Your 2025 Active Aging Guide

Your 2025 Active Aging Guide

These trusted local businesses help you make the most of your golden years, from managing your money to finding things to do to providing the right retirement community for you.

Photo of an older woman doing pilates on a mat during a group exercise class
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Health & Wellness

City of Hope

CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Early detection of health issues is crucial for long-term wellbeing. City of Hope’s Center for Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Monitoring is advancing the techniques and technology that help doctors catch cancer in its early stages – and saving patients’ lives.

The center uses leading-edge research to develop testing technologies that allow for increasingly early cancer detection. Located in northern Illinois, City of Hope provides access to appointments in as little as 24 hours, same-day diagnostic results and 48-hour pathology reports for patients. 

Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin

INJURY RECOVERY 

The walk-in clinic at Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin offers a quick, inexpensive way to address sprains, strains, dislocations, fractures and sports- or work-related injuries. Stop in to have your issue examined and begin your recovery.

If the injury requires it, OAW’s team of specialized orthopaedic surgeons will provide expert surgical care to patients. And the team of physician assistants, nurses and other health professionals provide a personalized recovery plan afterward to ensure long-term mobility and physical wellness. 

Schramka Funeral Home 

PLANNING AHEAD 

The ultimate benefit of preparing a funeral service ahead of time is peace of mind. Your wishes are known, your plans are in writing, and your family isn’t left to scramble during an already difficult time. At Schramka Funeral Home, you can sit with a planner to prepare a service ahead of time and lock in a price as well.

“Preplanning is important on so many levels for your family,” says Amanda King, the funeral director at Schramka Funeral Home. “Having your affairs in order ahead of time will save money, time and unneeded stress down the road.” 

Eye Care Specialists

VISION HEALTH

“Catching eye conditions early is crucial because it can prevent irreversible damage and vision loss,” says Dr. Michael Raciti of Eye Care Specialists. The ophthalmology service, with locations in Milwaukee, West Allis and Wauwatosa, has a team of expert physicians who help patients catch eye conditions before the damage becomes serious.

“Many eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, progress gradually, often without noticeable symptoms at first,” says Raciti. “Early detection allows for timely treatment options, which can slow or halt the disease progression, preserve vision and offer less invasive treatments. Regular eye exams are key to catching these issues before they become serious.” 

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Vision Forward Association 

HELP FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

For over 100 years, Vision Forward Association has offered training, support and education for people who are blind or visually impaired. That includes early education for kids; vision rehabilitation services for adults, such as braille instructions, safe travel instruction and assistive technology; recreational classes; routine eye care and more.

In addition, Vision Forward facilitates local support groups for people with vision loss to connect, learn from one another and find community. The team of eye health practitioners, occupational therapists and more served 1,000 clients in the Milwaukee area last year. 

Vita Fitness & Physical Therapy 

REHABILITATION AND STAYING FIT

As we age, staying mobile and recovering from injury becomes more challenging. That’s where Vita comes in. The physical therapy clinic and medically oriented gym, with locations in the Third Ward, Wauwatosa and Thiensville, focuses on transitioning clients from physical therapy and rehabilitation to personalized training programs.

This helps older adults continue their fitness journey after recovering from an injury. Vita’s medical fitness services are covered by HSA and FSA, and their Wauwatosa facility is a part of Renew Active, a gym membership offered by UHC Medicare. Vita’s tailored programs and expert staff ensure aging clients can maintain active independence. 

Finances

IAG 

WEALTH MANAGMENT

“To help ensure a comfortable retirement, it’s vital to stay on track with your financial goals,” says Jesse M. Sindorf, a financial advisor at IAG Wealth Partners. The local firm, founded in 1985, offers retirement planning and investment services.

“Developing a personal GPS can help you monitor your progress by setting clear benchmarks for your investments and outlining your personal and financial goals. Regular reviews and adjustments will help you navigate unexpected challenges, helping to ensure you maintain the lifestyle you desire in retirement.” 

Mach1 Capital

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

As retirement approaches, assessing your financial health and planning long-term strategies that ensure a stable and enjoyable next stage of life is crucial. One of those potential strategies is smart investing. Mach1 Capital is an alternative real estate investment firm that provides its investors passive income on a monthly basis, serving as padding and a safety net to any existing retirement or social security allotments.

“Utilizing alternative investments is a way to help prepare for retirement,” says Anthony Machi, co-owner of Mach1 Capital. “There are high monthly returns with little to no volatility.” 

Retirement Communities

Cedar Community 

Located on three campuses on over 535 total acres in West Bend, Cedar Community offers its residents scenic walking paths, miles of trails and forests to enjoy, and fishing, kayaking and boat cruises. With a commitment to holistic well-being, the retirement community located in the heart of the Kettle Moraine also provides dozens of other opportunities for recreation. There are exercise classes, a lap pool and two new exercise atriums with new equipment for all levels of functionality, resulting in dozens of ways for residents to stay fit and engaged. 

Photo by Getty Images

Harwood Place

At Harwood Place Senior Living, you’ll find a vibrant lifestyle, the support you expect and a community full of friends to share that life with. Take advantage of an abundance of on-site amenities including restaurant-style dining, spiritual services, wellness programming and a robust activities calendar, all at your doorstep. With emergency pull cords and a 24-hour staff, Harwood Place makes your safety and security are top priorities. Enjoy this and more on 15 beautiful acres in the heart of Wauwatosa. 

Saint John’s On The Lake

In the heart of Milwaukee’s East Side, Saint John’s On The Lake offers lakefront views and easy access to the city’s thriving arts and culture and Downtown dining scenes. The community’s LifeStreams program offers support in several areas of wellness, including physical, social and intellectual. This means residents have access to clubs, committees, lecture series, games, concerts, cooking demonstrations, pickleball, art exhibits, concerts and much more – all driven by the community’s resident committees, which ensure that the opportunities meet resident needs. 

St. Camillus

St. Camillus is a nonprofit, mission-focused Life Plan Community that has provided quality care to seniors in Wauwatosa for over 100 years. The community offers a wide selection of beautiful apartment homes in an engaging community where you can age with choice. Whether it be in independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, or the home- and community-based services, St. Camillus provides the engagement, security and stability for the “what ifs” of the future. The team is continuously researching and implementing best practices to deliver excellence to all they serve. 

Forest Ridge Senior Community

It’s easy to stay active and engaged at Forest Ridge Senior Community, one of Wimmer Communities’ residences. The exercise studio and three fitness centers provide invigorating classes to help you stay nimble and fit. The team offers a variety of ways to stay active, including craft classes, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, games and clubs that keep residents’ social calendars full. The comfortable apartments and beautiful shared spaces allow residents to get involved in their community while maintaining their independence. 

Clement Manor Senior Living

Clement Manor Senior Living Community is a place for seniors looking for a caring, safe, active, and comfortable environment with many amenities to fit their lifestyle. At its continuum of care, you’ll enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle with Wellness and Lifelong Learning programs designed to keep you healthy and happy in mind, body, and spirit.

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Making the Move

BILTRITE Furniture-Leather-Mattresses

Major life transitions, like moving into a retirement home or downsizing, are a great time to take stock of your space and belongings. The team of experts at BILTRITE Furniture-Leather-Mattresses can help you plan and create your ideal space, offering space-appropriate furniture and storage solutions. Adaptive furniture, like BILTRITE’s variety of comfortable power-lift recliners, help users stand and sit easily and comfortably. 

Smart Moves

With a focus on senior transitions, Smart Moves helps take the stress out of moving by providing comprehensive services for clients who are downsizing, relocating or moving into senior living establishments. Sorting, packing, moving, unpacking, organizing and setting up are all taken care of, so clients can move into their own space stress-free.

“When the client arrives, the pictures are on the wall, the bed’s made, and it feels like home,” says owner Melinda Stuart. “People can feel that sense of relief of being able to embrace their new place and enjoy it, and not being overwhelmed by boxes.” 

Photo by Getty Images

Two Men and a Truck

Moving to a retirement community or downsizing to a smaller space leaves you with a lot of items to get rid of. Two Men and a Truck offers comprehensive junk removal services to help make the process easier. The team handles big items like carpeting, mattresses and appliances, so you don’t need to rent a dumpster or haul it yourself. In addition, the Two Men and a Truck team offers packing services, including materials and supplies, and unpacking for a smooth transition into your new space. 

Things to Do

Catholic Charities

VOLUNTEER

Looking for ways to give back to your community? Catholic Charities offers an excellent opportunity to do that by becoming a volunteer. It’s a great chance to make a positive impact and help neighbors in need. Whether tutoring English to providing companionship for older adults, your time and talents will help support community outreach efforts, case management, counseling services and other essential services Catholic Charities provides. Start the year off right by doing good for others! 

Milwaukee Art Museum

EXPLORE CULTURE

Enjoy an afternoon at Milwaukee’s premier arts institution, the world-class Milwaukee Art Museum. Inside the beautiful Quadracci Pavilion and beyond is a broad and diverse collection of paintings, drawings, photos, prints, sculptures and installations, with pieces that date back to the 1800s. Between rotating exhibitions and a plethora of events, there’s always something new to see at the MAM. Plus, anyone 65 or older can receives a discounted admission ticket. 

Photo by Getty Images

This story is part of Milwaukee Magazine’s January issue.

Find it on newsstands or buy a copy at milwaukeemag.com/shop

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