By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.
The headline for the story that ran last week in the Daily Mail Reporter was enticing. “World’s Oldest Newlyweds Give Marriage Tips… Reveal the Secret to Longevity is Wine, Whiskey and Fast Food.” To read the news story and see the pictures and video, click here
I was intrigued by the couples combined age of 193 when they were married in March on his 100th Birthday. They had dated for the past 28 years after being introduced at a seniors dance in 1983. I loved learning about their past, the pictures of them dancing at their wedding celebration, and the video of them talking about their marriage and their secrets to their longevity.
But what I loved so much more is learning about the plans that Forrest Lunsway and his wife, Rose, have for the future. Kayaking in Alaska and walking the coast of California are among the things that are on their “to do” list.
They certainly do not fit the stereotypical image of older adults.
In that light, I had the opportunity on Monday to be part of a live webcast and media briefing for a major movement being launched by the International Council on Active Aging aimed at shifting our perceptions of aging and countering stereotypes.
Dr. Henry Lodge, M.D., provided some interesting insights. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and co-author of the books “Younger Next Year” and “Younger Next Year for Women.”
On Longevity
We have experienced an explosion of longevity. If you reach 65, you are likely to live for decades into your 80s and 90s.
On Old Model of Aging
Research shows just how wrong the old model of aging is. The old model says that we slowly lose our marbles and experience a decline in our cognitive abilities as we age.
We what are finding our brains do function a little more slowly as we age. But we enjoy the wisdom gained from the wealth of our experiences. If you want a quick result, talk with somebody who is younger. If you want a good result, with somebody who is older.
Brain studies also are showing that different areas of our brain grow or shrink not because of age but in response to what we do or do not do.
On Exercise and Socialization
He emphasized the importance of exercise and socialization.
Research shows that three months of physical exercise has a positive impact on brain function.
Studies also show that the incidence of Alzheimer’s is lower in people who are physically and socially fit.
Humans are social animals. We cannot live outside a social structure.
On Retiring
Dr. Lodge viewed retirement as a “very negative concept” and labeled our approach to retiring as a “crazy model.”
Suddenly, you are unemployed. You have no constructive social role. You stop having relevance. You were somebody and now you are not what you were. The default mode is to be sedentary and let aging happen to us.
If you were to place any of us in a similar situation, you would generally see low-grade depression and decay and atrophy in large areas of the brain.
A lot of people underestimate the benefit they get from working.
On Older Adults as an Untapped Resource
We have a generation of highly educated people who are highly trained in how to work. Rather than suddenly pulling the plug and looking at aging as a social burden, we should be looking at older adults as large untapped resource that can be making substantial contributions to society.
Both society as well as the older adult will benefit.
He urged us to look at one’s retirement age as a time to begin a new phase of living, filled with reinvention, learning and new challenges. He predicted that we would see dramatic improvements in cognitive function, and people would begin to realize all of the potential that is locked inside.
Rather than automatically equating aging with frailty and diminished cognitive and physical abilities, the vision should be for older adults to live a healthy and purposeful life to the very end.
We will have more about the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) efforts to change society’s perceptions on aging in the weeks and months ahead.
All affordable assisted living communities managed by BMA Management, Ltd. are certified and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All assisted living communities are licensed and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“BMA Management, Ltd. is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois
and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
