If we are lucky, we are all going to get a lot older, but experts say with a few common sense adjustments, we can live healthier, more productive lives than our grandparents or even parents. Moreover, it is worthwhile to plan for a long life as mortality rates have risen from just an average age of 47 for men and women in 1900 to older adults routinely reaching their eighties, nineties and upward.
In fact, recent studies report it is possible to grow older without a significant decline in health. Linda Fried, dean of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and director of the Robert Butler Columbia Aging Center, says, “The idea that living longer necessarily means enduring significant declines in health has changed in the last two decades.” She adds, “It’s possible to increase your health span as long as your life span. Some decline in health and function is inevitable. But the image that older life is about decrepitude turns out not to be right.”
Spending decades working in the field of gerontology, Harry "Rick" Moody reminds older adults that even if they are living with health challenges, they should not lose sight of the opportunity for living a meaningful and positive life. He says at 76 his hearing is bad but he compensates by wearing a hearing aid. His advice is "If you compensate, you’ll age successfully. If you don’t, you won’t age successfully.”
Strategies for healthy aging include not limiting yourself by saying you are too old, to keep learning, keep exercising and to eat a healthy diet. Staying close to family and friends, getting enough sleep and using adaptive skills to compensate for things like short-term memory loss and a general slow-down of cognitive and physical abilities are also part of the process.
At MorningStar of Billings, our goal is to provide seniors the physical, intellectual, spiritual and social connections to lead productive and engaged lives. Along with independent living and assisted living, we also provide compassionate, holistic memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. If you are looking for exceptional senior living, we encourage you to consider MorningStar. Please see our website for more information.
MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003. We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us to learn more about outstanding independent living, assisted living and memory care in Billings, MT.
Source: health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/how-to-age-well
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