How Seniors Can Stay Safe On-line

For many seniors, technology can be intimidating, especially when it comes to financial payments, online shopping, communicating with others and trying to get comfortable using it frequently. Though they’d prefer doing everything by hand and the old school way, the reality is that technology is advancing and many things are becoming solely available on technology. Here are some tips from European-based website, MyAgeingParent.com, about how to help seniors stay safe when on-line:
 

• With on-line shopping and banking, this site says to make sure each site is secure by checking if: There is a padlock symbol in the browser window; The web address should begin with ‘https://’ because the “s” stands for ‘secure’; If a pop-up message warns about a website’s security certificate to be aware as it may redirect to fake website, click the padlock symbol to check identity and current certificate address.
• Some other tips are to use a strong password by avoiding maiden names, rather use a mix of upper and lower case letters and numbers but make sure to write this down!
• If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is so avoid anything offered in a spam email.
• Only use one credit card so it is easy to cancel if anything goes wrong. Never give away financial details unless completely confident of company contact, and only use on-line retailers that have good reputations and are established.

The Waterford Difference

Here is a testimonial from our Executive Director, Jana Paez. She shares with you what makes Waterford Estates Retirement Community different from everyone else.

4th of July by the Numbers

The creative writing team at History.Com has some fun facts about America’s Favorite Holiday coming up this weekend. Here are some interesting facts & traditions:

• The oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence was Benjamin Franklin at 70 years old and the youngest was Edward Rutledge at 26 years old.
• In 1781, Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th a state holiday.
• Congress declared Independence Day a federal legal holiday in 1941.
• 1/3 of all hot dogs produced in the U.S.A. come from Iowa.
• More than 14,000 Fourth of July fireworks displays explode across the nation each year.
• 76% of people get together with family during Fourth of July.

We hope you enjoy your Independence Day, remembering the history of this special day, celebrating with your loved ones and watching a sky light up with fireworks. Happy Fourth of July to all!

Take A Virtual Tour of Waterford Estates!

Please enjoy this virtual tour of our property! We would love for you to make Waterford Estates your new home. Contact us here to schedule an onsite tour.

Happy Father's Day from Waterford Estates!

Some scholars say Father’s Day can be traced to over 4,000 years ago to the ruins of Babylon. There is recorded a young boy called Elmesu, who carved a Father’s Day message on a card made out of clay, wishing his father good health and long life. From this point on, several countries around the globe have remained in this custom of celebrating fathers.

Modern history tells us this tradition is owed to Miss Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington. This woman is said to have heard a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909 and felt there should be an equal celebration for fathers. She felt strongly about making this a celebration because of the great role and affection her father showed her. Dodd was inspired by activist Anna Jarvis’ struggle to promote Mother’s Day and thus began a campaign to get Washington State on board to make Father’s Day a holiday. Her efforts were received well and rewarded when in June 1910, Washington State celebrated its first Father’s Day.

Though there was initial hesitation, the idea gradually gained popularity around the US and came to be a common celebration in many cities and states. During each of their presidential terms, President Wilson and Coolidge both approved and supported this idea of Father’s Day in order to “establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” After 4 decades of struggling back and forth over declaring it a holiday, finally in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Afterwards, in 1972, President Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day.

Let’s take this opportunity to thank all the fathers and pay tribute to them. Let’s join with the world and celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, stepfathers and any other person who has played the role of a father in each of our lives.

Celebrating Flag Day

                On June 14, 1777, the adoption of the ‘stars and stripes’ became the official flag for the United States. For centuries now, people have celebrated ‘Flag Day,’ on June 14, but what does that mean and why do we celebrate it? First, let’s take a look back into history of the flag and its significance for the United States.

                According to history, in June 1776, George Washington commissioned a Philadelphian seamstress, Betsy Ross, to create an official flag for the new nation in anticipation of declaring its independence. The following year, John Adams spoke about the design of the flag at a Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. He said the flag of the United States shall be “thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be 13 stars, white on a blue field.” Stars have been added as states have entered the Union and the most current version was July 4, 1960, when Hawaii became the 50th state.

                The first origination of Flag Day is said to have happened in 1885 when a schoolteacher in Wisconsin deemed June 14 as “Flag Birthday.” For years after, this teacher continued to enthusiastically advocate this “Flag Birthday” in multiple news articles and public addresses. He started a trend, because for the next century, teachers and their classrooms, board members and various societies across the country began to celebrate Flag Day. In one striking public address by Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, given in 1914 to commemorate Flag Day, he beautifully depicts the symbolism the flag holds for the United States:

                “I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself.”

                Fast forward to the twentieth century, when President Woodrow Wilson, in May 1916, issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities across the nation, it wasn’t until August 1949 that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating this day of each year as National Flag Day.

                Since it’s been deemed a national observance (and to some an official holiday), many Americans celebrate Flag Day by displaying their version of Red, White and Blue in front of their homes and businesses. Other ways to celebrate and pay respect to this symbol of our nation’s independence are by doing things such as saying the pledge of allegiance, singing the national anthem or ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ before a baseball game, or a simple pledge to the flag, “Old Glory,” as a symbol of the United States’ democracy and independence. Saluting an American flag is also another easy way to celebrate and honor the great United States of America. Join the rest of the nation on June 14, 2015, as they honor and pay respect to Old Glory for staying true to the red, white and blue.

Summer Outdoor Activities for Seniors

Although our retirement community offers a variety of activities that are already planned, it is good to have a healthy balance of doing things with just you and your spouse, a few friends, or even family members. According to agingcare.com, simple activities in the outdoors, regardless of what it is, are “going to be mentally uplifting.” This site says instead of focusing on what you can’t do or being overwhelmed by potential challenges, focus on what you can do and enjoy. Here are some suggestions from agingcare.com:

1. Catch a sporting event. This could be a grandchild's soccer game or attending a professional game.

2. Fish for fun. For folks who enjoy fishing, you can cast a rod from a pier or other location, even if someone is wheelchair bound.

3. Be a tourist. If you live in a city, take an open-air bus or trolley tour to see the local sights. Another option could be a boat tour.

4. Take a dip. For some folks, it may just be putting a foot in the pool, while others may be able to handle low-impact water aerobics.

5. Stroll around. If a walk is possible, start slow. Try three or four minutes in one direction, turning around and coming back.

6. Be a bird lover. If you have a birdhouse, bird feeder or bird bath in your yard, checking on those daily can give someone a reason to go outside.

7. Pedal around. Rent a three-wheeled bicycle, which are easier to mount and ride, and also could offer back support.

8. Go fly a kite. Head to a park or beach and get a kite soaring.

9. Picnic outdoors. Picnics are another park or playground activity. It’s fun to watch children run around or enjoy the buzz of outdoor activity.

10. Celebrate the holidays. From Memorial Day concerts to Fourth of July fireworks, there are plenty of community events this spring and summer with opportunities for seniors to get out and be part of the crowd, all of which we offer at our community!