Aging with Quality

Posted: March 2, 2016, 2:02PM

It seems like just yesterday that I was energetic and YOUNG! For many of us - that train has left the station, as a friend of mine says. We can order from our local restaurant's "55 & Over" menu. We are eligible for our state's senior discount card. Our bodies don't respond the way they used to. The recliner is more appealing than the bicycle.

I am not alone. We are an aging community in an aging nation. In an aging world, for that matter. 14.5% of US residents are 65 years of age & older. In 2015, West Virginia's 65 + population was at 17.8%, Ohio's was at 15.5% and Pennsylvania's was at 16.7% - all higher than the national average. Six years ago, 8% or 524 million people in the WORLD were 65 years or older. Those numbers will grow a great deal as we all age. (US CDC)

So - the question is - how do we age with quality?

There are certain aspects of aging that are unavoidable. Changes in vision and hearing acuity impact our sensory perceptions. We lose skin elasticity and tactile sensitivity. Our immune systems change making us more susceptible to infections and other illnesses. We need to impact what we can.

Here are some ways to start:
*Get fit. Exercise. Watch your diet. Watch alcohol consumption.

*Stop smoking. It isn't too late. Don't use tobacco products (chew, snuff, cigars, cigarettes, e-cigs)

*Focus on wellness and disease prevention. Medicare and other insurances cover preventive screens and annual wellness visits. See your doctor regularly to avoid problems and to detect issues early.

*Address depression. Depression is the most prevalent mental health issue among older adults and can lead to impairments in physical, mental and social functioning.

*Engage socially. Isolation has been associated with increased mental health issues, increase and exacerbation of chronic health issues, cognitive decline and declining mobility. (US News and World Report)

*Spiritual nourishment. Keeping your faith and a sense of purpose, and having that faith nourished adds quality to life. Stay connected with your faith community or reach out to establish a relationship with a faith community. Spirituality and aging go hand in hand.

*Take care of end of life planning. What do you want at end of life? Record your wishes. Think about medical treatments....or none. Make a Living Will. Think about who you want to make decisions if you can't - medical and financial. Do your Medical and Durable Powers of Attorney. Think about who you want to inherit. Make a will. Making these decisions does not take away your authority. It gives the authority to the person you want to act as your agent, doing what you have designated to be done.

We need to not only be responsible for ourselves in these areas, we also need to help guide our families. We will age. Let's do it well.