Recent scientific investigations have been conducted that studied the lives of individuals who have had lengthy and prosperous lives both in the physical and psychological sense. Many of these people were centenarians and part of this increasingly abundant population of one hundred plus year old community elders. The evaluation enabled experts to recognize the many issues that contribute to a thriving senior. Great genetics are a given but not the entire picture by any means. These long living individuals might have initiated new heights for personal awareness and performance using their personal choices as a guideline aimed at advancing their longevity and the quality of their lives.
When implementing their novel lifestyle options many of which are all encompassing from a health and natural healing perspective, these folks are holistically improving their lives. The personal well being of an aging person, for the most part, involves their capacity to upgrade their knowledge of exactly how they can age better and then actually putting what they have learned into action. Obviously the study was very comprehensive and this area of mature adult study – or Gerontology – is so immense, we will only briefly scratch the surface by talking about the most important discoveries with an intention of having older readers apply the information in their own lives.
The most up to date data regarding healthy aging can be found in any library or bookstore. It is available in copious amounts on the Internet and through various media sources. You could also contact different adult health and aging facilities or organizations for information about government services waiting to assist the elderly or their caregivers. The government actually provides through varying agencies some very useful published materials that will assist an aging population to enhance their health and personal well being.
The Harvard Study of Aging Well and Adult Development, the chief author Professor George E. Valliant of Harvard Medical School, recognized four fundamental actions that contribute to a gratifying and contented retirement period:
• Upon retiring from the job, people you once spent time with at work and considered to be friends and a network for you must now be exchanged and substituted with a different kind of social system of acquaintances and relationships.
• Involve yourself in competitive games, engage in recreational activities so you can spark new relationships and improve or maintain a sense of self worth
• Utilize the creative portion of your brain and join activities that require some skills and talent you may or may not have known you had. Explore many avenues of creative play such as photography, painting and arts. You could plant a garden or learn a musical instrument and write your own music!
• Never stop the process of learning since it promotes good mental and emotional fitness and health. Professor Valliant makes a point of stating that the ancient Greeks defined the word scholar as meaning leisure. This may mean that one’s recreational time could be best utilized by increasing our knowledge base. We all need a good reason to wake up to each and every day so exploring these reasons will give you some life spark!
It is never too late to begin to make changes related to your health. If you smoke, try hard to quit. If you drink too much, cut back or quit alcohol all together, you will feel an immediate boost in your level of health and well being by making these two simple choices as you age. If you have not been eating a nutritious diet, now is the time to change that. Good eating habits combined with an exercise regimen that you can tolerate encourage a healthy outlook and you can begin a program to suit your particular fitness level and age. If you are older you should consult with your physician for exercise and diet advice based on any existing health problems or conditions that need monitoring.
Exercise is particularly important to people as they age as is their weight. Building muscles while shedding excess weight will mean an improved posture and better balance. You will have more endurance and regardless of your current age you will show improvement and be able to enjoy it. There are plenty of online resources for healthy diets and you can choose something that takes into account your age, current weight and fitness level. Discuss your new plan with your doctor and modify it based on their medical input.
As you get older you should start doing little things that contribute to your overall health. Stuff you do each day like taking the dog for a walk, working on your garden or even cleaning your home can all be done with an eye on mobility improvement and enhancing your future life as a senior. You can look into joining a gym if financially able or inquire at many public recreation or senior centers for programs that promote health and fitness. Any guidance you can get to assist in motivating you and directing your program will be a benefit. Often these centers will offer short term programs that teach tai chi, yoga, and even martial arts training for middle age adults or seniors. Preparing for old age requires a commitment from you.
You can make fitness a family affair and get your children or grand kids involved to make it more of a recreational activity rather than an exercise regimen. Hiking is a great way to enjoy nature while working on skeletal stability, endurance and muscle growth. Even going for a vigorous walk in your neighborhood will help you realize the many health benefits that include:
• Living a prolonged life.
• Immediate reduction in your stress levels.
• Increasing your mobility for long term future independence.
• Cut your risk of contracting type 2 diabetes and heart disease – two major killers and considered age related illnesses.
• You will be able to sleep much more soundly.
• You will improve your memory and not be so moody.
In these modern times, we live in a world where our appearance is everything and maintaining our physical fitness actually means so much more than simply looking good. Beach bodies were fine when we were kids but now exercising is more about feeling good than it is looking good. Knowing that every day we do some type of exercise that increases our heart rate, we are quite likely adding years to our life span – this is important stuff!
As seniors who are busy aging with as much dignity as they can muster, coping with change is a lifestyle in itself. Through age comes the wisdom to understand that not everything can be changes and that life is much easier to deal with when you add a sense of humor. These things are simple but also vital to our augmented longevity. Lightening up on you as one gets older and letting go of stubborn prejudices, leaving one open to growth and change is critical. Open-mindedness and a willingness to continue learning from a younger generation cannot help but aid you in staying mentally youthful with a mental acuity and dynamism others will want to emulate.
Fighting back at aging is an effort that will require interaction with others who care about you and wish to assist you in your quest for improved mental awareness and health. Being surrounded by familial love and networked with close and dear friends will keep you connected and vital. The elderly who are living independently need to reach out to the larger community and participate in activities, especially if family is few. Being an aging loner could lead to mental depression, poor diet and bad sleep habits resulting in a breakdown of health that could spiral out of control.
If a senior is forced to live on their own they should have a caregiver or companion that will see to their needs and stay in touch with them frequently. Maintaining a spiritual connectedness will help mentally and emotionally as well as provide a resourceful community of potential volunteers to aid in providing comfort and companionship. Triumphing over age advancement means knowing that aging is not something to be frightened of or dislike but instead it should be embraced with vigor.
As the baby boomer population begins to recognize their vulnerability to aging, new thoughts concerning growing older and doing so triumphantly are beginning to emerge. Growing older will no longer be a time of dread but it will be welcomed with a strong and powerful outlook and positive blessing to be embraced. If anyone can change the face of aging and how it is accepted by the elderly of any generation it will be the baby boomers!
Henry Amiel, the Swiss born poet and philosopher said of aging – “I’m not interested in age. People who tell me their age are silly. You’re as old as you feel.” And also “To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.” Our understanding of the questions of age is making our personal triumph over growing older sweeter than we ever thought possible.
Mon, Aug 9, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Gerontology, Longevity