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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MARCH 2026 | 5 Community Awareness Program By Michele Walter If you did not have a chance to participate in February's program, please watch it on Channel 97. e information and slide show which the Banning Police Department presented was so educational and detailed. e presentation from the District Attorney's oce and from Altura Credit Union was full of facts and advice. Please make time to watch this informative presentation. PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES YOU ENJOY AS YOU AGE! ere are many things you can do to help boost your health as you age, including making healthy food choices and not smoking. But, did you know that participating in social and other activities you enjoy can also help support healthy aging? As you grow older, you may nd yourself spending more time at home alone. Being lonely or socially isolated is not good for your overall health. BENEFITS OF AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE: Engaging in social and productive activities you enjoy, such as taking an art class, joining a hiking club, or becoming a volunteer in your community, may help to maintain your well-being and independence as you age. An active lifestyle is more than just getting your daily steps in. It includes doing activities that are meaningful to you and benet your mind, spirit, and body. Research has shown that older adults with an active lifestyle: • Are less likely to develop certain diseases • Have a longer lifespan • Are happier and less depressed • Are better prepared to cope • May be able to improve their thinking abilities FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE: Everyone has dierent limits to the amount of time they can spend on social or other activities. What is perfect for one person may be too much for another. You might start by adding one or two activities to your routine and see how you feel. You can always add more. Remember, participating in activities you enjoy should be fun, not stressful. ACTIVITIES TO CONSIDER: • Connect with family and friends — play cards, travel with a group of older adults, try dierent restaurants with your loved ones, listen and share favorite music with your family, join a hobby group, and reconnect with old friends. • Learn something new — take a cooking, art, dance, language or computer class. Join a book club, try yoga, tai chi, or learn how to play a musical instrument. • Become more active in your community — visit a community or senior center and take part in its events and activities, serve meals or organize donations for people in need, join a committee, volunteer at a school, library, hospital, teach a favorite pastime or skill. • Go out and get moving — garden, go dancing, join a sports club, walk or bicycle, take an exercise class. • Adopt healthy stress-relieving habits — read a good book, practice gratitude and mindfulness, cook your favorite healthy meal, enjoy the little things, such as a cup of coee or sunrise. You may also be interested in nding tips to help get started with exercise, reading about benets of exercise, and exploring ways to help stay motivated to exercise. (National Institute on Aging, March 28, 2022) Questions or concerns? Call Michele Walter at (951) 202-8009 or email crystalwater@dc.rr.com. See something, say something. Please report any suspicious individuals, activities, and thes directly to Banning Police Department or call 911!