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Tag: elderly

Dolce Vita Chair Stairlift: the only one Made in Italy

LHome is a place of love, family, and memories… it’s an extremely important part of our lives. That’s why we continuously seek to improve it, by renovating it with the best available materials, or furnishing it with fine and elegant furniture.

We strive to make it comfortable and suitable for our needs, which are constantly changing. We want to enjoy it in complete freedom, without any limitations and in maximum comfort.

That’s why Vimec has come up with an elegant and refined product that’s capable of adapting to any type of home: the Dolce Vita Chair Stairlift.

This next generation chair stairlift is the ideal solution for effortlessly overcoming the home’s staircase, which, over the years, can come to pose a serious obstacle within the home.

The Dolce Vita model is unique.

Among all the chair stairlift models, it’s the only one designed and manufactured entirely in Italy, and it even guarantees an excellent price/quality ratio.

There are various benefits to choosing a Made in Italy product:

  • no middlemen: from the factory directly to your home;
  • custom design and construction, based specifically on your needs and requirements;
  • wide-reaching after sales support: possibility of directly contacting the support centre nearest your home.
  • free technical and fiscal advice.

Like all Vimec products, the Dolce Vita chair stairlift is built according to the high quality standards required by the European regulations: high quality means excellent durability.

Contact one of our consultants now to help you choose the perfect Dolce Vita chair stairlift for your home.

Co-housing: a solution for everyone

Co-housing, or rather the choice to live together with other families, and to share not only your living environments, but also your free time, has become increasingly popular in recent years, even in Italy.

Many families choose to jointly build a common housing complex, which, in addition to the individual apartments, also contains various common areas, like laundry rooms, play rooms for children, gardens, libraries, and often even a kitchen and dining area for shared meals.

This isn’t just a way to save money by sharing expenses, but it also allows for numerous social benefits to be obtained.

In fact, co-housing allows people to avoid being alone, and can be an ideal housing solution for the elderly, who, while still retaining their own private quarters, have various opportunities to enjoy the companionship of other families, and can make themselves useful, for example, by helping them out with small domestic or maintenance tasks, or can even serve as adoptive grandparents for their children, who might need to be looked after while their parents are busy.

Guaranteed accessibility

One important aspect for residential co-housing complexes is the elimination of architectural barriers, in order to ensure that there are no limitations for the inhabitants or any guests.

An excellent solution in this regard is to install a lift, which ensures greater home comfort for everyone, above all for people with disabilities, the elderly, and mothers with small children strollers.

Furthermore, the current electric lifts, such as the EcoVimec, offer the eco-compatibility characteristics required for co-housing structures. In fact, the sharing of rooms and resources naturally leads to behavioural and attitude changes that favour energy savings and the eco-sustainability of the community itself, such as ethical purchasing groups, or car sharing, for example.

Co-housing is an important life choice that offers countless advantages!

Maximum safety with Vimec’s Dolce Vita chair stairlift

The issue of safety is increasingly important nowadays: whether we’re talking about safety at home, in the car, or at the workplace, there are many rules, measures, and available tools for rendering every moment of the day, and every movement that we make, as safe as possible.

The home is certainly the place where we feel safest and most at ease, because we know it like the back of our hand. In fact, since we want it to remain safe and well-suited to our needs over the course of years, the installation of a system for overcoming architectural barriers can prove to be an excellent decision.

Safety is an extremely important element for Vimec as well, and its products are equipped with all the features and characteristics necessary to render them as safe as possible.

Vimec’s Dolce Vita chair stairlift includes all the features necessary to ensure maximum reliability and comfort for the user:

  • Safety sensors positioned on the tread platform and automatic carriage: the chair comes to a gentle stop if an obstacle is encountered
  • Safety belt: with an automatic rewinding mechanism, to adapt perfectly to the user’s physical structure
  • Tread platform with non-slip surface and safety edges
  • Seat designed to rotate 75°, to allow the passenger to exit safely and conveniently
  • User joystick on the armrest for optimal control over the chair’s direction of movement
  • Slowed departure and arrival feature

Vimec’s technology and experience guarantee the safety of its customers!

How much does a stairlift cost?

Our daily goal is to offer increasingly better services and to ensure the satisfaction of those who choose Vimec for their comfort and mobility needs.

We are always available to provide those who contact us for the first time with any information they may require about our products and solutions for easily and conveniently overcoming staircases at home. One of the questions that we hear most often from new customers regards the price of a new stairlift (such as the Vimec Dolce Vita stairlift) and the reason the price isn’t specified in the catalogue or on the website.

The answer is simple: it’s not possible to provide a single fixed price for the installation of a stairlift.

All of Vimec’s systems are made to measure in order to meet the specific needs of their buyers and their installation environments. Every stairlift installed is unique, and the cost therefore changes based on various factors:

  • Type and length of the staircase: it is important to and determine the side of the staircase upon which it needs to be installed, as well as the length of the run, the number of curves, and any intermediate stops required;
  • The most suitable model: since each customer has different requirements, it is necessary to identify the most suitable stairlift by taking all of their particular needs into account;
  • The living environment: in addition to eliminating the problem of overcoming the stairs within the home, a stairlift must also have characteristics and finishes that allow it to be perfectly integrated within the surrounding living environment. Your Vimec consultant will be able to determine the best solution for your home.
  • Special installations: not all staircases are suitable for installing a stairlift, and, in certain cases, it is necessary to come up with ad hoc solutions in order to achieve this goal.

All it takes is a free, no-commitment, on-site inspection by a technical consultant to evaluate the type of staircase to be overcome, and the most suitable stairlift model to be installed.

The consultant will also provide you with a detailed illustration of how Vimec will create a solution tailored to your needs, complete with all the customisation possibilities, in order to meet all of your requirements, even in terms of pricing.

The Vimec Dolce Vita chair stairlift: in complete harmony with your style

The home reflects the tastes of its inhabitants… of those who have chosen it as the place to love and nurture their family; over the course of the years it’s embellished, maintained, enriched with memories and keepsakes, or carefully selected furnishings.

That’s why the installation of a lifting system (whether a chair stairlift or a homelift) is an important step, as it changes the layout and the contours of the home, even from an aesthetic standpoint.

It’s an element that will enrich the home and improve the lives of all of its inhabitants with greater comfort and accessibility, while at the same time remaining in perfect harmony with the style of the house itself, and with the tastes of those who live there.

Vimec has designed and created the Dolce Vita chair stairlift in such a way that it can be harmoniously inserted within any kind of environment, from the most traditional to the most modern. In fact, the available customisations allow the chair stairlift to blend in as much as possible with the existing décor, or, conversely, to make it a focal point, while nevertheless remaining consistent with the style of the surroundings.

With three different seat colours available and a guide rail that can be customised with any colour from the RAL range, the Dolce Vita chair stairlift can be prepared based on the specific tastes and preferences of the customer.

Three different installations of the Vimec Dolce Vita model, each with different customisations, in order to create elegant, refined, and accessible environments, complete with all the comfort and practicality typical of Vimec stairlifts.

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An ivory coloured seat and guide rail allow the chair stairlift to completely blend in to the staircase; the contours of the guide rail simultaneously follow and become part of the staircase’s banister, thus resulting in an elegant and refined style.

V59 CIAPPARELLI guida marrone

The guide rail features a lively colour tone, as requested by the customer, in such a way as to bring out the wood tones of the staircase itself; the brown seat is particularly elegant, and goes well with the rest of the furnishings.

Vimec will be among the Italian excellences present at Interlift in Augsburg, Germany.

During the world’s main Trade Fair dedicated to lifts and vertical transport in general (INTERLIFT – Augsburg, Germany, from 15 to 18 October 2013), Vimec will be present at the Magnificent Italy stand, with its S10 platform liftand a T09 Roby model mobile stairclimber.

The Magnificent Italy stand arose from a joint initiative between the German trade fair organizer AFAG and the Italian publication Elevatori, with the aim of creating a space dedicated to Italian excellences, with a focus upon the undisputed prestige of several manufacturers in the industry, and flanking it with major brands and flagship products from the Italian market: Ferrari, Ducati, various Fashion Designers (Prada, Armani, Flos), and companies associated with Italy’s Wine & Food culture.

At the Magnificent Italy stand, visitors can admire Italian excellences next to the products of Italian companies like Vimec, and take a break in the tasting area, where samples of Prosecco, genuine Parmesan cheese, pizza, and pasta will be offered on a daily basis.

A Venice accessible to everyone: is it even possible?

A grandiose work of art, the city of Venice, has recently found itself embroiled in controversy on the Internet. The complaint of a Venetian girl has ignited a controversy about the inability to get around and live in Venice due to the numerous architectural barriers, thus mobilising the likes of Bernardo Bertolucci, and even Mayor Orsini himself. After recalling the recent interventions carried out to facilitate the mobility of people with disabilities in Venice, the city’s mayor nevertheless declared that no historical city is entirely accessible to the disabled.

And yet the fact that it took the web reporter, armed with crutches and a wheelchair, more than three and a quarter hours to go from the train station to St. Mark’s Square makes you wonder. The thirteen bridges that separate these two points of the city have transformed themselves from splendid attractions into difficult obstacles. How can one admire the architecture of Ponte Calatrava or Ponte della Paglia when they have become unscalable walls for so many people?

Will the world’s most beautiful city, which arose from the fusion of Venetian, Byzantine, and Gothic art, ever be accessible to everyone? We’re not just talking about tourists, but also hundreds of Venetians with disabilities or elderly people with mobility issues. We like to think that one day it will be. The market of overcoming architectural barriers is always ready to offer both vertical and horizontal solutions, and Vimec will certainly do its part to offer solutions made it to measure, thus ensuring the mobility of people with disabilities in complete safety and comfort. The Venetian building code has already changed, and now even permits the installation of outdoor lifts on historic buildings. These will allow people to get out of the house and move about more freely. Finally, with projects like “”Gondolas without barriers””, which will provide people in wheelchairs with direct access to gondolas, the city of canals will gradually become increasingly accessible.

The future looks promising.

https://youtu.be/3qqFtMGtAbw

A new design for Vimec’s S10 platform lift

Ideal for ensuring independence and freedom of movement for people with mobility issues in both public and private buildings, the S10 platform lift is perfect for overcoming height gaps of up to 3 metres.

The S10 platform lift is capable of overcoming height gaps ranging from 1.1m to 2.99m. Useful for people with disabilities confined to wheelchairs, as well as for the entire family.

Suitable for any environment

The S10 platform lift adapts perfectly to the functional and aesthetic requirements of any environment thanks to its meticulous design and various customisation possibilities. The S10 is finished in painted steel (RAL 7040), and can be furnished with a stainless steel structure upon request, complete with charcoal coloured polycarbonate bumpers to protect the edges and the floor gate.

Safe and comfortable

The S10 model is designed to ensure maximum safety for the entire family (both for people who want to bring greater value to their homes, as well as for the elderly and people with disabilities), and features the following safety systems:

  • access bar or gate
  • shaft protection with bellows
  • double bottom with pressure sensitive edges to prevent any possibility of crushing.

Thanks to its soft start/stop system, the motor (equipped with inverter) renders the unit’s functionality particularly smooth.

Reduced installation times

The platform lift comes furnished preassembled, and allows the system to be installed either indoors (inside a shop or office building, to connect two floors) or outdoors (on the façade of a private home or condominium, in order to provide access to a balcony from the ground floor).

In addition to being quick, safe, and easy to use, the S10 does not require any structural interventions.

Chair stairlift for straight staircases

You’ll never have any more problems overcoming a straight flight of stairs inside or outside your home.

The Ischia model chair stairlift provides for ease and freedom of movement between the various floors of the home; in fact, this model is designed to overcome a straight flight of stairs, and can be quickly and easily installed.

Three characteristics render our Ischia model chair stairlift entirely unique:

  1. Rapid availability after the order: in fact, straight staircases to not require any particular interventions, which would extend the delivery and installation times.
  2. Collapsible guide rail: the chair stairlift’s guide rail can be modified so that the last extremity of the guide rail itself is able to be collapsed, thus further reducing its encumbrance while the chair is not in use, and allowing any doors that may be in the vicinity of the staircase to be closed, for example.
  3. Sliding guide rail: the chair’s guide rail slides on a track, the length of which is decided based on the requirements and the available space.

The Ischia chair stairlift is also equipped with all the comforts and accessories necessary to ensure maximum safety and ease of use on the part of the user:

  • the joystick on the armrest renders the chair stairlift particularly easy to use;
  • the practical floor call remote control allows the chair to be called to the desired floor in the case of multiple users;
  • the lever for rotating the seat allows the user to exit the chair quickly and easily upon reaching the destination floor;
  • the height of the armrests and the seat can be adjusted based on the user’s needs;
  • the Ischia model chair stairlift does not require any structural interventions for installation;
  • an outdoor version is also available, which is made from particularly weather-resistant materials.

Accessible condominiums, with the V65 and V64 platform stairlifts

Accessibility at condominiums is often difficult due to the presence of staircases or the absence of lifts in order to allow people with disabilities to reach the building’s various apartments.

It is often necessary to overcome several outdoor steps in order to reach the entry, and people with disabilities are often unable to do this independently and without considerable difficulty. In some cases, the structure of the condominium itself precludes the possibility of installing a lift in order to reach the various floors of the building.

Vimec’s platform stairlift’s are specially designed to resolve every type of accessibility problem in all kinds of condominiums, whether for accessing the building’s entrance or overcoming the flights of stairs between the various floors.

The two different models available are designed to be installed on various types of staircases: the V64 is suitable for straight staircases, while the V65 is equipped with a curved guide rail.

Both models have characteristics and features that make them perfect for any type of installation:

  • they can be installed both indoors and outdoors, and in the latter case they come complete with a weatherproof tarp;
  • their compact size and various wall or step anchoring possibilities render them suitable for any type of environment, without diminishing its style or elegance;
  • they come with removable keys in order to ensure that they will only be used by authorised individuals in possession of an activation key, thus minimising the risk of damage due to vandalism or improper use;
  • the built-in panel makes the stairlift simple and practical to use: no training is required, and it can even be used by guests with no need for the owner’s assistance.

The chair stairlift: the solution you’ve been looking for

Vimec chair stairlifts facilitate the movements of people with disabilities and mobility problems, and allow everyone to independently enjoy their homes in complete safety.

For which types of staircases are they suitable?

  • Straight staircases
  • Staircases with multiple flights

They can be installed either indoors or outdoors.

In order to identify and design the chair stairlift that’s best suited to your needs and the structure of your home, it is necessary to conduct an on-site inspection, free of charge and with absolutely no commitment.

Montascale a poltroncina Ischia
Ischia model Capri Model Elba Model
  • Does the chair stairlift’s installation require extra work interventions?

The chair stairlift is custom-designed to fit the staircase in your home. This renders the installation procedure simple, with no need for structural interventions.

The guide rail upon which the chair stairlift moves can be anchored to either the wall or the steps, based on the specific requirements. Once the installation has been completed, the technicians will conduct the necessary tests in order to make sure that the system is working properly.

  • Is it safe to use?

The chair stairlift is a safepractical, and easy to use solution. The controls on the armrest make each movement convenient and automatic: the swivel seat allows the user to effortlessly climb in and out, with maximum ease.

  • Who can I contact to order one?

Vimec has consultants everywhere in United Kingdom, and is always at your complete disposal for any doubts or clarifications you may have, free of charge and with absolutely no commitment. This will allow you to evaluate the characteristics of your staircase, and determine the solution that’s best suited to your home.

Fill out the yellow form, and you’ll be contacted as soon as possible!

Grandparents: the pillars of the family

Among the various social groups with which we interact daily, the family is perhaps that which is changing the most: social progress, economic dynamics, and increasingly fluid sentimental bonds are resulting in constantly changing family structures.

Due to these factors, mothers today are not always able to constantly look after their children. This is where grandparents come into play: the new pillars of the family.

The grandparents’ role

In a society where both parents work, who takes care of the children’s needs? Many couples are able to rely on grandparents.

Grandparents are usually already retired. They’ve lived full lives: they’ve worked, perhaps they’ve travelled… and they often don’t know what to do with all their free time. So taking care of a grandchild is a pleasure.

It’s not uncommon to see grandparents accompanying children to and from school, or taking them to afternoon activities. Grandmothers often spoil their grandchildren with excellent food, much to their delight!

It’s also a well-known fact that, after having been strict with their own children, grandparents tend to be more lenient with their grandchildren: guess who buys more toys?

Playing with grandchildren

Playing with grandchildren is fun for both the grandparents and the children alike.

Think of a grandfather at the park with his grandson: chasing around a lively toddler is a great way to keep in shape! Being immersed by greenery, a park is also an excellent place to take in some fresh air. While the child is occupied with the playground equipment, the grandfather can sit down on a nearby bench and read a good book.

There are also various playtime activities in which both can engage at home: for example, in order to keep their minds sharp, grandparents can teach their grandchildren how to play chess.

Grandmothers can teach their more creative grandchildren how to use seeds to create original designs. For smaller grandchildren there are numerous memory games to help them learn the alphabet, colours, numbers, animals… and much more!

Not to mention classic board games, to be played in groups. After all, who’s never played Monopoly?

When grandchildren get older, grandparents can help them develop a greater sense of civic awareness: after all, who understand the importance of reducing waste better than a Grandfather? Perhaps with the help of the internet, grandparents and grandchildren can even discover how to build creative things using recycled materials!

There’s never a dull moment

As we have seen, taking care of grandchildren can be a great way to stay youthful and active.

It gives grandparents the opportunity to rediscover the joy of playing and having fun, as if they were “kids” again: every day becomes a new discovery for everyone.

The parents can have peace of mind, while the grandparents and the grandchildren play: that’s the new balance in the Italian family!

Over 65 – Sports and health

Engaging in sports is beneficial at any age: it helps to maintain physical and mental health, thus improving and prolonging life. Engaging in regular physical activity over long periods of time helps to prevent many diseases, including high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.

Engaging in sports regularly helps us keep in shape and looking great. But there are also many other important reasons to stay fit: stronger muscles and bones with respect to a sedentary person; a more efficient cardio-respiratory tract and greater stamina.

Thanks to a greater awareness of the benefits of constant physical activity, the number of people with gym memberships is on the rise. It’s also increasingly common to see people jogging or cycling outdoors.

An overview of people over 65 and sports

Despite the increasing awareness among young people of the benefits offered by sports, the situation among the elderly is lagging: just 15% of people over 65 engage in sports more than once a week.

Most elderly people go out for a pleasant walk around their homes almost daily. Some dedicate themselves to outdoor activities like gardening. This is already a good start: in fact, a little bit of daily movement provides for the following benefits:

  • Increased blood flow to the brain
  • Improved respiratory function
  • Numerous heart benefits, including better blood circulation to the body’s tissues
  • Walking is also good for the bones, as it helps them to maintain better density over time, without becoming fragile

All of these benefits are even further increased if the elderly person dedicates him/herself to a regular sports activity, in consultation with a physician, and monitored by a good instructor.

Which sports

Engaging in regular physical activity is the most effective anti-ageing factor for maintaining physical and mental health over time. For people over 65, it is highly recommended to engage in a regular sports activity: now let’s take a look at the exercises most highly recommended for people in their golden years:

  • Fit walkingwalking briskly outdoors. Recommended for everyone as a way to keep in shape, it’s good for the cardio-respiratory system, increases bone density, and tones the muscles.
  • Water aerobics: particularly recommended for those who are advised to engage in physical activity, but without overloading the hips and knees due to back painobesity or joint problems in the legs. Improves blood circulation and promotes muscular and psychological relaxation.
  • Pilates: with its smooth, controlled, and harmonious movements, this gentle form of exercise is particularly recommended for elderly people as a way to tone up the abdominal, lumbar and dorsal muscles.

A wide range of benefits

As we have seen, there are various physical activities suitable for people over 65. All of them play the fundamental physical role of preventing numerous diseases.

However, the psychological aspect should not be overlooked: in fact, sports also play a social function, and help to fight loneliness among the elderly.

It is also important to consider the level of independence achieved by elderly people with fit bodies: being capable of carrying your shopping bags on your own is a goal that not all people over 65 are able to achieve!

So don’t wait: if you want to achieve excellent results throughout each phase of your life, now’s the time to take up a sport.

Vimec and customer satisfaction

We would like to dedicate some space to telling you about our business and what we strive to do every day. Designing, building and installing systems for eliminating architectural barriers is what we do, and this is evident to everyone.

But the work that we actually do each day consists of much more, something less evident, and much more important.

We provide solutions to people who struggle within their homes, or while visiting the public places they frequent.

We are charged with the delicate task of understanding people’s needs, and coming up with the products best suited to resolving their problems.

Whether we’re talking about a chair stairlift, a platform lift, or a homelift, there are very few aspects of our work that can be considered standard. Every home and environment in which we are called upon to work has its own specific architectural characteristics, with dimensions and constraints to be respected.

Each of our installations is new and original, and cannot be duplicated.

We know there’s no such thing as perfection!

We reached and exceeded the milestone of 110,000 installations: a huge number that makes us proud of what we have accomplished, and gives us the strength and confidence to introduce ourselves to new customers each day.

The Internet is a tool that we use in a targeted manner in order to publicise our company and our products.

This tool allows us to reach thousands of people every day, while at the same time inevitably exposing us to the criticism of those who claim to be dissatisfied with our work. This is a risk that we have accepted and shall never back away from. In fact, this criticism is utilised within our organisation as a catalyst for the processes of improving our customer responses and the response times themselves.

Then again, while dissatisfied customers rapidly disseminate their messages through social media and/or using other online tools, satisfied customers disseminate their messages in a more modest may, often with private messages or phone calls of appreciation.

That’s just part of the game, and we’re glad to be part of it. For us, the Internet serves as a constant stimulus to improve, to formulate proposals, and to come up with solutions that are increasingly responsive to our customers’ needs and expectations.

Poltroncina montascale Vimec Dolce Vita

This is the case, for example, with Vimec’s Dolce Vita model, our new chair stairlift that has arisen from a series of design constraints linked to an increase of various demands in recent years:

  • safety and ease of use;
  • compact size to allow for use on smaller staircases as well;
  • affordable price with respect to similar products offered by the competition;
  • design and production entirely in Italy.

The Dolce Vita model is a solution for many requirements, because Vimec is not just an engineering company, but a group of people who are constantly striving to come up with the best solutions to the needs of other people, who simply want to live their lives and enjoy their mobility with complete peace of mind.

Bathroom safety

When you’re young, you might not realise that the home in which you live has various barriers or limitations.

Yet the home can potentially be an extremely hazardous place: in fact, we often hear people talking about domestic accidents. Although certain problems can arise due to negligence, some accidents are specifically due to the limitations found in the home.

These are even more hazardous for the elderly: in fact, for those who have difficulty walking or poor vision, a single step or the absence of something to hold onto can make all the difference in terms of safety.

Statistically speaking, the places where most domestic accidents occur are the kitchen and the bathroom. Analyses must therefore be conducted in order to identify the sources of danger present, and how to eliminate or minimise them in an acceptable manner.

Why the bathroom can be considered a dangerous room

The bathroom is considered a dangerous place because it encloses two elements within a confined space, which, when combined, can be fatal: electricity and water.

As early as the design phase, it is necessary to be extremely careful of the positioning of the electrical outlets, switches, and sanitary ware (namely bathtubs and showers).

Various safety zones are identified based on their distances from the sanitary ware: the closer we are to the water sources, the less advisable it is to install electrical outlets.

Water on its own is a danger source in terms of the possibility of slipping and falling in the bathroom: many domestic accidents take place in the shower or bathtub, where people often slip and fall down.

How to make your bathroom safe

If you’re building your bathroom from scratch, or are doing any major remodelling, it’s recommended to keep the following suggestions in mind:

  • Use non-slip flooring and wall coverings. There are particularly porous ceramics on the market, which are quite suitable for this purpose. Wood and linoleum are also recommended materials.
  • Place non-slip rubber mats inside bathtubs and showers
  • Install emergency safety bells inside box showers and near bathtubs.
  • Place a seat inside the shower. Even a stool will do, provided that it is stable.
  • It is preferable for the walls of the shower to be made of plastic, not glass.
  • Consider installing handles to help any elderly people about; these are also ideal if there is a wheelchair-bound person living in the home (in this case, larger spaces will also be necessary).
  • Eliminate any steps and height gaps. This recommendation applies to all the rooms of the house.

Safe living

Nowadays, safety goes hand-in-hand with beauty and functionality: why should you forgo a designer bathroom when an ever-increasing number of companies are offering aesthetically pleasing and fully accessible solutions?

An environment devoid of barriers is the perfect place to dedicate some time to your personal wellness. And what better place is there to pamper yourself than the bathroom? Enjoy it in complete safety, thanks to the increasingly large number of solutions that we have explored together.

Travelling during your golden years

trip can have many nuances: it can be an adventure, it can be relaxing, it can be a means for socialising and meeting people, or it can be an opportunity for fun and cultural enrichment.

Anyone, at any time of their life, can find the trip that’s right for them. This is also true for people over 65.

Travel agencies are increasingly dedicating more attention to this age group: nowadays, in fact, people who are over-65 are typically retired, and therefore have a lot of free time on their hands, which they often take advantage of in order to take all the trips that they couldn’t take when they were young.

Recommended vacations

The classic type of vacation that more or less all retirees tend to enjoy involves spending time at spa: that’s because these types of vacations combine relaxation with a wide range of personal wellness treatments and rehabilitation activities. Thanks to special packages for people over-65, spa vacations are becoming increasingly accessible to everyone.

The free time that people have during retirement can also be exploited for trips around the world, in order to visit exotic countries and learn about different cultures. One can travel by plane, but ships are also recommended: why not pamper yourself on a cruise?

Another type of vacation that the elderly might enjoy consists of food and wine tourism. Visiting never before seen Italian cities, while enjoying traditional foods and sampling extraordinary wines: ideal for connoisseurs of excellent cuisine!

Special discounts

Thanks to the considerable increase in tourism among the over-65 age group, numerous transport companies and accommodation facilities are offering special discounts for this category.

  • Trains: the main Italian and international railway transport companies offer special prices on their High Speed lines. A useful way to incentivise this kind of environmentally-friendly travel.
  • Museums: all the most popular places of cultural interest now offer special discounts for the elderly. This is an excellent way to stimulate people from this age group to keep their passion for culture alive. Did you know that you can often get additional discounts on museum admissions if you purchase them together with train tickets?

Travelling to stay young

Travelling has become an elixir for longevity. Travelling stimulates our curiosity, and allows us to discover and learn about new places, thus keeping the brain active.

For people over 65, travelling has become a way to turn back the clock to a time when they might have been too busy to travel, and to dedicate themselves entirely to their passions.

Cultivate your interests, stay active, give yourself the gift of a trip dedicated to your own personal wellness, enjoy excellent food and wine, and dedicate yourself to cultural tourism to never stop learning. Life after 65 can still have many surprises in store: don’t miss out on them!

Food helps to keep you in shape

As the philosopher Feuerbach once said, “you are what you eat.” Therefore it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that there’s a strong link between diet and health.

Eating various types of foods, sparingly, and several times a day helps us to live longer, and helps prevent diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

The false claims about food

Countless new diets are proposed each year. Many of these are based on the complete elimination of one or more categories of nutrients deemed to be “bad for you”:

  • Carbohydrates: these are often the first to be put on trial, accused of making us fat. The truth, however, is that people obtain energy precisely by burning carbohydrates. Therefore, they shouldn’t be eliminated entirely, but we should however reduce our consumption of sweets and alcohol in favour of whole grains.
  • Animal protein and red meat: the results of a research study indicating that red meat is carcinogenic have recently been making the rounds. The truth, however, isn’t quite that simple: red meat can potentially cause cancer if consumed in excessive amounts and if associated with other risk factors. Animal proteins should not be eliminate at all costs, as this would pose a risk of serious nutritional deficiencies. Our consumption of red meat, however, should be limited to less than once a week.

The Mediterranean diet: tradition and health

The Mediterranean diet is both a culinary style and a lifestyle. In fact, it is considered an extremely important element of historical and cultural heritage. This type of diet is widespread among most of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea: Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Morocco. This diet is ideal for preventing arteriosclerosis, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, especially of the digestive system.

The food pyramid for the Mediterranean diet is as follows:

  • Carbohydrates are permitted, so bread and pasta are allowed, though preferably whole grain. These should constitute the base of the diet.
  • Large amounts of fruitsvegetables and legumes are recommended. These foods contain vitaminsproteins, and fibres, which promote bowel motility. It is recommended to consume multiple portions of fruits and vegetables per day.
  • Extra virgin olive oil is considered the condiment par excellence. Milk and dairy products can be consumed daily, but no more than once a day.
  • Fish and eggs are permitted, as they are low in fat and provide for the intake of animal proteins.
  • It is preferable to consume white meat than red meat. White meat can be eaten 2 or 3 times a week, red meat less frequently.
  • Limit the consumption of sweets and hard alcohol
  • One glass of red wine, which is rich in antioxidants, is permitted each day.

Due to its wide variety and health benefits, the Mediterranean diet has been added to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list.

The Sardinia of the supercentenarians

In Italy, there is one particular geographical area with a high density of elderly people: Sardinia.

In fact, this region, together with the Japanese island of Okinawa, boasts the highest percentage of supercentenarians.

What are the secrets to the Sardinian people’s longevity? The genetic factor certainly has something to do with it, as does the microclimate and the greater level of physical activity among the elderly residents, who remain active in cultivating the land and raising animals.

This guarantees the consumption of high quality food. In fact, according to recent studies, Sardinian wine appears to contain large amounts of antioxidants. According to ongoing research, Sardinian cheeses have bacilli with evident probiotic activity.

Pane, casu and binu a rasu” (bread, cheese and full glass of wine): that’s the recipe for living a good long life, according the Sardinians!

Exercise your mind

Thanks to medical advancements, people are living considerably longer nowadays. That’s why it’s important to reach your golden years with a youthful and well-trained mind, and to do everything you can to keep in shape.

The mind is like a “muscle”: if you don’t keep it well-trained, it will eventually lose its strength.

Some people live to 90 years of age with a perfectly clear mind, while others begin to show early signs of dementia as early as 65 or 70.

In addition to having a natural genetic predisposition, let’s take a look at some other ways to keep your mind well-trained!

Lifestyle

It might seem trivial, but changing certain lifestyle habits can have an extremely positive effect on the brain. There are several activities that are seemingly unrelated to the brain, yet impact it in a positive way: let’s find out what they are!

  • Regular physical activity. Taking a long walk every day (at least half an hour) increases the delivery of oxygen to the brain. Aerobic activities, like cycling and running, help to protect the hippocampi, which are responsible for the formation and maintenance of the memory.
  • Engaging in our passions. There are numerous group activities that help to keep the brain active: travelling, go out dancing, playing lawn bowling, fishing, and gardening are all activities that encourage social interaction and keep the mind young.
  • Sleeping well (which doesn’t mean sleeping a lot): some people just a few hours of sleep to feel well-rested. With quality sleep (regardless of the number of hours), the mind will be fresh and rested.
  • Mediterranean diet. This consists of a varied and well-balanced diet, low in fat and free radicals. Excessively large meals are not recommended. Did you know that two shots of espresso per day help to keep the brain young?

Mental exercises

Now let’s move on to the specific exercises designed to keep the mind well-trained. While there’s no need to attempt impossible puzzles, “difficult” games can certainly be more stimulating. Whatever the case, a series of exercises suitable for everyone are listed below:

  • Puzzles: A book of puzzles is an excellent way to exercise your brain. Some scholars argue that two crossword puzzles a day can delay the onset of dementia. Other games, especially riddles, can also be beneficial.
  • Chess: this complex and stimulating game requires a great deal of concentration. Every match is different, and this requires the players to continuously seek out different solutions. This in turn will have a positive impact on memory and mental clarity!
  • Counting down. Here’s a challenging maths game: starting from a high number, continue subtracting a fixed number, and try to increase your speed.
  • Reading: Reading a newspaper every day, from start to finish, stimulates brain activity. Reading a book is also good for this purpose, especially if it’s a mystery: investigating the plot alongside the protagonist is a good way to stimulate brain activity.

Don’t stop there!

It’s important to constantly seek out new stimuli in order to keep your mind well-trained.

Solitude, laziness, and boredom are enemies of the brain!

Enjoy the company of friends and family as much as possible, indulge your passions and hobbies, eat properly, and sleep well: this is the best formula for reaching your golden years with a mind that’s still fresh and dynamic!

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