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Celebrating Older Americans Month 2026: Champion Your Health

By Julia Bowers

May 11th, 2026 Aging in Place, News & Events No Comments

Champion Your Health! Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the celebration of Older Americans Month, a time to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of older adults, both today and throughout their lives. Each year highlights a new theme, and in 2026, it’s “Champion Your Health.” This theme encourages a proactive approach to well-being, focusing on prevention, staying engaged, and making informed choices that support independence over time. This message closely aligns with Friends Life Care’s mission to support older adults in living well, maintaining independence, and aging confidently in the home they love. This month, we take time to celebrate these contributions while encouraging each person to take an active role in their health and well-being, in ways that feel meaningful and manageable for them.

What Does “Champion Your Health” Mean?

Championing your health means taking an active role in your overall well-being, not just when something feels wrong, but as part of your everyday life. It focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as important parts of healthy aging, encouraging you to stay engaged, informed, and involved in your healthcare over time. It can look like staying on top of routine appointments, asking questions, and working with trusted professionals to make decisions that feel right for you. It may also include making small lifestyle choices that support your health, staying socially connected, and paying attention to both your physical and emotional well-being. Just as importantly, it means building a support system of loved ones and professionals, planning ahead for your health and wellness, and thinking about what you may need in the future. At Friends Life Care, championing your health includes care coordination, financial protection, concierge services, and a wellness program designed to support aging well through VigR®: Vitality, Independence, Growth, and Resilience.

Celebrating Friends Life Care Members This Older Americans Month

May is a time to honor the achievements and contributions older adults make every day, and Older Americans Month gives us a meaningful opportunity to recognize those efforts in action.

We see this reflected in the lives of Friends Life Care members. Jean Hurd, a Friends Life Care member, recently joined us on the Honestly Aging podcast to share her volunteer work. As a volunteer with Historic Fair Hill in North Philadelphia, she supports efforts to address a local literacy crisis through initiatives like reopening school libraries and participating in Reading Buddies.

Her story is one example of how older adults continue to make a lasting impact in their communities, something Older Americans Month is all about.

Watch the full conversation with Jean and Kerry Roeder, Executive Director of Historic Fair Hill, to learn more about the meaningful work they are doing.

Planning Ahead Supports Your Health

Older Americans Month is a great reminder that taking care of your health also includes planning for the future, whether for yourself or for a loved one. Thinking ahead can help reduce stress, support independence, and provide a greater sense of confidence about what lies ahead. Having a plan in place can make it easier to navigate changes over time and ensure your preferences are understood and respected.

If you’re not sure where to start, it can be helpful to explore your options and learn what types of support are available. Even taking a small first step can make a meaningful difference. One way to begin is by joining an upcoming webinar or seminar, where you can gain a clearer understanding of how to plan for your future, ask questions, and learn practical ways to stay independent at home.

View our upcoming webinars and seminars here

Retirement Planning: What to Consider Before You Take the Next Step

By Julia Bowers

April 27th, 2026 Aging in Place, Long Term Care No Comments

You’re in your 60s, and you’re getting to that point where you’re starting to think about when you’ll retire. You can begin collecting Social Security benefits as early as age 62 at a reduced amount, or wait until age 67 for your full benefits to kick in. You may also be thinking about where you want to live. Do you want to stay in your home for the rest of your life, or relocate to your dream destination, like the beach towns along the Delaware coast? Thinking ahead and retirement planning are key to having low stress, happy, and healthy retirement.

How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?

The largest concern when it comes to retiring is often, how much money do I really need to retire? When figuring this out, it’s important not to overlook any current expenses or potential future costs. Many people consult a retirement planning financial advisor to help guide them through the best strategies for their situation. While you can expect to spend on taxes, transportation, food, and basic daily necessities, retirement planning goes beyond just covering your day-to-day expenses. It’s also important to take a step back and consider potential healthcare needs over time, including the average costs of long-term care. It’s something no one really wants to think about, but it becomes a reality for many. On average, men require 2.2 years of some form of long-term care, and women require 3.7 years, according to ACL.gov. In Pennsylvania, three years of care can cost between $255,000 and $507,000 out of pocket. In Delaware, that range is $247,500 to $541,350, according to CareScout.

Thinking through these potential costs now and factoring them into your overall financial plan can help you feel more prepared for whatever retirement may bring.

Building a Retirement Plan That Works for Your Life

When you retire, it’s a whole new stage of life. Once you’ve thought through the financial side, the next question becomes how you actually want to live in retirement. It’s a time to do the things you’ve been putting off and to try new experiences. When the honeymoon phase settles, you’ll likely want to create a new routine and lifestyle, one that’s filled with hobbies you enjoy, people you love, and a sense of purpose that feels fulfilling.

If you wish to continue living in your home throughout retirement and age in place, having some level of support can make this transition feel more manageable. Whether that means staying on top of your health and wellness, having guidance when questions come up, or making your house more accessible, it can help you continue living comfortably at home.

It can also be an adjustment to move out of work mode and learn how to no longer rely on a paycheck, and instead rely on your savings and investments. Planning for what life may bring, both expected and unexpected, can help make this shift feel less overwhelming. Instead of making retirement feel worrisome, thinking ahead can help you enjoy this stage of life more fully.

Download the Friends Life Care Guide to Navigating the Stages of Retirement Here

Planning for More Than Finances: Health, Home, and Support

As you step into retirement, you’ll want to feel a sense of balance in your life, socially, mentally, financially, and physically. Planning for retirement isn’t just about your finances; it’s also about thinking through how you want to live day to day and what kind of support may be helpful over time.

For many people, that includes planning to stay in the home they love while making sure they have a support system in place, not just financially, but for whatever life may bring. At Friends Life Care, Plan Counselors help guide people through these conversations, offering a way to think through the different stages of retirement and what support might look like along the way.

If you’d like to learn more about planning for retirement and what options are available, you can reach out to Friends Life Care to continue the conversation.

Staying Active at Home with Chair Exercises and Balance Workouts

By Julia Bowers

April 13th, 2026 Aging in Place, Health & Wellness No Comments

Incorporating movement into your day-to-day life can come with great benefits, like reducing fall risk, maintaining physical wellness, improving mental health, lowering the risk of long-term health concerns, and reducing blood pressure.

You can start your health and fitness journey at any point, with exercise and workouts that meet you where you are. Endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility are all beneficial types of activities to try, and they can be modified to suit your lifestyle.

The CDC recommends that healthy older adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. They also outline here how to measure the intensity of your workouts to make sure you are choosing the right activities for you, along with a good mix of strength training and balance exercises. This can include yoga, mowing the lawn, hiking a trail, chair dancing, and much more.

At Friends Life Care, we aim to support people living independently at home for as long as possible, safely. A part of that is encouraging overall health, which includes finding a routine that fits your lifestyle and helps you stay active.

Click Here to Learn More About Physical Fitness as We Age

Chair exercises are a low-impact alternative to standard workout routines. These exercises are designed to allow you to do your favorite workouts while sitting. This modified option gives people who need it the opportunity to benefit from all kinds of fitness activities.

Chair exercises are great for seniors and people with limited mobility. Friends Life Care’s VigR® wellness webinar series offers a variety of options, including chair yoga, chair dancing, and, most recently, strength and balance workouts using a chair.

In the recent videos, you will learn more about the muscles you are working and how functional strength can help improve daily independence. Try out some of the workouts from the full video h.

The Positive Impact of Balance Exercises

When your balance feels steady, you are more likely to stay active and independent. Strong balance can help you move through your day with more ease, whether you are walking, reaching, or getting up from a chair. When it feels off, it can lead to hesitation or fear of falling, which may cause people to limit their movement over time.

It is normal for balance to shift over time. Changes in muscle strength, joint flexibility, vision, and even reaction time can all play a role. The encouraging part is that balance is something you can work on at any time.

The National Institute on Aging recommends balance and strength training exercises to help reduce fall risk. This includes yoga, Pilates, and tai chi, all of which can help improve balance.

The key is finding simple, realistic ways to make movement part of your everyday life.

Making Movement Part of Your Everyday Life

Blending movement into your everyday life does not need to be a strict regimen. It is about doing what makes sense for you and slowly finding ways to add exercises into your lifestyle.

One of the easiest ways to stay consistent is to connect movement to something you already do. For example, you might try a few chair exercises while watching your favorite TV show, practice gentle stretches after your morning coffee, or do a short balance routine while waiting for dinner to cook. These small moments add up and help build a routine without feeling overwhelming.

Consider inviting a spouse, neighbor, or friend to join you. You could follow a short chair yoga video together or simply check in with each other about your progress. Having someone to share the experience can make it more enjoyable and help you stay motivated. It also adds a social element, which is just as important for overall well-being.

Click Here to Learn More About Physical Fitness as We Age

Long Term Care Planning: Looking Beyond Insurance and Thinking Ahead

By Julia Bowers

March 30th, 2026 Aging in Place, Long Term Care No Comments

During the retirement planning process, long-term care costs are often an important consideration, and rightly so. Long-term care costs can go beyond what Medicare covers, and 70% of people over 65 will need some form of long-term care, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Because of this, many people planning for retirement begin to consider long-term care insurance. This can be a great option for protecting your finances as life evolves. However, financial protection is not the only aspect of long-term care planning that needs to be considered.

Why Planning for Long-Term Care Matters Early

When you enter your retirement years or even choose to continue working later in life, you may not be thinking about how your needs could change over time. However, asking yourself what might happen if you need more support one day can make a meaningful difference.

By thinking about these possibilities today and putting a plan in place, you can better protect your independence and maintain your lifestyle in the future.

One of the most common goals tied to long-term care planning is the ability to stay at home.

Aging in Place Starts with a Safe Home

Most people want to stay in the home they love as they grow older rather than move into a retirement community. This is known as aging in place.

We are fortunate when we have the opportunity to grow older at home, and people who successfully remain at home often take proactive steps to support that goal.

Aging in place begins with creating a safe and accessible home environment. So, how safe is your home?

Consider the following questions as you think about your home and daily routines:

Are you able to enter and exit your home with ease?
Can you tell when visitors or deliveries arrive and know who may be at any of your doors?
Are your stairways safe and have you taken steps to make walking in hallways or through doors as safe as possible?
Have you ever slipped or even fallen on your stairs or in your hallways?
Do you have difficulty getting in or out of the tub or shower?
Have you made any modifications to your bathroom(s) so they are updated and safe as you get older?
Is your kitchen modernized and set up for the best workspace and flow?
Is it easy to get on and off the couch
Are pathways clear to every room?
Where in your home are your washer and dryer located?
Do you have ample space and organization for doing laundry?
Is your basement a living space or more for storage?
What improvements can be made to make it easier to get in, around, and out of the basement?
Do you have any difficulty accessing the phone or hearing when you use it?

These questions matter because creating a safe home now when you’re healthy is much easier than making urgent changes later. Without planning ahead, many people find themselves trying to make multiple modifications all at once when they already need support.

Friends Life Care’s wellness and care coordination team helps members assess their living space and identify improvements that can reduce fall risk and support independence. In addition, having expert guidance can help you notice risks or opportunities you may not have considered.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 10% of American homes are considered aging-ready. Therefore, there is a strong chance that your home could benefit from thoughtful updates.

Long Term Care Planning and the Dimensions of Wellness

While both play an important role, long-term care planning goes beyond your physical space and financial preparation.

There are seven Dimensions of Wellness, and each one plays an important role in your overall quality of life. When one area is neglected, it can affect the others.

By maintaining balance across these areas, you strengthen your ability to age well and support your long-term care plan.

Options Beyond Long- Term Care Insurance

Many people do not realize that options exist in addition to long-term care insurance. To help manage the process of creating a safe home and having the right resources in place as you get older, many people choose to partner with a Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) program.

Programs like Friends Life Care support individuals through the important aspects of aging in place, acting as a knowledgeable and trusted partner along the way. This includes the financial component that is often top of mind, as well as care coordination and guidance when needs change.

CCaH’s can provide not only financial protection but also a care advocate and a support system when needed. This approach can be especially valuable for people who live alone, do not want their children or loved ones as their only resource, want expert advice, or simply want a safety net

In addition, this type of program can work alongside a long-term care insurance plan you already have or are considering.

Hear more about what members of Friends Life Care have to say about having an advocate to support them as they age in place.

Start Your Long-Term Care Planning Today

If you are ready to begin your long-term care planning journey, starting with the right tools can make the process feel more manageable and less overwhelming.

Click Here to Download Your Free Aging in Place Kit

This kit walks you through the questions that matter most, helping you create a more stable future and a plan that reflects your values and priorities.

Inside the kit, you will find a Readiness Guide for aging in place, comparison charts that outline different long-term care options, and the interactive Five Wishes workbook to help you document important decisions. You will also learn about key milestone birthdays and what they may mean for your planning timeline.

In addition, the kit includes real-life insight from a couple who are aging in place and sharing their experience, along with other helpful resources to guide your next steps.

Taking the time to plan now can give you greater confidence in your future and help ensure your plan supports the life you want to live.

Spring Cleaning: Decluttering Tips and House Cleaning Services

By Julia Bowers

March 16th, 2026 Aging in Place, Health & Wellness No Comments

For centuries, cultures around the world have practiced some form of spring cleaning as part of their religious and seasonal traditions. According to National Geographic, “One of the earliest known references to spring cleaning is found in the Jewish tradition of Passover.” In other traditions, similar rituals exist: “Catholics clean altars in churches on Maundy Thursday ahead of Good Friday.”

In China, homes are traditionally cleaned before the Lunar New Year in a ritual known as “sweeping the dust,” which symbolizes clearing away bad luck. In Thailand, people celebrate Songkran in April by deep cleaning homes, schools, and public spaces to purify them ahead of the Thai New Year. Read More.

These practices have influenced cultures around the world and helped shape the tradition we now call “spring cleaning.” It is a time to open the windows, clear out dust and clutter, and refresh your living space. Beyond keeping a tidy home, this seasonal ritual can also support environmental wellness and contribute to improved mental well-being. A clean and organized home can create a safer, more comfortable living space while also helping people feel more relaxed and energized in their daily lives.

Spring Decluttering Tips and House Cleaning Services

Once you find your forever home and the years begin to pass, it is easy to accumulate more belongings than you know what to do with. Decluttering can be an excellent first step in this year’s spring cleaning. Decluttering can create a calmer home environment and make daily routines feel more manageable.

If you’re looking for guidance, Certified KonMari Method™ consultant, productivity coach, and speaker Amanda Jefferson shared helpful insights during a past VigR® wellness webinar. She introduced the KonMari Method™ of decluttering, with a special focus on organizing clothing.

In this video, you’ll learn how the KonMari Method™ categorizes objects in the following order:

Clothes
Books
Paper
Komono (miscellaneous items)
Sentimental items

This is the order recommended for decluttering and organizing your belongings. The method recommends starting with easier categories and leaving sentimental objects for last. Throughout the process, the focus remains on keeping items that “spark joy,” helping you thoughtfully decide what truly belongs in your home.

Once you have decluttered your space, it becomes much easier to tackle the actual cleaning. With fewer items in the way, you can focus on refreshing your living space by wiping down surfaces, dusting hard-to-reach areas, and opening the windows to let fresh spring air circulate through your home.

For those who would prefer a little extra help, Friends Life Care members can also take advantage of Dorvie Concierge services to connect with vetted professionals who can assist with home cleaning, decluttering services and other household needs.

A Friends Life Care Member Benefit: Concierge Support for Your Home and Everyday Needs

Creating a clean and decluttered living space can feel overwhelming, especially after years of accumulating belongings. You do not have to tackle it alone. At Friends Life Care, we are here to support you.

As a Friends Life Care member, you have access to Dorvie Concierge services, a trusted resource that helps connect you with vetted professionals who can assist with many everyday needs. Concierge services can help you find reliable assistance for home repairs, house cleaning, decluttering support, transportation, food delivery, pet care, and more. They help coordinate the logistics, making it easier to arrange the services you need without the added stress.

If you are already a Friends Life Care member and would like to learn more about how Concierge services work with your membership, visit our website to learn more or reach out to your Care Coordinator today. They will be happy to guide you and help you get connected to the right resources.