If you’re a retiree who likes to stay active and engaged, there are many benefits of volunteering your services within your community. Not only does volunteering make you feel good, but it also gives you a sense of purpose, motivates you to socialise, allows you to share your talent and experience, and wards off feelings of loneliness.Our communities need volunteers. Offering your skills and services can make a huge difference to the lives of people, animals and organisations in need. Volunteering also offers a range of benefits for you, including:Improved physical and mental healthVolunteering keeps your brain active and keeps you moving. Doing good things for others helps you feel happier, keeps you energised, improves your mood and reduces stress. Keeps loneliness and isolation at bayGetting out and lending a helping hand is a great way to connect, engage and socialise. Promoting positive feelings, one of the major benefits of volunteering is that it gives you a sense of purpose and...

As you get older it’s important to stay connected with friends, family and others in your community. Engaging with others helps to keep your mind active, gives you a sense of purpose, improves your wellbeing and makes you feel happy.Here are our top seven ways to help you get out and about and socialise with like-minded people.Get tech savvyUsing online apps such as Facebook and Instagram is an easy way to stay connected with family and friends. You can also video chat, send a message or share photos with the tap of a button. If you need help to get online (safely), you can find a course in the Tech Savvy Seniors Queensland Program.Join a clubWhether your passion is crafting, going for long walks, enjoying a bike ride, reading or you simply love to keep fit, there is sure to be a local club you can join. Doing what you love with like-minded people is one of the best and...

What better way to live the life you deserve than in a Living Gems lifestyle resort? With stunning, architecturally designed homes, exclusive access to gold-class facilities and your best friends right next door, moving into Living Gems really is a no-brainer!Award-winning Resort facilitiesIt’s no secret that Living Gems’ resort facilities are next-level amazing. From the cinema with surround sound to a ten-pin bowling alley, grand ballroom, heated swimming pool, shared-garden and games room, there really is something for everyone. Whether you want to catch up over coffee at the alfresco café, show off your culinary skills in the commercial kitchen or practise your swing at the golf simulator, you have it all at your fingertips! And what better way to cap off a friendly game of bowls, tennis or bocce, than with a beer at the bar or nibblies with friends in the pavilion!Being a community-led lifestyle resort, you’re also free to choose your level of activity and involvement. After all,...

 Lifelong learning is the practice of ongoing, self-initiated education that is focused on personal (and professional) development. It’s important because our brains are designed to grow and learning supports our natural instinct to explore, discover and improve ourselves. Continuous learning keeps our minds active, helps us feel fulfilled and gives us a sense of confidence and connection. So what are the tangible benefits of lifelong learning? Let’s delve in.  1. Lifelong learning improves brain health A study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that people with a history of lifelong cognitive activity (high level activities such as problem solving, decision making, thinking, learning and attentiveness) had a significant delay in the onset of memory issues and Alzheimer’s symptoms.  Constantly learning, whether it be a new hobby, skill or social activity, increases your brain’s efficiency and helps improve your memory.  2. Benefits for your mental and emotional wellbeing Did you know that reading for as little as six minutes can lower your stress...

With the weather warming up, now is the perfect time to head south, west … or why not do both? Re-connect with nature while you explore our nation’s amazing countryside. With plenty of stunning scenery, rich history and wineries to be enjoyed along the way, here are two of our ultimate Australian travel destinations!Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island offers the perfect getaway for when you want to take a step back, slow down and get amongst nature. Unfiltered and untamed, it is Australia’s third largest island, renowned for its stunning beaches, authentic food and drink experiences, abundant wildlife and untouched landscapes.Whether you enjoy hiking, love to throw a line in or want to get to know our native wildlife a little better – Kangaroo Island has something for everyone. And what better way to finish your day than with a visit to the local cellar door and farm gate!Our top spots on Kangaroo Island include:Penneshaw – Your first stop when you...

Looking at moving into a retirement community but wondering what deferred management fees are and what they’ll cost you? While Living Gems don’t charge these fees, many retirement villages do – and it can take a big chunk out of your pocket when you sell. That’s why it pays to be aware of the exact costs before you make a decision.What are deferred management fees?Deferred management fees, also known as exit fees, are often charged by retirement villages when you move out. The fees cover a range of costs associated with maintaining the public facilities, along with expenses incurred to refurbish your former home and market it for sale. When you sell your home, this deferred management fee is deducted from the sale price.Note: At Living Gems there are NO deferred management fees. Ever. Your home is yours to sell and any capital gains you make are yours to keep. How are deferred management fees calculated?Deferred management fees can be complex...

Setting goals and accomplishing them is key to living the ultimate retirement lifestyle. Yes, you’re never too old to set goals, whether it be to improve your fitness, pick up a new instrument or take up a hobby. Goals help you create purpose, make you feel happier and give you a strong sense of connection with your community. So, how do you successfully plan and achieve them? Here are our six goal setting tips. Set SMART goalsHave you ever wanted to achieve something, but had no real plan of attack and so never got anywhere with it? You’re not alone! And this is exactly why we need to set SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for:SpecificMeasurableAchievableRealisticTime-boundLet’s break it down.SpecificRather than creating a vague plan, you’ll be much more successful if you get specific with your goals. For example, rather than saying “I want to get fitter”, put together a daily exercise plan.MeasurableHow will you monitor your progress and measure your success?...

So, you’ve reached the golden age of retirement and are looking for a new hobby. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn how to play golf? Or maybe it wasn’t on your radar while you were working? Whichever the case, you now have the time to dedicate to the fun (and sometimes) challenging sport of golf for seniors. Why golf? Because it’s a sport that provides significant health benefits to seniors. In fact, an international research study which was backed The R&A (one of golf’s governing bodies) found evidence to suggest that golf improves physical health and can also improve quality of life. Helping to develop muscle strength and balance, golf is a great aerobic activity and encourages social connection with like-minded people. The perfect low impact exerciseDid you know that one round of golf incorporates around 15,000 steps? That’s a lot more than the 10,000 daily steps recommended to stay healthy! Plus, playing 18 holes will burn over 1,400 calories! Amazing,...

Ever wondered what happened to your great Uncle Edward? Or how exactly you’re related to Susan, who you believe could be your cousin, twice removed? Perhaps you’re simply curious about your family history? If you’re keen to learn more about your heritage, the best place to start is by building a family tree.  How to begin building a family tree The first step to creating your family tree is to gather information about your family. It’s best to break this process up into simple steps, so you don’t feel too overwhelmed. First, write down everything you know about your family. Next, speak to other family members to see if they can fill in any gaps. You might also be able to source documents, such as census records, news stories, land deeds and obituaries to help guide you. The library can be an invaluable resource here, along with genealogy websites such as ancestry.com.au and myheritage.com (although these sites may require you to pay a fee).Tip:...

Keeping your brain healthy, especially as you get older, is very important for your health, happiness and wellbeing. One of the best ways to keep your mind stimulated is by exercising your brain with games. Helping to boost mental sharpness and keep memory loss at bay, here are our top 7 brain games for seniors. And the best part? They’re all free! Host a trivia nightPlaying trivia is a wonderful way to challenge your brain. It’s also very social and a lot of fun! Why not organise a trivia night with your friends?  Simply nominate a host, research your trivia topics online, create your teams and select a date. Add a touch of competitiveness to the event with prizes up for grabs for the winning team. Play sudokuGreat for improving memory function, Sudoku is a game of logic. It requires you to recognise patterns and think strategically. You can find Sudoku puzzles online, plus there’s one for you to solve...

Meet Amber by Living Gems Residents, Gary and Yvonne. This wonderful couple completely transformed their lifestyle (for the better!) by moving from their acreage property into the Living Gems Community.Goodbye endless maintenance, hello infinite time!It was a big decision for Gary and Yvonne Andrews to sell their family home on three and a half acres and move into Amber by Living Gems. But it was definitely the best decision! The Andrews’ have gone from mowing lawns for days, painting fences for hours and maintaining a pool constantly… to getting back time and freedom to do the things they love (like socialising and bowls)!“We thought we might have trouble adjusting from acreage life, but we’ve settled in really well. We love it here, I’m no longer a slave to my yard. It’s given us back more time”, says Gary. The appeal of the Living Gems lifestyleWith more time to follow their passions, Gary now bowls five times a week, playing tournaments around...