News & Events

At The Village of Bedford Walk, we work to provide a vibrant community where independent seniors can grow, learn and live life their way. We recently asked many of our residents and family members what their favorite parts about our community are, and we created a video series based on their answers!

Meet Katie, our first family member in our Voices of Bedford video series. Katie’s mother Beth has lived at The Village of Bedford Walk for a few years now. She moved to The Village of Bedford Walk in order to be closer to her children and to find a community of friends. Beth and her family have been overjoyed with the close-knit group of people who have turned into family during her time at The Village of Bedford Walk.

Watch Katie’s full testimonial below, and click here to check out other testimonials in our Voices of Bedford series!

Low impact workouts are a great way to keep your body in shape and improve bone strength, which are both important as you age. During these times of increased social distancing, it can be hard to find an open gym. Instead of going to the gym, try this 15-minute workout from SilverSneakers each day to increase the strength in your lower body. This workout relies on maintaining tension rather than weights to improve your strength.

Equipment Needed:

• Straight-backed chair
• Soft ball (one you can squeeze)

Perform each exercise for 30 seconds, and then rest as long as needed. Repeat as many times as you are able. Click here to watch a video demonstration.

Exercise 1 – Seated Hamstring Curl

Sit in a straight-backed chair and place the ball behind your right heel. Using your heel, press the ball to the chair leg and then release. Repeat these small pulses for 30 seconds before switching to the left heel.

Exercise 2 – Hip Adduction

Sit in the chair and put the ball between your thighs. Do not put it in between your knees as this may put pressure on the joint. Squeeze your thighs closer around the ball and then release. Repeat for 30 seconds and then rest.

Exercise 3 – Gluteal Press

While seated, put the ball on the ground in front of you. Place your right heel on top of the ball and press down through the heel. Release back up and repeat for 30 seconds before switching to the left heel.

Gyms and health clubs can be very intimidating for many people, including older adults. These days, it might seem like every gym goer looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jane Fonda, but it is important to stay active just the same.

Consistent physical activity helps keep your body healthy as you age and can support your heart, brain, bone, muscle and joint health. Safe exercise will help with chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes and osteoporosis. Beyond that, healthy people are more likely to socialize which is an important factor to healthy aging.

Not everywhere caters to older adults, but if you do a little research, you can find health and fitness programs designed for adults 65+, such as SilverSneakers. This program is included at no extra cost for many Medicare Plans, so you may already qualify. You can check your eligibility here.

SilverSneakers provides:

• Access to on-demand video workouts that can be done anytime from your own home
• Workout plans designed to be completed at your own pace at the local gym
• In-person classes taught by a local fitness instructor

One of the best benefits of SilverSneakers is a basic membership at any participating local gym in their network. You are not limited to just one, but rather can go to any location.

The exercise classes offered vary from gym to gym, but all are taught by instructors specifically trained in senior fitness. Typical classes you can find at your local gym include:

• Cardio and strength classes (many will offer a chair for support)
• Water aerobics classes
• Chair and standing yoga

You can access a variety of instructional videos online, including:

• Cardio
• Strength training
• Fall prevention
• SilverSneaker EnerShi (tai chi)

Interested in trying them out? This article will take you through a quick strength and cardio circuit that you can do right at home!

At The Village of Bedford Walk, we work to provide a vibrant community where independent seniors can grow, learn and live life their way. We recently asked many of our residents what their favorite parts about living in our community are, and we created a video series based on their answers!

Meet Les, our second resident in our Voices of Bedford video series. Les has lived at The Village of Bedford Walk for over three years now, and he has thoroughly enjoyed his time here. Not only does he believe the community is special because of the residents’ youthful energy, but he also values having a team of staff members who truly care about their residents.

Watch Les’ full testimonial below, and click here to check out the first testimonial in the series!

At The Village of Bedford Walk, we work to provide a vibrant community where independent seniors can grow, learn and live life their way. We recently asked many of our residents what their favorite parts about living in our community are, and we created a video series based on their answers!

Meet Pat, our first resident in our Voices of Bedford video series. Pat is a current resident who watched The Village of Bedford Walk being built from the ground up. Her favorite parts about living at The Village of Bedford Walk include all of the community’s activities, the friendly staff, apartment options and the hot tub!

Watch Pat’s full testimonial below:

When the seasons change, the temperature can take a turn for the worse. New obstacles arise that challenge every day life. These precautions from Health in Aging will help you stay safe this winter.

Dress Accordingly

Layering up is a great way to stay warm. Dressing in layers will protect you from severe wind chill and temperatures that can cause hypothermia. By combining two to three layers of thinner clothing, we are able to protect our bodies from illness.

Protect Yourself Against Falls

Slippery conditions are a given during winter. Low temperatures create snow, black ice and icicles. Being attentive is crucial during winter months. Checking your walkways and steps for ice or any water can prevent a dangerous fall.

Over Exhaustion   

Snow shoveling can be one of the most daunting tasks of winter. The colder it is, the harder your heart is working to keep your body warm. Shoveling snow can put a dangerous strain on your body if you are not careful. Asking your doctor at your checkup is a smart idea to see if shoveling is safe for you.

Preparing yourself for the winter season is very important, but these simple steps can help protect you from the hazards the season brings.

With the end of the summer, fall brings about many refreshing changes. From enjoying the cool weather and changing leaves to eating fall foods, there are many fun ways to celebrate the new season. See below for a list of six festive fall activities for seniors from Daily Caring!

Enjoy Fall-themed Coloring Pages: Coloring is a stress-relieving activity that everyone can enjoy. There are endless options of free, fall-themed coloring pages available online, including scenic landscapes or Halloween designs.

Make Seasonal Decorations: Making and putting up decorations is a fun way to mark the change of the seasons. You could even hang up your coloring pages or create a fall leaf garland.

Put Together a Fall-themed Jigsaw Puzzle: Either challenge yourself to a puzzle or gather with a group of friends to put together a festive puzzle! There are many options of fall puzzles at stores and online, and Birds of a Feather even has puzzles designed specifically for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Prepare Festive Homemade Treats: Baking, mixing and assembly are fun activities that many older adults will enjoy. Some delicious fall treats include no bake pumpkin cheesecake, glazed pumpkin sugar cookies and baked apple roses.

Prepare for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters: If you are planning on handing out candy to children in the neighborhood or family members, take your goody bags up a notch this year by adding coloring sheets or by creating pumpkin pouch bags.

Enjoy the Outdoors: Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy nature. Bundle up and breathe the fresh air, admire the beautiful colors on display and hear the crunch of fallen leaves as you walk.