Have you been told it’s time to enjoy your “golden years?” It’s a common phrase for senior living, but what does it mean? What are the golden years of life?
What Are the Golden Years of Life?
Some people call them the retirement years or senior years. Some people call them the sunset years. And yes, some people call them the “golden years.” There are so many different terms for being a senior that sometimes it can be hard to keep them straight! However, learning where these terms came from can give us an exciting glimpse into senior life in the United States. What are the golden years of life, and how can you make them shine?
The “Golden Years” Represent Longer and Better Lives for Seniors
Believe it or not, the idea of your senior years being your golden years is a relatively new invention. The first usage of “golden years” to describe senior living occurred in an advertising campaign in the 1950s. Before this time, retirement was not always viewed as a positive thing by the seniors experiencing it. Instead of a welcome respite, retirement was regarded as the end of a senior’s public life and the start of an inevitable decline in health.
However, American life changed dramatically following World War II, and our ideas of what our senior years could be changed with them. Improvements in healthcare and other supports available to seniors meant seniors were living longer and in better health than they used to. Instead of retiring to their beds, seniors were ready to get out and enjoy themselves. As a result, senior living communities with a new attitude towards aging and retirement were born. The phrase “golden years” was coined to describe the years seniors could reclaim through senior living. Instead of the end of the road, a senior’s retirement became the gold at the end of the rainbow.
What Do the Golden Years Look Like Today?
In today’s terms, a senior’s “golden years” begin at 65 and extend well into their 80s. A senior in their golden years may or may not be at the end of their formal years of employment, but they are reconsidering their priorities and looking for ways to make those golden years count. If you’re a senior in your golden years, how can you enjoy them to the fullest?
- Consider moving into a senior living community for your golden years. Modern senior living communities are set up to allow you to enjoy an independent lifestyle while also benefitting from the supportive amenities and fellowship those spaces can provide.
- It’s never too late to live your dreams. Is there a place you’ve always wanted to go to or something you always wanted to learn how to do? Your golden years will give you the time and opportunity to explore it like never before. Go for it!
- Most seniors in their golden years rely on various assets to support themselves. Consider working with a financial advisor who can help you make the best decisions for yourself and your assets.
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Moving into an excellent assisted living community can make your golden years extraordinary. We hope you’ll visit Hearthside Senior Living if you’re seeking a supportive community.
Are you looking for an assisted living community in Tennessee? Check out Hearthside Senior Living in Collierville and Bartlett. Our warm and inviting communities make it easy for seniors to embrace a healthy lifestyle, with home-cooked and restaurant-style meals, exercise classes, and a nurse devoted to residents’ health and wellness. We would be happy to schedule a tour to explore the community, speak with the Community Director, meet some residents, and ask any questions you might have. To learn more about our amenities and services, please call 901-266-3329 (Bartlett) or 901-854-6590 (Collierville). We look forward to meeting you!