As the baby boomers see their parent’s age, they begin to take serious note of the necessity to maintain their own cognitive abilities, as they grow older. Physical health is important, the ability to remain mobile is critical; however, the fitness of the brain, one’s own cognitive ability is vital to living independently into old age.
As we get older, we begin to see the importance of not only keeping the body fit but also the mind. I am sure we all know of some elderly person who will probably end up attending our own funeral since they are sharp as a tack and physically fit. This has more too either do with genetics and lifestyle as anything but nevertheless, we learn from them that we begin making critical changes now, or risk losing our independence as we hit elder status.
It goes without saying we must begin now to exercise our bodies and minds to enjoy any modicum of longevity. Remaining physically fit has everything to do with enjoying independence and an extended existence. Having a long life is pretty well useless if one is not aware of what is happening around them, their cognitive sense deteriorated beyond usefulness. This is no way to enjoy the super golden years of life. If you are planning on becoming a centenarian, do so with a sharp mind.
The cost of maintaining elder care is outrageous so this being the case, unless we are financially flush until the end, those with short fingers and tight pockets best get busy with mental health exercises and a physical fitness regimen to prepare for the inevitable.
As wonderful as retirement sounds, the alternative is to keep working which may not be such a bad idea since the mental stimulation will help keep our minds sharp. Working past retirement age will also help many who do not have sufficient retirement savings to last into the deepest years of senior existence when some care will be inevitable. The more fit our brain is at this time the cheaper it will be to maintain our independence. The key is to ward off dementia for as long as possible by stimulating our brain regularly.
There will be those who succumb to senility, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease because that is what the cards hold for us but practicing mental fitness could well delay even that scenario. Diet also becomes vital when attempting to avoid age associated disease. If you have lived a healthy first fifty years and the plan is to make it another fifty, then in order to enjoy an interesting and stimulating period you must begin now to prepare for the rest of your life and remaining mentally agile is a significant part of that plan.
Those elders that age with grace and their wits intact believe that living a healthy life contributed to their longevity. What many do not know is that these folks also engage readily in activities that stimulate their thinking and keep them mentally alert. Participation in community events, learning a new skill such as computers can be great ways to remain in peak mental health. Many boomers today are computer literate and this can help us quite a bit in our later years if we maintain those skills. Doing something worthwhile that requires mental stimulation is the key.
Those people who thrive into their declining years are more open to new experiences and find it enlightening to try something new. The alternative is to sit in a dark room with a radio playing or hunched in front of the communal television set in a nursing home arguing over the remote. If you have ever been to a home for the elderly, you know of what I am speaking.
Some of these folks seem to be adaptable to change and others stubbornly avoid it. Starting now, we should actively be pursuing new adventure regardless of how small it may be. Starting a new hobby that requires thought and stimuli is a good place to begin. Join social networks online. It is a great way to find out what is happening in the world and sharing your own experience as well as entertaining new ones. When change becomes an abhorrent pain to some, the writing is on the wall.
If you have worked in a factory your entire adult life and your down time consisted of being a couch potato, now is the time to look into a hobby you can launch into and grow with. Begin taking courses at local colleges and try something unique. Learning a new skill is always stimulating to the brain. You must begin to build strength in your “mind muscle” to avoid the chance of developing dementia or senility.
As my own parents aged and lived in elder care, you could see those folks who still had a zest for life and were able to adapt to their new environment. They would rather not have been there but they made the most of where they were. Others never adapted and paid the price of separating themselves. It is important to continue to have an effect on others and engage with the world. Sure, we should all prepare for the inevitable of having our independence limited by age. We can also control how much independence we have to relinquish by staying mentally fit. Our bodies will eventually give out but as long as our minds are sharp we can still participate on some intellectual level.
Remaining mentally agile can come in numerous ways and finding what is suitable to you is your challenge. Continuing to stay current on world events and being able to converse with others about various topics is important so being well read will help. Doing mind puzzles and crosswords will help and spending time writing and journaling will keep your mind alert. Write your own memoirs for family heritage sake. Digging into your memory bank can only help you.
Make the effort to keep mentally agile now will become a habit and it will only be beneficial for you in the future. Continue to learn, love, enjoy life, and take on new challenges. Mental fitness is now a prerequisite to longevity.
Thu, Oct 1, 2009
Anti Aging, Gerontology, Longevity