(BPT) - Life often changes as we age. We might find ourselves with more free time or in new social circumstances, or that we enjoy different activities than we used to. Whatever we experience, a great way to stay healthy as we age is to focus on all three components of well-being - physical, mental and emotional.
September is Healthy Aging Month, an annual reminder to take time to prioritize health on a holistic level. AARP members have access to information on products, services and resources that can help them do just that.
The Mind
Keeping the brain stimulated can be a great way to stay sharp. Research has indicated the brain continues to evolve in response to learning even at a mature age, making travel - with its exposure to new cultures, sites, languages and history - a great way to strengthen our most important organ. Travel also has many other benefits that can help boost brain health. Getting away from the day-to-day grind can reduce stress and improve resilience, and encountering new people and social opportunities can promote overall happiness and well-being.
AARP members have great travel benefits to make getting away easy, such as the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia. Members get 10% off at select hotels, up to 30% off select car rentals, up to $100 in extra onboard credits for select cruises, and a 5% rebate (up to $350) on eligible group hotel bookings. Plus, members get a $50 Visa® Prepaid Card when they book a flight vacation package.
Members can also apply for the AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays. Upon approval, cardmembers can earn a $100 cash back bonus if they spend $500 on purchases in the first 90 days. Cardmembers also earn unlimited cash back for their travel purchases and more: 3% on airfare, hotel stays and car rentals, 2% on restaurant purchases and 1% on all other purchases.
The Body
Staying active and eating well is often the best prescription for keeping the body in good working order. Freshly makes it easy to get balanced meals with over 50 fresh, never frozen dishes delivered to your door. Members save 20% on subscriptions of 4 to 12 meals per week and have the flexibility to pause, change or cancel their plan at any time.
As the saying goes, prevention is the best medicine, so it's important to stay up to date on checkups, including regular visits to the dentist, and follow advice from your doctor and dentist. Dental health, for example, can be an early indicator of other health issues. AARP members have access to information on dental coverage for individuals and their families to maintain good oral health.
It is also a good idea to get annual eye checkups to evaluate any vision loss or early signs of disease. If correction is needed, AARP® Vision Discounts Provided by EyeMed offer members and their families exclusive discounts at participating retailers and independent provider locations nationwide, as well as online. Members save 50% on prescription lenses with the purchase of a frame at LensCrafters, 30% on complete pair of glasses (frames and lenses) at Glasses.com, and an additional $10 on a complete pair at Target Optical.
You can stay on top of your prescriptions with AARP® Prescription Discounts Provided by OptumRx® - a free prescription discount card that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on all FDA-approved medications. The program is open to anyone, but AARP members have access to additional benefits, including deeper discounts on medications, home delivery, coverage for dependents and more.
The Spirit
Difficult to define and often dismissed as 'new age-y,' spiritual health is frequently overlooked, yet maintaining a sense of purpose as we experience life changes is important. If you derive fulfillment from being closer to loved ones or interacting with neighbors, perhaps it's time to relocate. AARP® Real Estate Benefits from Realogy provides members with access to real estate agents from Realogy's trusted real estate brands, including Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, Century 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Corcoran Group, and ERA® Real Estate. Plus, members can receive $300-$7,200 in benefits based on the sale or purchase price of their home. There is no fee to sign up, and depending on the location of the home, you will receive your benefits as cash, as a gift card, or as a commission reduction.
Or you might need a little R&R to nourish your spirit. Take a relaxing getaway with a stay at one of Hilton's properties. AARP members save up to 10% on the best available rate, and get late checkout until 2 p.m., when available. Hilton's portfolio of hotels includes Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and many others.
Products that help you look and feel your best can boost confidence and fortify your spirit. Stock up on health, wellness, and beauty products like vitamins, skin care products, cosmetics and more, all available at Walgreens. When members link their AARP membership and myWalgreens® account, they can earn 10% Walgreens Cash rewards on Walgreens-branded health and wellness products. AARP members also receive 7% Walgreens Cash rewards on Walgreens-branded beauty products and 3% Walgreens Cash rewards on other eligible beauty purchases.
Aging may be inevitable, but it can also be enjoyable. This Healthy Aging Month, take the time to focus on each aspect of your health or look for activities that benefit mind, body, and spirit together, such as gathering with friends for a healthy meal, going on a sightseeing or hiking trip, or joining a group fitness class. Whatever you do, AARP members have ways to help make it even easier and far more fun.
AARP and its affiliates are not insurers, agents, brokers or producers. AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. AARP receives a royalty fee for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP.
