The secrets to successful aging
Fred Astaire said it best when he stated: "Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young." At the very least, we should start thinking about how to age gracefully as we approach our 50s and 60s, since most of us are going to live well into our 70s, 80s and 90s. The statistic: the fastest growing group of people in the country is now 85 and over.
How does one reach a ripe old age and feel good about it? Beyond just plain luck, the formula is straightforward: Stay active - physically, mentally and socially. All of which sounds simple, but how do you really do it?
Turn off the TV and get moving
Use your head
Loss and intimacy
Get out in the world
Part one: turn off the TV and get moving
Walt Ettinger, MD, Virtua geriatric specialist sums up the physical part of the equation. "In the last decade, hundreds of studies have shown that a little exercise goes a long way toward healthy aging. Whether a person is 50, 60 or 80, a half hour a day of moderate walking, jogging, vacuuming, swimming or raking leaves can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, lower blood pressure and increase longevity. And, people who do develop a disease but remain physically and mentally active have better outcomes."
David Greenspan, MD, Virtua geriatric psychiatrist says: "Physical exercise has a direct impact on blood flow and brain chemistry. Generally speaking, exercise keeps a person feeling buoyed and sharp. Even some milder forms of depression respond to physical activity. There is a clear and strong connection between our minds and bodies."
Loss and intimacy
As individuals grow older, loss begins to play a more predominant role in their lives. They may mourn the loss of choices not made or roads not taken. They now know with certainty that they will never be the next Donald Trump or Oprah Winfrey.
Along the way, other losses occur: A person might lose a spouse, a parent or a friend. They or someone close to them may become ill. As fragility is exposed, someone may feel tentative and frightened.
All human beings share these feelings. But the people who work their way through life's losses instead of being crippled by them are often individuals who have one or more strong intimate relationships.
An intimate relationship does not necessarily mean a sexual one. Of course, this special interaction can be with a spouse or mate. But just as often, it can be with a best friend, a favorite aunt or anyone else who provides a safe psychological haven. It is a relationship characterized by the ability of both people to reveal their innermost thoughts and feelings without fear of being judged or suffering reprisals. And it is these relationships that give individuals the power to negotiate through life's darkest times to the light at the end of the tunnel.
Use your head
Intellectual and social activities are also paramount to successful aging.
Steven Gerber, MD, chief of internal medicine, Virtua West Jersey Hospitals says: "I've been fortunate enough to attend several birthday parties of patients in their 90s. These people are the ones who are not overweight, who don't smoke and stay physically and mentally active."
Mental activity means different things to different people. To one person, it's a great 'beach read.' To someone else, it's knitting or writing a letter. We are social creatures, so social activity like volunteer work or a part-time job also helps keeps our minds young, nimble and involved, even as our bodies age.
Get out in the world
Staying mentally and physically active is important for people of all ages, especially for those who have hit the mid-century mark. Virtua's
VIP program offers folks over 50 a wonderful way to keep themselves in prime shape - mind and body. Teresa Lawlor, the VIP program director, describes the many unique benefits of a VIP membership. "Our program is extremely well-rounded, offering things like valuable health education, support groups, great social events like our holiday parties, trips and much more."
Perhaps the best way to view aging is how presidential advisor Bernard Baruch did: "To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am."