Health, Exercise and Aging

                                   Health, Exercise and Aging [1]           

Research has shown that there is a correlation between “…regular, vigorous exercise and reduction in a person’s chances of dying from heart disease and cancer, as well as hospital admissions for serious illness.”   That doesn’t mean that we have to dash around the block or climb mountains.  For me it means jogging in the summer and fast walking the rest of the year.  One of the key factors is developing a habit I go rain or shine (and snow when it comes) 

    Here are  the benefits  of a  brisk 30-minute walk for older adults:

§       Lowers blood pressure

§       Boosts ADL cholesterol in blood

§       Reduces risk of blood clots

§       Reduces risk of heart attacks

§       Reduces risks of strokes

§       Boosts metabolic rate

§       Reduces body fat, improves lean muscle mass

§       Helps manage Type II diabetes

§       Reduces risk of osteoporosis

§       Improves long-term  recovery from depression

On page 150 in the book cited below we are given an ideal exercise program.

1.     Begins with a low level of activity

2.     Includes an initial warm-up, with stretching  light calisthenics.

3.    Proceeds to leisurely walking

4.    Consists of more strenuous exercise for 20 minutes or more.

5.    Ends with a relaxing cool down for a period of  5 to 10 minutes  of light exercise

6.    This pattern should be repeated at least three times a week.

Good Luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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[1]

This Material was gathered from  Social Gerontology   and Organized by  Nancy R, Hoonah & H. Asuman Kiyak  both from the University of Washington. ISBN  0-205-44611-6   Thanks to them for the information,

Who Wants To Live Forever

Who Wants To Live Forever[1]

         First of all I would like to say that one of my favorite songs, which I sing frequently, Who Wants to Live forever produced by the song group Queen with Freddie Mercury in the mid 1980’s.  Many of my previous posts have been about ageism.  This one approaches self ageism

         This research deals with self stereotypes.  The authors of the article tell us that “ We believe that older individuals’ internalized contribute to the formation of their self-perceptions of aging. Which in term can have internalized outcomes.”   It become projected inward rather that those of other isms.  In other words, “ When individuals n old age and the stereotypes become self-relevant.

         One of the interesting feature of self ageism is that “self stereotypes of aging can operate without the older individuals awareness. The researchers conducted two studies. In the first one, they tested the ideas about how this can happen.

Study 1

         Study 1 Hypothesis:  At various ages people with more positive aging self perceptions at the baseline (the age they were tested) will live longer. They had participants the were 50 years and older.

         They used five items:

1.   “Things get worse as I get older.”

2.   “I have as much pep as I did last year.”

3.   “As you get older you, you are less useful.”

4.   “I am as happy now as when I was younger.”

5.   “As I get older things are, (better, worse, or the same) as I thought they would be.  (choose one)

After statistical analysis the positive perceptions group lived on the average 7.6 years longer.  This impact was found with the control of gender, age, socioeconomic status, functional health and loneliness.

Study 2

The will to Live

         First of all the researchers tell us that; “We define the will to live as a perceived judgment that the perceived benefits of one’s life outweigh the perceived hardships.”  And, “the will to die occurs when the perceived hardships of one’s life outweigh the perceived benefits.”

         A will to live measure is the following;

1.  The questions were prefaced with   empty---full---hopeful, and worthless--- worthy.  There were 20 adjective questions connected with these.  For a full taste go online to Longevity Increased by Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging.  Good Luck

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[1] Br. Levy & Martin D. Slade, Suzanne Kunkel, and Stanislav Kasl:  Longevity Increased by Positive Self- Perceptions of Aging, (2002)  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol 83, No 2,  261-270.

Age Discrimination and Employment: A Scemario

Age Discrimination and Employment:

A Scenario:

  Ella had worked as an accountant for Guard Simon Till, a once prestigious accounting firm, for over 25 years before she was laid of  after the firm suffered a great loss of clients due to a scandal. The fifty-five year old then applies for a position  as an accountant for Watch Your Money, an accounting firm in Toronto with 25 employees.

Forty year old senior partner David Dill is impressed by Ella’s credentials and understands that Ella had no involvement in G.S.T.’s  scandal. Still he feels that Ella’s years of experience make her over qualified for the accountant position at his firm. David thinks that a professional at Ella’s stage of life would not care to take directions from him or his partners, who are either David’s age or younger. What advice would you give David?

Harassment of Seniors

           After reading the following story, discuss what you think with someone you know.

       Early on Friday morning, Nita was awakened by the loud noise of something hitting her roof. She got out of bed, looked out the window and saw two teenagers walking away.  She figured they were students, 'tanked up', on their way home to nearby university residences.
       But the next day she saw a  brick on her roof beside some broken tiles and she thought 'Oh no!'   For the miserable experience of being targeted by local teenagers might be happening again. "I felt sick when I saw that brick.  I've considered moving into Seniors Residences"
      Two years previously, a group of young teenagers mounted a series of dreadful attacks, led by one particularly nasty boy from a neighbouring house. They put stink bombs  through her letter box, threw eggs at her door, repeatedly rang her doorbell and ran away.
      "I'd injured my knee and going up and down the stairs  was hard, so I got to the point I  didn't  bother answering the door.  They were forever taunting me.  I looked through the door window and there was such nastiness about it.  It was threatening. It was awful. I felt under siege.  When you're on your own and you've got to lock up and go to bed, and think--somebody's trying to get into your place--it's horrible.'
       Once when they smashed their hydrometer with lead piping, she ran after them, but they defied her.

•  Why did you do it?
•  Do what?
•  You broke my glass
•  It wasn't us

         Nita's daughter Jane, who lived nearby, contacted the local police and the insitgator, already in trouble for other offenses, was moved elsewhere.

Nita wonders if the attacks happened partly because of her age.

     

  Some of it is just vandalism.  But these kids also thought, "She's a silly old fool. She won't run after us."

   

Combating Ageism

Combating Ageism[1]

The following questions are good tools to examining your attitude toward Aging and Ageism.  For more information, go to that journal.  Cited below

Questions

·   What would you do life different if you had life to live over again?

·   What period of your life do you think about most frequently?

·   How do you feel about that period of your life?

·   How do you feel about your parents?

·   How do you feel about your childhood?

·   How do you feel about your adolescence?

·   How do you feel about your young adulthood?

·   How do you feel about your married life?

·   How do you feel about your work experience

·   How do you feel about the way you raised your children?

·   What do you regret most about your life/

·   What has been the most satisfying thing about your life?

·   What is your philosophy of life?

·   What is your advice to me?

“This practical fight against ageism was conducted over a period of ten years, yielding harvest of stories of changing perspectives of old and young age

  

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[1]  Mignon Eizenberg, (2000) 23 Life Review and Life Preview.  In the international for Logo Therapy, pages 2629

A Retirement Readiness Questionaire

A Retirement Readiness Questionnaire[1]

Take some time to think about the following questions and what your  answers tell you about your thoughts on retirement.  The less the number of thoughts, the less you may be prepared.

 

1.   Why are you thinking about retirement now ?  (You get one point if you think that some one who knows you well considers your answer good and clear.

2.   Do you want to retire? (One point if yes)

3. Have you attended a retirement preparation program or seminar focused on financial planning? (One point if yes}

4. Have you attended a retirement preparation program or seminar focused on social planning? (E.G community activities and interpersonal endeavors   (One point if yes)

5.   How would your finances be if you retired now? (One point if good or better)

6. Have your developed any outside interests , hobbies, volunteer activities or areas of new learning? (One point if yea)

7.   Have you planned new activities where you would interact with people on a regular basis? (One point if yes)

8.   What do your family and friends say about your retiring? (One point if they think you are doing the right thing)

9.  Have you considered whether you want a complete or partial retirement ?  In other words, have you considered  part-time or temporary work, or even a less than fulli-time  business venture?  Emphases here are on consideration. (One point if yes even if you choose not to go this route,}

10. During retirement, will the process of making at least a moderate contribution helping out in volunteer or other activities be sufficient for you, or do you feel you need to make and immediate major difference in what you do?  (One point if yes to the first part of the question or to the second part if you feel you have lined up an activity where you can make an immediate major contribution.

11.  What is important and fulfilling to you? How do your retirement plans relate to your thinking here? ( One point if someone who is  reliable and knows you feels you give a straight answer and considers your answer good and clear)

12. What is it that gives you a sense of meaning and purpose in life?  How do your retirement plans relate to your thinking here? (One point if someone who is reliable and knows you, feels you give a straight answer and considers your answer Good and Clear)

Scoring--What is your Retirement Readiness Quotient?

Ø    12    points:  You’re in position for great retirement

Ø    10-11 points: You’re retirement will likely be highly satisfying.  

Ø    8-9 points:  You’re retirement could have some problems that                                     are likely fixable.

Ø    6-7 points:  You could be challenged by ambivalent  feelings                                      about retirement, requiring solid effort  to bring                                          your situation up a notch.

Ø    3-5 points:  You are potentially in a trouble zone with your                                            retirement now working well short of the major                                           effort to get it back on track.

Ø    0-2 points: You are in jeopardy of having an unfulfilling                                                retirement, requiring an all out effort to have                                              things  work out to your liking

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[1] This questionnaire was developed and is part of my Retirement workshop

Types of Ageism From Palmore

Types of Ageism [1]

Negative Stereotypes:

1. Illness:  A lot of people, almost half, believe that poor health is a bad problem for people older that 65.  In fact  “ Most elders, about 78% of those 65+) are healthy enough to engage k  in healthy activities.
2. Impotency: Stereotypes hold that most seniors “no longer have any sexual activity. However research shows that most elders say that “…sex after 60 was as satisfying or more satisfying than when younger.”
3. Ugliness: “Beauty is usually associated with youth, and many people, especially women, fear loss of their beauty as they age. The fact is “While our culture tends to associate old age with ugliness, and youth with beauty other cultures admire the characteristics of old age. For example in Japan silver hair and wrinkles are often admired as signs of wisdom, maturity and long years of service.”
4. Mental Decline: “Another common stereotype is that mental abilities begin to decline from middle age onward especially abilities to learn and remember. For example “ You can’t teach and old dog new tricks”  In fact most of the differences between younger and older persons can be explained by factors other than age (illness, motivation, learning style, lack of practice, amount of education.
5. Mental Illness:  Some people believe that the majority of people over 65 have some mental illness severe enough to impair their abilities.  In fact “…only about 2 percent of persons 65 or older Uare hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of psychiatric illness
6. Uselessness: “Because of these beliefs that the majority of old people are disabled by physical or mental illness many people conclude that the elderly are unable to continue working and those who do continue are unproductive.

There are three more points in this section. I suggest you get Palmore’s book for a lot more information and a total of 15 chapters.

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[1] Erdman Palmore Ageism: Positive and Negative: Volume 25 in the series on Adulthood and Aging