At Southgate at Shrewsbury retirement community, there is a truism we really take to heart: Age is no barrier to what you can accomplish in life.
That’s why we foster a senior-living culture characterized by an abundance of exciting possibilities. Our amenities are diverse, engaging and highly enriching. They allow residents to indulge their passions, hone their skills and discover new interests.
In this two-part blog, we’ll discuss Southgate at Shrewsbury’s varied amenities in the context of several notable accomplishments achieved by older adults—dynamic, lively individuals who refused to see advancing years as anything but motivation to push themselves and their abilities farther than others may have thought possible.
The Magic of a Palette
How much do you know about Anna Mary Robertson? Probably not a lot, until we refer to her by her well-known nickname, “Grandma Moses.”
A woman who throughout her life picked up a brush as an occasional hobby, Anna turned to painting as a serious pursuit in her seventies. Completely self-taught, she primarily portrayed rural and agricultural life. She gained notoriety at the age of 78, when an art collector saw her works in a local store. Ultimately, her paintings were displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York!
That’s powerful inspiration for all budding artists—and we know there are several living here at Southgate at Shrewsbury! That’s why we provide wonderful arts & crafts resources for all our residents. Our studio allows you to unlock your true potential…or just have fun expressing yourself in vibrant colors (or subdued grays and blacks). Residents also have the opportunity to browse our art gallery wall and admire the work of fellow artists.
On Your Mark, Get Set…
We all know how vital it is to make a lifelong commitment to exercise. Of course, everyone has their own definition of “staying active.”
Take Gladys Burrill, for example. What did she decide to do at the age of 86? Oh, nothing much…just run her first marathon! She became famous six years later—yes, at 92—when she completed the Honolulu Marathon! She power-walked and jogged her way to the finish line after nine hours and 53 minutes.
Now, we’re not suggesting that you need to (or even that you’d want to!) match Gladys’ feat. However, for getting your legs moving and your heart pumping, Southgate at Shrewsbury offers a beautiful health club and spa—complete with treadmills, weights and elliptical machines.
Come on in…the Water’s Fine!
Australian George Corones may not be able to beat Michael Phelps in the pool—but, then again, George has celebrated quite a few more birthdays (67 more, to be exact!).
In March of 2018, Mr. Corones smashed two world records in four days for his age group (100 to 104) at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre—including beating the prior record by 30 seconds in the 50-meter event. Not bad for someone who stopped swimming at the onset of WWII and didn’t start again until 80!
At Southgate at Shrewsbury retirement community, you can set your own pace in our refreshing three-lane indoor swimming pool. Come on: Do it for the glory, do it for the exercise…or just do it for the sheer fun!
In Part II of this blog, we’ll cite some more fun examples of the accomplishments achieved by spirited individuals later in life…and provide additional anecdotes supporting the widely held notion that age is just a number!