The new year is here! With the holiday season behind us, this is your chance to reflect on past memories and brainstorm ways of making new memories. Take time this year to create lasting experiences with the people around you at Optima Living. Here are three things to do in 2023 to make new memories.
Share your wisdom
It's a myth that all aspects of memory get worse as we get older. According to the Alberta Health Services Chair in Healthy Ageing, Dr. Adrian Wagg, memories relating to vocabulary, mathematics, and autobiographical knowledge can be the same or better in later life. With this in mind, the new year is the perfect time to share your life story and the wisdom that comes with it. Set aside moments to share who you are, where you are from, and what you have learned with your friends and family. In doing so, you are exercising your brain to remember past experiences while simultaneously making new memories with your loved ones. Encourage those around you to share their wisdom too!
Build community
The new year is an opportune time to make new memories by building community. Being intentional about spending quality time with loved ones can go a long way. Going for a walk, painting a picture, or sitting by the fire with a cup of hot tea are all great ways to reconnect with those around you. Whether there is an opportunity for you to be with loved ones in the new year or not, our team is always available for you. At Optima Living communities, it is an honour to work with residents and put them first. Regardless of who you spend 2023 with, let us welcome you home!
Try something new
Get to know what your Optima Living community has to offer! From chair yoga at Wild Rose, to playing pool at Wisteria Place, to swimming at Aster Gardens, or reading in the library at Country Cottage, each community has something new to offer. Taking advantage of these opportunities and learning something new is a great way to step out of your comfort zone and make new memories. Not only that, learning new activities can help improve brain health, like joining a book club, trying a second language, or doing word searches. Take a moment this new year to try something new at your Optima Living community.
Learn more!
Find out more with Optima Living TV. In Navigating Memory and Ageing, Dr. Adrian Wagg explores the topic of memory and healthy ageing in later life.