People who are of retirement age have a lot of happy years to look forward to, but they need to be sure that they're healthy enough to enjoy those years of leisure. Here are three ways that you can take care of your health:

1. Join a senior-friendly gym.

Senior-friendly gyms have been popping up in cities across the U.S. These gyms specifically cater to the over 50 crowd, inviting to the gym people who might not be comfortable with traditional gyms that target the young body-builder crowd. These gyms employ strategies to appeal to seniors such as playing music from past decades at a non-earsplitting volume, using air-powered resistance machines, and eliminating free weights which can be both dangerous and loud. Many of their employees are of the same age group, creating a comfort level between the staff and the customers.

Joining a gym can motivate you to exercise three or more times a week. Since you pay the membership fee at the beginning of the month, you'll want to get your money's worth by going as much as possible. Also, many of these gyms offer interesting classes that can help you increase your balance, strength, and flexibility, all of which can help you prevent falls, aches, and pains.

2. Volunteer with a local organization.

Volunteers are more likely to feel useful, a feeling which is extremely important to the overall well-being of seniors. Seniors without a strong sense of usefulness are more likely to have poor health and die sooner than seniors who do feel useful. Since people who retire may feel like they're not contributing as much to society as they once did, volunteering is an excellent way to boost that sense of purpose.

Talk with local organizations that do work that you find interesting, or visit the AARP's Experience Corp website to find opportunities that will help you take advantage of your strengths. If you're good with younger people, consider acting as a mentor or tutor to a youngster who shares your interests; if you're a whiz at numbers, see if a small non-profit in the area needs help keeping up with their accounts; and if you're handy, look into sharing your skills by teaching a class at the community college.

3. Invest in a Medicare Advantage plan.

It's important that you visit the doctor for annual check ups and recommended screenings to catch any diseases or conditions in their early stages. For example, skin cancer caught early is much more treatable than cancerous growths found at later stages.

While Medicare will provide you with insurance to help pay for hospital visits and skilled nursing facilities, with this basic plan you'll still be responsible for many out-of-pocket costs. If you stay in the hospital, for instance, you'll have to pay $992 for any visit up to 60 days. This substantial cost may deter you from seeking treatment, which is unfortunate because this may make your condition even worse.

In contrast, Medicare Advantage plans usually offer reduced out-of-pocket cost, meaning that you don't have to worry about taking care of any medical issues because of financial concerns. They're able to do so because you generally pay a monthly premium to help cover any larger costs incurred through medical treatment. You may be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan through your former employer, or you can seek out your own plan.

You have many more years ahead of you, so be sure to stay as healthy as possible so you can enjoy those years and live comfortably. Joining a senior-friendly gym, volunteering, and enrolling in a Medicare Advantage or other Senior Care Insurance Services plans are three ways to stay healthy and happy.

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