The new year is a time for embracing positive change and recommitting ourselves to every dimension of wellness. Or as we say at Blue Skies of Texas, it’s a time to focus on what can be.
At San Antonio’s premier senior living community, we keep our fingers on the pulse of the latest senior wellness trends. That means looking beyond healthcare to focus on cultivating cognitive vigor, social connections, whole-body fitness, and a life filled with purpose.
Just ask Bob and Peggy G., two Blue Skies residents who’ve leveled up their wellness game since moving here. Let’s find out how this energetic couple rises to the challenge of each new day.
FROM HEALTHCARE RESEARCH TO A VIBRANT, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
It’s no exaggeration to say that Bob and Peggy have more than eight decades of medical research experience between them. Before arriving at Blue Skies in early 2024, Bob served as CEO of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, where he focused on the early detection, treatment, and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Peggy, a Tufts graduate with a master’s degree in Immunology, spent her career immersed in cancer research.
The couple moved to San Antonio in 2006, where Peggy dedicated herself to volunteer activities, including serving on boards related to senior healthcare and patient support. Several years after Bob retired, Peggy started thinking about moving to a Life Plan Community.
“We had a large house with a lot of yard space that needed care and everything was just getting to be a bit too much,” she explains. “We also realized that if something happened to either of us, it would be very difficult for the other one to manage on their own.”
Bob and Peggy then got wind of some very good news. “A friend whose husband was doing well at Blue Skies’ Freedom House told us that the community was now open to people without a military background,” Bob says. “So, we visited the campus and were highly impressed with the many residential options, not to mention the exercise classes and fitness programs. The San Antonio location was the icing on the cake.”
STAYING SOCIAL AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
While our San Antonio Senior Living Community may have been founded as a home for military widows, we’ve expanded to include all retired veterans—as well as dynamic seniors who’ve served in every career under the sun. It should come as no surprise, then, that Bob and Peggy had no trouble forming social connections. “We bonded quickly with our neighbors here—both military and non-military—and many have become our friends,” Bob says. “Some have even grown close to our two daughters and are almost as excited as we are when the family comes to visit.”
Like many Blue Skies residents, Bob and Peggy have found meaning and purpose by contributing their time and talents. Peggy serves on the Dining Committee, and volunteers with our Hospice Care services. She also helps her neighbor with dog-walking chores when needed. “All the residents support one another with no strings attached,” she stresses.
For his part, Bob serves on the Resident Council and is still putting his Alzheimer’s disease expertise to good use. “The Blue Skies Rotary Club has a close connection with the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, and we raise money for their research work,” he explains. “Several of us are also involved in helping our neighbors with neurodegenerative diseases get involved with clinical trials. I feel like I’m continuing the meaningful work I did before retiring.”
ACHIEVING—AND SURPASSING—THEIR RETIREMENT FITNESS GOALS
Bob and Peggy share one thing in common with many of the retired military veterans at Blue Skies: They’re up at the crack of dawn for a brisk stroll. “Our old neighborhood was a bit hilly and not too conducive to walking,” Peggy explains. “But Blue Skies has lots of great paths for walking, even at four in the morning.”
Once their sunrise walk is behind them, the pair head to the gym, where they round out their mornings with a cardio or yoga class. They also find time to attend some of our healthy aging seminars, which cover topics ranging from heart-healthy diets to boosting brain power through games.
Peggy has discovered a new favorite passion as well: line dancing. “I was never into line dancing before, but once I tried it, I felt like I was born to do it,” she says. “Now, I practice four or five times each week, and I barely notice I’m exercising because it’s so much fun.”
Living in a community that’s laser-focused on senior wellness has worked wonders for Bob. “Before moving to Blue Skies, I used a rollator to get around outside our house,” he explains. “But having access to so many fitness amenities in one place has improved my stamina and flexibility—and has doubled my ability to walk. Now, I can cover between two and five miles using just a walking stick from time to time.”
So, what words of new year’s wisdom would this unstoppable couple give to other seniors who want to chart a course to greater wellness? “Try a variety of activities and pick the ones that speak to you,” Peggy says, “Also, make staying fit a social event, so you and your friends can encourage one another.”
“Remember, a fitness class only works if you show up,” she laughs, “and Blue Skies makes it easy. Everything’s right here—and you can’t use household chores and yardwork as an excuse, because they take care of everything.”
SEE WHY BLUE SKIES AND HEALTHY AGING GO HAND-IN-HAND
Our uniquely holistic approach delivers all dimensions of wellness with an excitement and vibrancy that’s hard to find in other Life Plan Communities. It’s just one more reason why Blue Skies is the #1 retirement community in San Antonio and #8 in the nation for seniors from all walks of life.
Come discover what can be. To schedule your personalized tour experience and meet our senior wellness team, click here or call 866-553-5389.
