Aging well is about more than living longer. It is about maintaining strength, protecting health, getting restorative sleep and planning ahead so that we can remain active, independent and engaged as our needs change.

Staying Put in New Canaan has been at the forefront of this conversation, and now in partnership with New Canaan Library and Lapham Community Center, we will present “Aging Well: 4 Keys to Living Stronger, Healthier and More Confidently,” a 4-part series offering practical advice from professionals in physical therapy, geriatrics, sleep medicine and senior care. The series begins September 15 and addresses 4 issues that can have a significant impact on quality of life as we age.

Maintaining Muscle After 60: The Role of Protein, Strength Training and Daily Activity will open the series on Tuesday, September 15, at 12:30 pm at Lapham Community Center. Physical therapists Nick Rutigliano, DPT, ATC, and Jennifer Zagarino, PT, DPT, will discuss why maintaining muscle is one of the most important factors while we age. You’ll learn practical, evidence-based strategies to build and preserve strength through proper nutrition, safe resistance training, and daily movement to support independence, mobility and overall quality of life. RSVP to Lapham Center at 203-594-3620. Lunch will be served.

Maintaining Your Health as You Age: A Geriatrician’s Guide to Healthy Aging. on Friday, October 9, at 10 am at New Canaan Library, will be presented by geriatrician Dr. Alison McElhone, MD. She will discuss ways to keep the mind and body functioning at their best and the role preventive care can play in reducing falls and injuries, serious infections, heart attack, stroke and hospitalization. The goal, she says, is not simply to add years to life, but to add life to our years. RSVP to New Canaan Library at 203-594-5000.

Improving Your Sleep for Better Health: Aging and Sleep: Strategies for Restful Nights and More Energetic Days on Thursday, October 22 at 4:30pm at the Lapham Community Center will be presented by pulmonologist and sleep specialist Dr. Dominic Roca, MD. Sleep is another important and sometimes misunderstood part of healthy aging. Dr. Roca will explore how sleep changes with age, common sleep disorders and practical strategies for achieving better, more restorative sleep. This presentation is part of the Staying Put Annual Meeting. RSVP to Staying Put at 203-966-7762. Appetizers will be served at 4:30pm and the presentation will start promptly at 5pm.

Staying Prepared for Your Future: Understanding Your Options as Needs Change on Thursday, November 12, at 11 am at New Canaan Library will conclude the series. Paul and Susan Doyle of Oasis Senior Advisors will discuss the range of senior living and care options available as circumstances change. The presentation will focus on understanding choices, thinking ahead and making informed decisions before a change in circumstances requires an immediate decision. RSVP to New Canaan Library at 203-594-5000.

Taken together, the 4 programs offer a practical roadmap for aging well: build strength, protect your health, prioritize sleep and plan ahead. Please consider attending one or more of the programs. This series will offer useful information that can be put into practice now, and provide a better understanding of the choices that can help us all remain healthy, active and independent for years to come.