquin Valley, offers a lifestyle of freedom and service on 34 park-like acres. Situated in a quiet residential neighborhood and sheltered by century-old oaks, this contemporary campus was designed to support the journey of life by offering a full continuum of care that includes independent living with services, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. Residents enjoy fresh, creative cuisine in newly-updated restaurant and bistro-style dining venues and a fun, active lifestyle that caters to a variety of interests and supports their independence. In addition to an indoor swimming pool and spa, woodworking shop, stateof-the-art fitness center, putting green, bocce court, resident gardening beds, and more, the community is also pet-friendly and features an onsite dog park.
O’CONNOR WOODS
A Life Plan Community Independent Living with Services – Assisted Living – Memory Care – Rehabilitation – Skilled Nursing 3400 Wagner Heights Rd., Stockton License #390314809 I COA #283, Marchex # I OConnorWoods.org
