Playing in the dirt isn’t just for kids: Seniors reap the health benefits of gardening

Holiday Retirement residents across the country use their green thumbs to stay healthy

Lake Oswego, OR, May 17, 2015 – Seniors around the country are adding gardening to their list of daily activities thanks to the stress relief and health benefits it provides. And for Holiday Retirement residents, reaping the rewards of gardening is that much easier thanks to the leading senior living provider’s efforts to offer gardening opportunities at its communities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seniors who participate in 2.5 hours a week of moderate-intensity activities such as gardening can reduce their risk for a number of health issues, including obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Gardening can also help with stress relief, improve depression symptoms, and reduce social isolation.

“Our residents’ health is of utmost importance, which is why we are dedicated to helping seniors get moving,” said Jamison Gosselin, vice president of marketing, communications, and resident enrichment at Holiday Retirement. “As the weather turns warmer, gardening provides an easy, accessible way for seniors of all skill levels to enjoy a rewarding, relaxing physical activity.”

As seniors increasingly downsize and move to senior living communities, they can adjust their gardening styles to reap the benefits in a smaller environment. Holiday Retirement has launched a series of resources focused on helping seniors enjoy the rewards – both mental and physical – that gardening has to offer:

* An infographic that offers suggestions to help seniors garden in comfort

* A checklist that provides everything seniors need to know about starting a container garden

From roses to vegetables to herbs, here are five examples of blossoming gardens at Holiday Retirement communities across the country:

1. South Wind Heights residents in Jonesboro, Arkansas, all enjoy chipping in to maintain the senior living community’s curb appeal. Residents take time to plant, water, and weed flowerpots and flowerbeds on a regular basis, with one 97-year-old resident dedicating much of her time each day to gardening.

2. Residents at Mistywood in Roseville, California, are living up to the city’s name. A memorial rose garden was built eight years ago for residents to honor loved ones who have passed away. The community grows myriad roses, as well as perennials, annuals, and even herbs and vegetables in a raised flowerbed built by a local Boy Scout troop. Herbs and vegetables are used in the kitchen while roses are used in floral arrangements around the senior living community.

3. Residents at Ashley Park in Charleston, South Carolina, have embraced container gardening and now anxiously await tomatoes, radishes, bell peppers, squash, onions, and various herbs. Residents use the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor during the Adventure Travel Program, where the senior living community makes tasty meals from different regions around the world.

4. At Whispering Oaks in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, residents discovered a newfound hobby when one Boy Scout troop built raised gardening beds for the senior living community to earn his Eagle Scout ranking. Thanks to his act of kindness, tomatoes, radishes, onions, peppers, and flowers grow regularly and are shared throughout Whispering Oaks.

5. University Pines, an independent senior living community in Pensacola, Florida, welcomed spring with the planting of numerous flowering plants, ferns, and cascading greenery. The backyard of the senior living community has blossomed this year thanks to resident green thumbs, not to mention the flowerpots on the front patio getting a face-lift for summer with new flowers. The community also celebrated Earth Day in April by planting seedlings, baby tree cuttings, and other green plants to bring an earthy feel to the community and to residents.

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about gardening and seniors, visit holidaytouch.com/senior-gardening-tips.

Media Contact:
Brian K. Fawkes
Holiday Retirement
(971) 245-8837
brian.fawkes@holidaytouch.com
http://www.holidaytouch.com

About Holiday Retirement
Since 1971, Holiday Retirement has endeavored to provide its signature “Holiday Touch” to residents and their families. Today, Holiday is a trusted name in senior living and provides security, comfort, and value to independent seniors seeking a fulfilling lifestyle. Holiday operates more than 300 retirement communities, making it the second largest senior housing operator in the United States. For more information about Holiday Retirement, please call 800-322-0999 or visit www.holidaytouch.com.

Contact:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, Colo., 80206
720-726-5435

http://www.csg-pr.com

New Survey of Retired Women Prioritizes significant Achievements in Women’s Rights during their Lifetime

Holiday Retirement spotlights women’s achievements in celebration and honor of
Women’s History Month

Lake Oswego, OR, March 15, 2015 – American history has long been associated with significant events and notable women who have made invaluable contributions to society in the past century. These women have achieved greatness in their lives by winning the right to vote in 1920; attaining permanent status in the military in 1948; and breaking male-dominated barriers to becoming astronauts, race car drivers, business and military leaders, politicians, and professional sports figures.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, 4,132 Holiday Retirement female residents responded to a four-question survey about the significance of women’s rights, women as role models, and hopes for women in the future.

* 69 percent of female residents polled feel winning the right to vote was the greatest accomplishment for women in the 20th century and today.

* 33 percent of survey participants felt that Eleanor Roosevelt and her vocal support of African-American civil rights poses her as the best role model for young women.

* 35 percent believe the U.S. will elect its first female president within the next 10 years; however, it is also important to note that 18 percent of senior women surveyed believe there will never be a female president.

* 47 percent of those surveyed list their biggest hope for women in the future as achieving equal pay with their male counterparts.

In addition to the survey, Holiday Retirement received stories about inspirational women and their role in helping to shape women’s roles as we know them today.

“There are thousands of amazing women who live at Holiday Retirement communities,” said Jamison Gosselin, vice president of marketing, communications, and resident enrichment for Holiday Retirement. “Over casual conversations, our residents may learn their neighbor was a former Olympic medalist, the first African American female basketball player, or even the recipient of a prestigious military award. These women are a great part of our history and our future.”

Many of these women have played an active role in history and now share their achievements with fellow residents in senior living communities across the country. Here are a few of their stories:

Annie P., lifelong champion of civil rights
Annie, a resident at Rancho Village in Palmdale, California, is well-known for her lifelong efforts as a civil rights activist; in fact, she chartered a chapter of the NAACP in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1945. When Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, she and her husband chartered a plane to attend the funeral. She participated in the procession that walked behind his casket for more than 3.5 miles. You can also find her name engraved in the wall at The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

Judy D., 1952 Olympian
It was 63 years ago that Judy, now 90, represented the United States in the 1952 Helsinki Games, winning a silver medal in breaststroke. Judy was born and raised in southeast Portland and credits high school with where her Olympic dreams took hold. This Olympian now resides at Edgewood Downs in Beaverton, Oregon.

Lillie C., first African American female basketball player
At 90-years-young, Lillie was recently honored as one of the first African American women to play basketball in North Carolina. And for this momentous achievement, Lillie was named to the Hall of Fame at Atkins High School in North Carolina. Lillie grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, during a time of civil unrest in the South, but she was determined to be treated equally. She took part in protests and refused to leave lunch counters at North Carolina A&T University. Lillie considers herself as one of the original freedom riders. She currently lives at Forsyth Court in Winston-Salem.

Neva H., former Grand Prix driver and champion
At 92-years-old, Neva knows what it is like to have a need for speed. She’s a former Senior Malibu Grand Prix driver—and champion. Neva’s favorite part of racing: “Beating all the other men drivers.” She began racing in 1970, once her children were full-grown. Today, Neva proudly displays her awards at The Worthington in Gahanna, Ohio.

Katherine H., Order of Military Medical Merit award recipient
Known to many as Lieutenant Colonel Katherine H., she began her career in the U.S. Army as a volunteer in the wake of Pearl Harbor. Now, at 101 years old, Katherine is one of very few to receive the Order of Military Medical Merit award. This prestigious award recognizes Army medical personnel who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character. She now calls Essington Place in Joliet, Illinois, home.

“These women are just five of the many who left major marks on American history, changing the future for men and women alike,” said Gosselin. “We encourage everyone to learn from our Greatest Generation and to strive to make their own impact on history.”

Access Women’s History Month infographics and learn more about notable women in a Holiday Retirement community at holidaytouch.com/women.

Media Contacts:
Brian K. Fawkes
Holiday Retirement
(971) 245-8837
brian.fawkes@holidaytouch.com

About Holiday Retirement
Since 1971, Holiday Retirement has endeavored to provide its signature “Holiday Touch” to residents and their families. Today, Holiday is a trusted name in senior living and provides security, comfort, and value to independent seniors seeking a fulfilling lifestyle. Holiday operates more than 300 retirement communities, making it the second largest senior housing operator in the United States. For more information about Holiday Retirement, please call 800-322-0999 or visit www.holidaytouch.com.

Contact:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
720-726-5435
mkoch@csg-pr.com
http://www.holidaytouch.com