Clearwater at Riverpark invites local community to honor Active Aging Week with Wellness Festival

Clearwater at Riverpark is hosting a community event on Saturday, September 29th from 11 to 3 pm to advocate for Active Aging Week. Festivities will embody Clearwater at Riverpark’s Empowered Living philosophy that encourages residents to pursue their passions through a wellness lifestyle.

Active Aging Week influences millions of people every year during the last week of September to spread awareness for the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA). Highlighting the benefits of active living in adults over 50 years old; this weeklong campaign puts a spotlight on all areas of life —physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, vocational and environmental. Individuals worldwide participate in various ways to experience wellness activities for older adults while creating a supportive environment.

“The Wellness Festival is intended to inspire our residents and the greater community.” said Britt Martin, lifestyle director of Clearwater at Riverpark. “I’m excited about Active Aging Week. There are many ways to live a healthy, vibrant lifestyle and offering a community wellness festival where the older active adults can explore on their own, puts the power in their hands to choose what is best for them.”
The event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend. Guests will appreciate the beneficial and healthful choices at Clearwater at Riverpark’s Wellness Festival, such as:

• A mindful market of local, homemade, and wellness focused product
• Community vendors
• Dogs to adopt from C.A.R.L. organization
• Healthy food trucks
• Wellness speakers
• Giveaways

In addition, throughout the week residents of Clearwater at Riverpark can engage in on-site activities aligned with Active Aging Week by dedicating each day to a dimension of wellness from their Empowered Living program. The exclusive schedule offers a beach clean-up, meditation journey nutritional class, tai chi session and more.

Space is limited. To reserve your space or learn more, please call 805.366.3446 or email [email protected] Clearwater at Riverpark is located at 750 Clyde River Place in Oxnard.

Clearwater Living® is committed to providing the most superior customer service and living experiences that celebrates individual relevance, from our residents and their families to our family of associates.  Clearwater is growing through strategic acquisitions, development and operational management of senior living communities throughout the western United States. Every Clearwater Living community includes cutting-edge technologies and care practices that improve the daily lives of residents. To learn more about Clearwater Living, visit ClearwaterLiving.com.

Also Baby’s Badass Burgers Food truck will be there on September 14th and October 12th from 11:30am-2:30pm.

Physical activity is a great way for older adults to gain substantial health benefits and maintain independence. To make physical activity a routine habit, choose activities and exercises that are fun, motivate you, and keep you interested.

Keep It Going

If you can stick with an exercise routine or physical activity for at least 6 months, it’s a good sign that you’re on your way to making physical activity a regular habit. Choose activities:

• You enjoy and believe you’ll benefit from
• You can fit into your schedule
• You can do safely and correctly
• That are affordable
• That includes friends or family
• Keep It Positive
• Set realistic goals, regularly check your progress, and celebrate your accomplishments. These will help keep you on track.
• Keep Your Eye on the Prize
• Focus on the benefits of regular exercise and physical activity:
• Greater ease doing daily tasks
• More energy to do the things you enjoy most
• Improved health
• Better outlook on life
• Find Activities You Enjoy

Some people like to walk on a treadmill at the gym. Others find that kind of activity boring. The key to sticking with exercise is to make it interesting and enjoyable.

Be creative. Do things you enjoy but pick up the pace. Do all four types of exercise—endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. The variety helps keep things interesting!

Try some new activities to keep your interest alive. Let these suggestions inspire you to choose physical activities that match your interests!

• Love music?
• Take dancing lessons.
• Sign up for an aerobics or dance class.
• Walk briskly or jog and listen to your favorite tunes.
• Enjoy the outdoors?
• Play catch with your grandchildren or fetch with your dog.
• Go hiking or rock climbing.
• Grab a paddle and go canoeing.
• Like being with others?
• Join a soccer or basketball league.
• Make friends in an exercise class.
• Organize a walking group with friends or coworkers.
• Want to be on your own?
• Swim laps.
• Spend an hour at the driving range.
• Bike around your neighborhood.
• Use an exercise video at home.
• Feel the need to multitask?
• Lift weights while you watch TV.
• Do balance exercises while waiting in line.
• Walk on a treadmill while you listen to an audio book.

Keep Track of Your Progress

The best way to stay motivated is to measure and celebrate your successes. You can find easy-to-use progress forms on the Go4Life website. Use these forms to:

• Set and revisit your goals
• Make an exercise and physical activity plan that works for you
• Track your daily physical activity
• Find new ways to increase your physical activity
• Update your exercise plan as you progress

by Rick Beavin, California Market President, Humana

Health benefits can be confusing to navigate, particularly as you become eligible for additional support services. While most Americans 65 and older—or those who qualify due to disability—are eligible for Medicare, some may also be eligible for MediCal, California’s Medicaid program, based primarily on financial need. Individuals who fit into both categories are known as dual eligible, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

How do I know if I’m dual eligible?

While dual eligibility does not apply to every Medicare beneficiary, 10.8 million people nationwide are fully or partially dual eligible. It’s important to note that eligibility for Medicare and Medi-Cal are determined separately.

When it comes to Medicare, according to CMS, of the more than 5.6 million Medicare beneficiaries in California, 87 percent are eligible due to age (65 and older), while the remaining 13 percent are eligible due to disability.

When it comes to Medicaid, the income qualifications for Medi-Cal assistance vary, so visit Medicaid.gov or contact your local Medi-Cal office at 1-800-541-5555 to see if you might be eligible.

Why would a Medicare Advantage plan be a good option if I am dual eligible?

If you are dual eligible, signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan can make receiving care more accessible than having traditional Medicare, alone. And, if you are dual eligible, you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan once per calendar quarter between January and September, not just during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15-Dec. 7). Many areas offer Medicare Advantage plans with a $0 premium.

Here’s how having a Medicare Advantage plans over traditional Medicare can help dual eligible individuals make the most of their benefits:

Access to dedicated doctor/provider network.

Having a Medicare Advantage Plan means the Medicare Advantage plan becomes your primary health plan for receiving care. These plans typically provide you with a network of doctors and health care providers. Doctors and health care providers know that working with Medicare Advantage plans means their patients will have care coordination and other benefits available through the plan.

It’s important to note that Medicare and Medi-Cal are two entirely different programs that operate under different guidelines; they were not designed to work together. Because of this, your doctor and health care providers may need to coordinate payment for services with both your Medicare Advantage plan and Medi-Cal.

The availability of additional benefits.

Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits as part of the plan such as dental, vision, and an over-the-counter drug allowance. Many times you will also have access to a fitness benefit that offers free gym membership and access to fitness classes. At the same time, these plans may have simplistic benefit designs that may minimize costs. For example, some Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 copay for doctor visits and $0 or low copays for specialist visits.

Care coordination.

A Medicare Advantage plan can offer coordination of your care. This may be especially important if you have one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes or congestive heart failure. As an example, plans may offer skilled care managers who can help you get the care or services you need at the right time and place. This can include services such as helping you understand and follow your physician’s recommended treatment plan, managing transitions between hospital visits and home, connecting you to resources for food, and helping you get access to necessary prescription drugs and medical equipment.

Receiving the care you deserve as a dual eligible individual may be challenging. Signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan is one way to potentially help you get the care coordination and additional benefits you need, all in one plan.