It’s no secret that at Moorings Park Communities there is a strong focus on health and wellness. After all, a healthy and balanced life is a happy life, especially as the aging process is inevitable. So, why not embrace it rather than wish it away?
One way to do so is to incorporate the concept of active aging into your life.
What Is Active Aging?
“Active aging promotes the vision of all individuals—regardless of age, socioeconomic status or healthfully engaging in life within all seven dimensions of wellness: emotional, environmental, intellectual/cognitive, physical, professional/vocational, social and spiritual,” states the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA).
By keeping your mind, body, and spirit active, you increase the odds of aging successfully and being happy. Of particular interest to many boomers and seniors is how to retain their cognitive skills. A Pew Research Center survey found that 74% of adults are personal learners – “that is, they have participated in at least one of a number of possible activities in the past 12 months to advance their knowledge about something that personally interests them. Activities included reading, taking courses, or attending meetings or events tied to learning more about their personal interests.”
Of the 74% of personal learners, the following was unveiled:
- 87% say their activities helped them feel more capable and well-rounded.
- 69% say their learning opened up new perspectives about their lives.
- 64% say their learning helped them make new friends.
- 58% say it made them feel more connected to their local community.
- 43% say it prompted them to get more involved in volunteer opportunities.
Lifelong Learning at Its Finest
One man who knows first-hand about lifelong learning is Mr. Robert Levy. The six-year Moorings Park at Grey Oaks resident has had an incredible career; after receiving his Ph.D. at American University in Washington D.C., Levy founded CDA Investment Technologies, his money management business for mutual funds and pension funds. The company also provided quantitative services to institutional investors. Its quarterly release of rankings would inspire articles in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Eventually, after 26 years, Levy sold his business.
Though, his journey didn’t end there. In 1991, at age 54, the D.C. and Maryland native enrolled at George Mason University School of Law.
“I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. I’d been used to lots of grad work and spent a lot of time in academic pursuits. But it turned out my gray matter wasn’t functioning as efficiently as it once was,” he said with a laugh. “I had to work really hard to keep up with lots of younger students. Even the professors were younger than me.”
Well, the challenge was accepted. Levy graduated as valedictorian.
Remarkable Career, 2.0
For two years after earning his law degree, the part-time jazz musician clerked in the federal courts, the U.S. District Courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals in the DC Circuit.
Eventually, Levy would find himself working for the Cato Institute, an American libertarian think tank out of Washington, D.C, where he was a donor. “I went to the then-president of the Cato Institute and said if he wanted to keep getting my donations, he was going to have to hire me.” And that, he did.
Levy has been at Cato since 1997. For the past 14 years, he’s chaired the board, with primary areas including corporate governance, fundraising, the establishment of policy, and executive compensation.
“Before I was on the board, I was Cato’s senior fellow in Constitutional studies. In law school, that was my specialty. I was involved as a policy staff member at Cato before serving on the board.”
In terms of his work in Constitutional law, major issues Levy has tackled include gun control, immigration, drug legalization, abortion, same-sex marriage, electoral mechanisms, electoral college healthcare policy, anti-trust, school choice, and education.
Staying Engaged at Moorings Park at Grey Oaks
In his semi-retirement, Levy plans to spend more time with his family, especially his son and granddaughters who reside in Texas. He’d also like to travel more.
As for life at Moorings Park at Grey Oaks, he and his wife, Diane, are beyond delighted with their decision. As you could now assume, the pair is quite active and involved, so naturally, it was important for them to find a home that matches their lifestyle.
“It’s terrific. Our biggest motivation [in moving to a retirement community] was simplifying our lives,” he notes. “We have the benefit of having a home without the responsibility of homeownership, having other people taking care of maintenance, insurances, and taxes.
“We are very, very happy here because the physical community is terrific. The people are terrific. The management is effective and efficient, the food is first-rate, and there are a lot of activities to get involved in if you’re so inclined.”
It’s safe to say that Moorings Park Communities has helped Levy and so many other residents stay active, both physically and mentally. With the community’s services and programs, the Moorings Park Communities brand strives to support residents to feel more capable, well-rounded, and connected to their peers.
Mrs. Levy, for instance, is on the welcoming committee, runs the book club, and has participated in planning the scholarship gala for employees.
“It’s trouble-free living,” says Mr. Levy. “And, what better way to age than to live every day stress-free, doing what you enjoy and choosing to exercise your body and mind? Even though I’ll be stepping down from my current role at the Cato Institute in October, I plan on continuing to write and I’ll be resuming my role as an editor of Cato Supreme Court Review, along with some public speaking on constitutional issues.”
