More people are reaching the age of sixty and in good health than ever before and would like to have that continue. Nevertheless, from what I hear and read, even people that come from good stock and excellent genetics, can augment their energy level and fitness into their later years, with only a few easy steps. Sixty is after all, the doorstep to the autumn years.
What is even more thrilling is that nearly anyone can increase their fitness level and improve their longevity by just adhering to some easy to follow guidelines. Some of these guidelines will in fact, bring you enjoyment, and a rewarding experience, and there is even more good news.
We will forgo discussing your diet and exercise, these two topics are receiving enough attention, and there are articles on exercise programs and diet plans all over the Internet. The thing is, if you are not eating a good diet by now, or at least getting some exercise, then you need to do some other things to improve your health.
You should begin by seeing your doctor or primary health care provider on a more regular basis. Take a good multivitamin every day, begin taking regular walks, and just get more active. You also need proper rest, some stress release – so learn to relax.
Now, let us discuss some other things that you can do to assist your body and your mind to better health and well-being. The following advice is extremely important and could be the most vital information that you receive regarding aging well.
Activity:
I did say we would forgo speaking about exercise, but this is not the same thing. Getting some exercise is definitely a form of activity and would certainly fit into this conversation well, but I would like to speak about activity from a different perspective. By saying activity, I am speaking of other ways that you can get mobile, get your blood flowing, and your mental activity stimulated. This can take the form of doing some gardening or taking your grandchildren on an excursion to the zoo. All that walking at the zoo is certainly activity, but more importantly, it is exercise that was enjoyable and unexpected.
As you age, even something as simple as needlepoint, knitting or crocheting, are important, as they will keep your hands flexible and your mind will remain stimulated. You could follow sports on TV, track the news, if you read about something that concerns you and you take issue with it, write a letter to the editor. These things keep your mind active and your brain will remain functioning at peak performance. You could also do crossword puzzles, read books, etc. and one more thing, sexual dalliances definitely qualify as activity and mental stimulation!
The point I am trying to make here is that we can do many things that challenge us, are interesting and enable us to converse with others and have something interesting to speak about. When we do things and stimulate our mind, it keeps it younger and you will remain cognitive longer. You will get older; the science is not yet available to reverse the clock. Therefore, how we ultimately handle our aging process is within our grasp, it is up to us to do the things that will keep us young and active.
Within the last five years, I and my siblings have been through the unpleasant task of arranging senior care for both of our parents. They have both since passed. However, what stands out in my mind is the people they were living with who were also in the retirement/nursing home. It is quite an eye opener to see the residents of these facilities, languishing from inactivity, seemingly haven given up on all activity beyond eating, sleeping and watching television. Many would only sit and stare, active conversations were few. The staff did all they could to encourage participation in various activities, but many of these people seemed to have drifted away.
When you speak to the professionals, they will tell you that a good number of these people should not have ended up in the home so early. Once these people enter these facilities, they begin to quickly decline. They lose interest in those around them and what is happening with the lives of others close to them. It seems as if they withdraw within themselves, and as their friends age and begin to pass away, they too seem to wait for death to arrive.
Again, the professionals within these facilities will tell you that those residents with a hobby or connect with other residents and loved ones do much better. Having some form of mental stimulation, or connection through activity and/or conversation seems to make all the difference. This brings us to the next point.
Connectivity:
This simply means becoming part of the community around you. Evidence shows that people, who are married, lead longer and healthier lives than those who remain alone. In fact, whether you are married or not, really has little to do with this – it is the relationship on its own that is important. Those people who own a pet also show that they live longer and healthier lives than those without one. Therefore, as I mentioned earlier, when social connections are lost or not cultivated at all, people tend to decline more quickly, physically and mentally, then if they were connecting with other people.
Being a part of some social network, whether it be a quilting bee, a card playing group, a walking group or any type of social environment, will have a strong bearing on how well you age. It is imperative to begin cultivating these social networks and personal relationships in middle age or earlier so that you will have them in later life when you will need them – as you grow older. You can start now by doing some things to put yourself out there.
When you go to church, get involved within the congregation and take part within your church community. You could take a part time job, better yet; you could volunteer at a local nursing home or retirement village before you become a resident. Help at the local hospital or veteran center. So often when people retire, they die soon after because they have nothing that defines them. They do not hold a position any longer and that loss begins to have an effect on a person’s mental well-being. Often this age group will become clinically depressed, since for the first time in many years they do not know what to do with themselves. Many experts agree that no longer having a definition or context to their lives contributes to early decline and death.
There is not a special pill you can take to negate the effects of aging. Make an effort to continue living an interesting life, actively participating in the world around you. You will be subliminally preparing yourself for a senior lifestyle that will sustain you longer physically and mentally.
Tue, Dec 1, 2009
Gerontology, Longevity