If you’re a caretaker for one or more of your parents, then you already know how busy it can be. If caretaking is in your future, you’re not alone! With my mom living with us 24/7, I have experienced a lot already which is why I’ve partnered with Amerigroup to share some of the ways my mom is staying healthy now that she’s retired.
Once your parent or grandparent retires, there’s a lot that we can do as caretakers to help them get the most out of their lives and to make sure they stay healthy. It doesn’t have to be hard to do either! You know we like to keep things simple around here.
STAYING HEALTHY AFTER RETIREMENT
My mom is an integral part of our family. She’s lived with us since before Weston was born. That means we’ve gone through many stages of life. When we combined households, she was working a full-time job just looking towards retirement. It seemed so far off.
Then it was suddenly at our feet and she was stepping out of her corporate job and into the world of being a retired grandmother.
It was a change for both of us.
After the honeymoon period of excitement and enjoying the freedom wore off, we began the process of learning what living in retirement actually meant for her and our family. Now we’re focusing on three things that will help her live her retirement to the fullest.
STAYING HEALTHY
When it comes to staying healthy after retirement, my mom and I learned about Medicare together. It was a time of big change and I’m thankful I was able to walk through it with her.
As a caregiver, sometimes we need to do more and sometimes there’s not as much to do. Sometimes it’s just helping navigate and holding your loved one’s hand.
Staying healthy is my number one priority for my mom. I want her around for a long time! So, learning about Medicare was an important part of retirement for us.
We learned that plans like Amerigroup’s Medicare Advantage Plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare including some benefits that my mom knew she wanted and needed in retirement.
Amerigroup is focused on whole-person health and offers Medicare Advantage plans that provide high-quality healthcare services that are affordable. Some of Amerigroup’s Medicare Advantage health plans offer access to wellness services, including:
- healthy food delivery
- personal home helpers to help with daily activities at home
- allowance for assistive devices
- alternative medicine/acupuncture
We love the whole-body approach covered by these services. It’s a great way to stay on top of health concerns and preventative health as our parents get older.
STAYING ACTIVE
I mentioned that one of the Amerigroup Medicare Advantage Plans we looked at offered a fitness program in the benefits. Staying active is one of my mom’s goals as she gets older.
She has always been a pretty active person. She spent years running and even ran a half-marathon each month one year. So, as she gets older, she’s learning more about her body and how age impacts it. But one thing I’m always encouraging her to do is stay active. Whether she’s out taking a walk or swimming in the pool with us, I know moving makes her feel good physically and mentally.
We even did a family yoga class together!
STAYING CONNECTED
For my mom, health is also about more than just staying on top of doctor’s visits and taking care of her body. It’s about the big picture, her body and her mind. So, finding ways to stay connected and involved with the people in her life has been important for her mind.
That’s another reason we liked Amerigroup. They work to improve lives by focusing on health and well-being.
When people have access to services like healthy delivered meals and assistive devices as they age, it can be easier for them to stay connected with their community, manage any chronic conditions they have, and avoid health-related issues that are preventable!
These are all the things I want for my mother as she ages. I want to see her healthy, happy, and whole so she can get the most out of her retirement!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Amerigroup.
Leave a Reply