A Senior’s Guide to Getting a Tattoo

Tattoos are an amazing art form of self-expression. There’s no limit to what you can do – especially when you have a talented tattoo artist who can bring your vision to life. And these days, more and more people are choosing to get ink.

While there are different types of tattoos, most people think of permanent tattoos that are applied with a needle and ink. It’s becoming more common for people to have permanent tattoos, and older adults are getting in on the fun.

If you’re interested in body art, our senior’s guide to tattoos will help you know the basics of getting tattoos as an older adult and prepare for everything so the process will go as smoothly as possible.

Aging Skin and Tattoos

When you’re older, getting a tattoo may look a little different than someone in their late teens and early twenties. Younger people getting a tattoo may have more selection regarding where they want the tattoo. As you age, your skin becomes thinner and less elastic, making the healing process take longer.

You can certainly still get a tattoo, but you’ll need to consider the best spot for your tattoo. Typically, bony areas of the body where there’s not a lot of fat are the most painful places to get a tattoo. Choosing an area with more fatty skin can provide cushioning, making it less painful.

These areas include:

• Forearm
• Outer arm
• Outer thigh
• Shoulder
• Parts on the back away from your spine

When you have an idea of where you’d like your tattoo, you can start thinking about what kind of tattoo you want.

How to Choose the Right Tattoo for Older Skin

When you’re getting a tattoo, you’ll likely want it to have the following characteristics:

• Thick lines
• Minimal detail
• A more simple tattoo design that can be done in one session

Having bolder lines and less detail will give your skin a better chance to heal. Intricate, fine-line designs can be more difficult for older adults because of thinning skin. Of course, if you’re interested in a more complex design, you just need to be prepared for multiple sessions.

While you’re finding the right tattoo for you, it’s just as important to find the right tattoo artist. You want a reputable tattoo shop and artist, preferably one who has tattooed older adults. They’ll know how to tattoo thinning skin and can make informed recommendations for you regarding aftercare. An online search can help you find the perfect tattoo artist in your area.

Medication and Tattooing

If you take any medication, it’s important to speak with your doctor before you decide to get a tattoo. The medications you take could have an effect on your tattoo process.

For example, it’s common for older adults to take blood thinners to avoid issues with clotting. Common blood thinning medications include:

• Aspirin
• Eliquis
• Brilinta
• Pradaxa
• Xarelto

However, when you get your tattoo, you may experience some bleeding and bruising around the area. Taking medications like the ones above can exacerbate those symptoms.

You may also want to avoid substances that can cause blood thinning, like caffeine and alcohol, for two days before your scheduled tattoo appointment.

Tattoo Aftercare

People with tattoos will tell you that aftercare is vital to the tattoo process to avoid infection. Taking care of your tattoo will keep your skin healthy and allow you to show off your new ink as soon as possible. Follow these tips to help your tattoo heal:

• Clean the skin with plain soap and water
• Avoid water hitting the tattoo directly
• Pat dry
• Moisturize the tattoo
• Keep the tattoo out of direct sunlight
• Don’t swim while your tattoo is healing
• Don’t pick at the tattoo

The process can take about two weeks before your skin is healed.

Why Should You Get a Tattoo?

People get tattoos for a variety of personal reasons. Maybe to commemorate an important person or event, to highlight a personality trait or document a memory, or perhaps just because it’s something fun and exciting to try. No matter the “why”, tattoos have become increasingly popular, with more than 30% of the US population having at least one tattoo.

Today’s seniors are living their best lives and trying all sorts of new things. If you think a tattoo is your next adventure, we hope our guide has helped provide some good advice. And let’s face it – there’s probably no better way to convince your teenage grandkids of how cool you are!

Live Your Best Life at Freedom Village

Here at Freedom Village, we believe this list of things to do in retirement is endless! Give us a call today to learn more about our active community, where our seniors are living their best lives.

When Should I Make the Move to Senior Living?

Retirement is a time for you to use all your free time to explore your interests and do activities that appeal to you. When you live alone, it may be difficult to have the active social life you want.

Exploring your options in Independent Living could provide you with the community and support you need to make the most of your retirement. Now is the time to make the move to senior living to get all the benefits and access to services and amenities only available in these types of communities.

Senior Living Covers Home Maintenance

One of the best aspects of being in a senior living community is how the living options help you simplify your life. You no longer have to worry about maintaining the lawn or dealing with issues like fixing appliances. Your community takes care of repairs and covers lawn maintenance.

You also no longer have to worry about meal planning and cooking – you get access to delicious dining options at your senior living residence. Here at Freedom Village, our residents have four different dining venues to choose from.

With these time-consuming responsibilities out of the way, you have more time to take advantage of everything your community offers.

Independent Living Offers Socialization Opportunities

Staying active and social are paramount to an older adult’s quality of life. Communities offer a plethora of activities where you can fill your schedule with great ways to benefit your mind and body – and spend quality time with friends. Some of these activities include:

• Learning something new with a continued education course
• Joining any and all clubs that interest you
• Taking an exercise class
• Seeing a movie with friends

There are likely all kinds of special interest groups that get together for things like a book club, line dancing, or games like bridge or bingo. The best part about being in the community is that you can change up your schedule whenever you want.

Do you want to start trying your hand at painting in the art studio? Would you like to use some of your time to volunteer? Freedom Village offers those activities, ballroom dancing, daily movies, and more. These are all available to you in your active retirement community – and you decide when and what you want to do.

Trying something new or even being new to a community could make anyone a little bit anxious, but with all these opportunities to get involved, you’ll make friends with your neighbors in no time.

Make the Most of Your Community’s Location

You also get to enjoy the surrounding area of your community. Freedom Village is located in the beautiful city of Lake Forest, CA. Residents enjoy being close to a city that offers opportunities for shopping or planning a night out on the town. You would also be within driving distance of gorgeous parks or lakes, creating the perfect environment for an afternoon walk and picnic with friends.

You Gain Security and Peace of Mind

Retirement communities have several safety measures to ensure that residents and the grounds of the community are secure, including:

• 24-hour desk reception
• Security service and gated parking
• 24/7 nursing staff and emergency medical technicians

In addition to safety, you also have long-term peace of mind because of what the care community offers. You can access higher levels of care should your health needs change, so you know your future healthcare needs are covered.

Live Your Best Life at Freedom Village in Lake Forest, California

If you or a loved one is trying to find a community that suits your needs, Freedom Village is here for you. Many of our residents say they only wish they had moved in sooner!

Call today to schedule your tour and learn more about how Freedom Village can accommodate you or your loved one as they age actively.

19 Hobbies for Seniors: Healthy Hobbies for Those Over 60

The idea of retirement as a time to sit on your front porch in a rocker has passed. These days, most seniors are opting for a more active retirement. Older adults are exploring new hobbies, learning new skills, pursuing old passions, and becoming more socially active than ever. 

Pursuing hobbies doesn’t just keep you entertained. Plenty of research shows that fulfilling, engaging activities help older adults maintain and improve cognitive function, mood and mental health, and overall happiness. Senior living community hobbies are plentiful and, best of all, are designed with the older adult in mind. 

If you’re a senior in retirement looking for hobby ideas, we have put together a list of 19 activities that run the gamut from indoor to outdoor, physical to intellectual, social to secluded, and everything in between. In fact, we offer many of these hobbies as part of the vibrant, active lifestyle our residents enjoy. 

Indoor Hobbies for Seniors

1. Cooking

The kitchen and dinner table play a huge role in our lives and memories. Many older adults are returning to the kitchen to learn new techniques, dabble with fresh and exciting ingredients, and explore the globe from the comfort of home. Instead of being a daily chore, cooking is a fantastic opportunity to bring friends and family together, entertain, and discover new favorite dishes. 

2. Playing a Musical Instrument

Retirement is the perfect time to dust off your musical skills (or develop them if you’ve never explored them before). Many seniors choose to spend their time exercising their musical chops in community choirs or orchestras or simply jamming with friends on a Friday night. 

3. Crocheting

Crocheting has enjoyed a renaissance thanks to the rise of the internet. Once you learn the technique, it’s fun and easy to create just about anything you can think of: blankets, clothes, little stuffed animals, fun embellishments for clothing, and so much more. 

4. Board and Card Games 

Game nights are an excellent way to spend time together, get a little competitive, and be social. Popular games include bunco, bridge, and many more. These days, you can even play games on the go with popular apps like Words With Friends and others. 

5. Arts and Crafts

Many people enjoy using their hands to create beautiful and useful items like jewelry, pottery, mosaics, etc. Scrapbooking is one popular activity that is fun for children and adults alike. Arts and crafts can be created solo or with a group, making it a perfect hobby for both introverts and extroverts.   

Outdoor Hobbies for Seniors

6. Hiking and Biking

The great outdoors offers so many opportunities to stay physically active, get some fresh air, and enjoy nature. Parks and nature trails provide solitude and scenic views, and many cities have bike trails that loop through the town and surrounding countryside. Freedom Village has beautiful trails that help our residents stay active and close to home. 

7. Gardening

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies for seniors (and other ages) for many reasons. It’s a great low-impact form of exercise, produces beautiful and tangible results, and allows you to wield your creativity. Many senior living communities, like Freedom Village, have community gardens and gardening clubs, which are great ways to meet others who share your green thumb and can offer tips and tricks.

Health and Fitness Hobbies for Seniors

8. Tai Chi

The ancient martial art of tai chi combines thoughtful movement with meditation for a whole-body wellness experience. This type of low-impact exercise focuses on strengthening muscles, toning the body, and slowing down the mind. Among many others, this is one of the activities offered at Freedom Village and one of our most popular.

9. Golfing 

Golfing is popular among retirees, many of whom may have played for work or recreation in the past. It’s a sport that can be played solo or as a group and is always an opportunity for conversation, refreshments, and good, clean, and competitive fun.

10. Pickleball

Pickleball is a hugely popular sport that combines tennis, badminton, and pingpong. It’s a lower-intensity cardio workout that comes with a lot of laughs and a lot of fun. It’s an excellent way to stay active with friends or a loved one. 

11. Bowling

Much like golf, bowling is an all-ages, all-level sport with a significant social element to it. Bowling alleys range from the classic to high-end, and most have leagues you can watch or join. It can be a fun one-off event or developed into an ongoing hobby. 

Social Hobbies for Older Adults

12. Clubs and Groups

Book clubs, cooking clubs, walking clubs, discussion groups … they’re all focused on one thing: bringing a group of people with similar interests together to do something enjoyable. The clubs and groups at Freedom Village cover a wide range from purely social (like dinner clubs) to educational and so much more.

13. Volunteering and Mentoring

Many seniors choose to give back to their communities through volunteering in their retirement. Research shows that volunteering improves mental and physical health, provides a sense of purpose, and is a great way to meet new people of all ages. Mentoring is another activity that provides innumerable benefits for both parties in a mentor-and-mentee relationship. 

14. Lifelong Learning 

Learning doesn’t stop when you reach a certain age. Many seniors choose to use their leisure time to expand their knowledge and broaden their minds. Active older adults can spend time learning a new language, diving into history, learning to write a book, or anything else that piques their interests. Plenty of courses are available online and through local universities to keep everyone engaged. 

15. Traveling 

Many couples and friends finally have the time in retirement to travel to their heart’s content without the pressures of work, family, or pets. Whether traveling across town or the globe, traveling together is an excellent opportunity for new experiences, cultures, and interests. 

Online Hobbies for Seniors

16. Solving Puzzles

Puzzle games are just a click away, thanks to mobile apps like Wordscapes, Candy Crush, and countless others. Solving puzzles is a great way to stay mentally sharp and keep your little gray cells active. Logic puzzles, sudoku, crosswords, and word searches are fun activities that can be fun (and sometimes a little addicting).

17. Video Games

Video games aren’t just for the grandkids anymore. With so many different gaming systems and types of games, seniors can find a video game for just about any interest. They can help you stay physically active, improve dexterity, sharpen your mind, or may prove to be just plain entertaining. 

18. Podcasts

Podcasts are like radio shows, only better. You can find podcasts for every topic, hobby, or interest. Whether on a long drive, cleaning the house, running errands, or traveling on a plane, podcasts are a great way to immerse yourself in a story or a wealth of information and make the time fly by. 

19. Genealogy

Many active older adults are tracing their family tree and learning about family history through genealogy research. Thanks to the online digitization of documents and sites like Ancestry.com, finding your ancestors’ stories has never been more accessible or more engaging. 

Find Hobbies To Enrich Your Life at Freedom Village

If your idea of retirement means an engaging social life with like-minded individuals in a community filled with a wealth of amenities, you’ll love everything that’s offered at Freedom Village. Our Active Life Plan Community has beautiful surroundings, a vibrant population, a plethora of events and activities, and so many wellness opportunities so you can make your retirement exactly how you want it.

Contact us to learn more, or schedule a tour and experience our senior lifestyle for yourself.