The Kendal Northern Ohio Blog

Being diagnosed with diabetes can mean a lot of changes for older adults, especially those who have enjoyed sucking on hard candies or following dinner with dessert since childhood. However, one of those changes doesn’t have to be giving up all the sweets you enjoy. You can continue eating the tasty treats you love in moderation by using simple substitutions.

You’ve gained a wealth of skills and knowledge in your lifetime. Why not share them in your retirement? Every community has a variety of worthy causes that could benefit from your experience and input. If you’re feeling adventurous, charitable mission work could even take you across the country or around the globe.

When choosing to relocate to retirement communities, it’s critical older adults select an organization that is financially secure. For years, Kendal at Oberlin has demonstrated its strong financial track record, providing its residents the ability to plan for future health needs.

For many older adults, retirement means they finally have time to dedicate to their favorite hobbies like woodworking, sewing, baking, or crafting. But what do you do with all of those hand-made fishing lures, jars of jelly, doll clothes, and intricate woodcarvings once they’re finished? You can share your talents and fund future hobby projects by starting a small business! In today’s connected marketplace, there isn’t a need to open your own brick-and-mortar store – there are plenty of other methods for sharing your goods with interested buyers without a full-time investment. Here, we discuss just a few:

If you subscribe to the Kendal Northern Ohio blog, you’re likely familiar with the story of Bob C., a Kendal at Oberlin resident and scenic artist, who is using his talents to bring new life to the walls outside of the Fox & Fell Dining Room at Kendal at Oberlin. (Did you miss Bob’s story? Read “Romantic Mural Spices Up Fox & Fell Dining Room at Kendal at Oberlin” and “Discover What’s to Come in Kendal at Oberlin Dining Room Mural” now!)

Exercise helps improve physical, mental, and emotional health of older adults; however, knowing the benefits of exercise doesn’t make it easier to push through everyday aches and pains to exercise. That’s exactly how Robert, a Kendal at Home member, felt about exercise…until he found the Silver Sneakers program. Robert talks about his experiences with the program here.

For older adults who choose to live independently, making small changes to help prevent in-home falls should be one of the first conversations they have with care coordinators and loved ones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year. In 2010, some 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments with more than 662,000 of these patients being hospitalized.

Gardening is a favorite hobby and aerobic exercise of many older adults, including Kendal at Home member Judith. An avid gardener of old roses, Judith shares how she became interested in gardening and provides insight into the different varieties of roses, should you want to test your green thumb!

In the blog “Romantic Mural Spices Up Fox & Fell Dining Room,” we met Robert (Bob) C., a former scenic artist who is using his talents to bring new life to the walls outside of the Fox & Fell Dining Room at Kendal at Oberlin. Here, we continue Bob’s creative journey, revealing why he chose to highlight herbs and spices in his mural rather than “rare meats” featured in its inspiration, and what we can expect for the remaining panels.

The walls outside of the Fox & Fell Dining Room at Kendal at Oberlin are a neutral ivory – save one. The west wall is a brilliant contrast to its fellow panels, overflowing with color: lush greens, creamy browns, and striking grays, broken up by prim pinks, reds, and yellows.