Here in Sarasota, there are a wealth or agencies and organizations addressing the needs of this changing demographic, and we have local experts with extensive knowledge and experience.  Many are listed on this site.  See our drop down menu on Resources.

According to most researchers genetics account for only one-third of how we age; the other two-thirds are influenced by our expectations, choices and environment.    Improvements in public health and medicine have increased life expectancy.  Someone born in the USA in 2010 had a life expectancy of 78.2, and 70,000 Americans celebrated their 100^th birthdays that year.  This is good news for the growing number who are redefining retirement and using their bonus years to do good work.  However, without good physical and mental health, living longer may not be a blessing, so it is important to live better, not just longer.   We can significantly improve how we age by focusing on what I call the “big four”-physical activity, social engagement, diet and nutrition, and life purpose.

Physical activity benefits our bodies in many ways:  improving strength and fitness, helping balance, improving mood, managing weight, and preventing or treating certain diseases.  But the benefits of physical activity don’t stop with our bodies; they extend to our brain function.  Numerous studies have shown that physical activity is one of the strongest factors in preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  A new study in the journal Neurology suggests that working out is more effective at protecting the brain than cognitive challenges such as games and puzzles.  According to the Mayo Clinic, people who are physically active are less likely to experience a decline in their mental function and have a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Social connection could be the single most important factor in healthy aging.  One study of 7,000 men and women living in Alameda County, CA found that people who were not connected to others were three times as likely to die over the course of nine years as those who had strong social ties.  Those with social ties and unhealthful lifestyles actually lived longer than those with poor social ties but more health-promoting habits.  The Beta Blocker Heart Attack Trial of 2,300 men who had survived a heart attack found that those with strong social connections had only one-quarter the risk of death of those not socially connected, even when factors like smoking, diet, alcohol, exercise and weight were taken into account.

The Blue Zones study offers dramatic support for the importance of diet and nutrition to aging well.  The Blue Zones identified areas in the world that had the highest life expectancy or highest proportion of people living to 100 and looked at their common characteristics.  Of the nine shared characteristics, three dealt with diet and nutrition. Blue Zones’ inhabitants ate primarily plant-based diets with a heavy emphasis on beans.  They practiced the 80% rule of eating, stopping when they were no longer hungry and before they were full.  And, finally, all Blue Zones’ inhabitants except one drank alcohol moderately and regularly.

Living with purpose adds seven years to life expectancy according to the Blue Zones study.  Having a life purpose is what gets us out of bed in the morning and makes life worth living.  Richard Leider, life coach and author, defines the good life as “Living with the people you love, in the right place, doing good work on purpose.”  Purpose is where our talents and our passions intersect with a need.  It is meeting a need by doing what we love and do well, the intersection of our gifts, passions and values. Finding our encore career, where we can make a difference, can be a rich source of living with purpose.

Focusing on the “big four” and making even little changes can result in big rewards.

Submitted by Janet Oullette

I think it is, but what will you do with it?  It you drop your crank on everybody you love or talk to, you’ll be more cranky because they are going to avoid you right when you think they should listen.  Then you will be cranky about that.

Where does this all come from?  We aren’t what we were and we don’t like it. We’re irritated with ourselves, with our mistakes, with forgetting, with losing things, and with not having the right meds to cure us of all this crankiness.  We feel it is perceived that we don’t have anything to offer,   and are not respected for our wisdom.  We want to be independent like we always were, not needing to be cared for at every moment.  We need our dignity!

So what to do about our attitude?  I say, go ahead and criticize yourself, but do it alone in front of your mirror, but not out in public with your family and friends.  Look, we are getting older and we can’t do what we used to.  Body parts don’t function like they did.  However, we are alive, and we learned a lot.  If asked, we might have some decent ideas to share, but if not asked, let’s keep it to ourselves. We can watch our grandchildren grow and have problems, and we can be supportive and the parents have to have the ultimate choice of how to handle it, not us. I have found that when you commit to not giving advice, THEN it will be sought!

If they want to know what we think, what we have learned, they have to be able to come to us and seek our wisdom, but be careful, they don’t have to accept and implement out ideas.  If we never stop “telling them what to do”, they won’t ask!

The Beachcomber Bungalow is an efficient and wheelchair accessible, 1BR, 1BA cottage in 576 ft2 of A/C space.  It has a front porch and an ample sundeck.  There’s an electric fireplace planned in the living room.  The ceilings are vaulted, and there’s lots of natural light.  An option makes the cottage accessible via a ramp to the sundeck for use by anyone who finds steps difficult. It is energy-efficient, sustainable, and storm-resilient due its construction of Structural Insulated Panels (SIP’s) which are manufactured by New Panel Homes in Englewood.

Banyan Tree Construction has included many features which promote the owner’s ability to successfully age-in-place.  There’s optional, under-the-counter, refrigerator/freezer drawers; an optional, under-the-counter, combination, clothes washer/dryer unit; roll-under kitchen & bathroom sinks; a roll-under countertop range; an eye-level, countertop microwave/convection oven; a roll-in shower, and a comfort-height toilet.

Decorative, enamel grab-bars can be installed adjacent to the toilet and in the shower.  These grab-bars also function as towel racks when not otherwise needed.  There are 36” wide doorways and 5ft. diameter, clear-turning areas throughout the cottage. You can choose to have an on-demand, tank-less, hot water system and insulated windows.  The roof is long-lasting metal, and the entire structure is termite resistant.

The cottage has been designed for either a single person or a couple.  It helps meet the needs of persons with disabilities including the frail elderly, and it provides a very valuable asset to those who are planning to enhance their ability to age-in-place and remain in their own homes.

This home is an effective environment in which to receive care at home. It enhances ones ability to avoid institutionalization; to stay in ones own home; and to selectively purchase supported-living services as needed.

Our concept particularly appeals to those who have already managed the care of their elders and who have gained a greater appreciation for accessibility.  This retirement cottage could not only be a preferred alternative; it could ultimately provide a less expensive one.

Contact: Vandeist@msn.com

Levitin is at Stanford precisely to teach that connection. His course (HumBio188) explores the evolutionary advantages that musicality might have conferred upon early human beings and the neurological underpinnings of musical experience.

He also is a lab scientist. His questions include: What is the brain doing when it hears music? What do we remember? What do we like? What do we expect? Setting lyrics aside, what makes a piece of music happy or sad or impossible to get out of your head?

http://www.stanford.edu/group/brainwaves/

LETS CHANGE “RETIREMENT” TO “RE-FIREMENT”!

“Every generation needs a new revolution.” Thomas Jefferson

It should come as no surprise that large numbers of Baby Boomers are bucking tradition and not willing to accept the prescribed life that the “Traditionalists” carved out in the 1950’s.  (Remember our favorite motto? “Hell no, we won’t go!”) Several recent surveys show that Baby Boomers are not ready to stop work and that they believe there is another big thing that is still calling them.

IMPACT FACTORS  :Several factors have shaped this new reality.  First, our life expectancy has skyrocketed. In 1915 it was 50 years old, in 1980 it was 75 and now a large percentage of us will live into our 90’s.  Second, the recession and the nature of work has radically changed.  Some people either can’t afford to retire or realize that they have another 20 plus years of active engagement left in them.

LATEST SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: There are two powerful ground breaking books that really speak to this new reality.

Mark Walton, in his new book, “Boundless Potential” captures about seven years of research in the area of brain science, psychology, sociology, creativity and happiness. His three core discoveries: 1) We (Baby Boomers) are hard wired for reinvention and emerging brain power in the second half of life; 2) A growing number of boomers are learning to leverage their experience and wisdom into profitable new careers and businesses that can impact our world; 3) Longevity experts report that meaningful and purposeful work can pay back in terms of long term health and happiness.  Check out this Youtube video about Walton’s book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LtavZ-C48U&feature=youtu.be

Another book by Marc Freedman (founder of Encore.org) “THE BIG SHIFT- Navigating the New Stage Beyond Mid Life” also lays out some reasons why retirement as we have known it for the last 50 years really does not work for this generation. Here is the link to an excerpt of his book:  http://www.encore.org/excerpt-big-shift.

LET’S MAKE THE SHIFT

What really moved me about “The Big Shift” was Freedman’s call to action to create an “Encore Stage of Life” characterized by purpose, contribution and commitment.  Marc said, “We believe that this changing notion of aging in America offers the prospect of the ‘experience dividend’ of staggering proportions.  Never before have so many Americans had so much experience- with so much time and interest in using it”.  He calls for a SHIFT in thinking about the real potential for this over-50 Baby Boomer generation.  This also means a SHIFT in society norms, institutions, public policies, programs and perceptions!  It starts with  how we see ourselves in this new stage of life.

I challenge you to read these books (or summaries) and get excited about the possibilities and opportunities that our society and Baby Boomers have to recreate for this next stage of life!

Bottom line…We are NOT ready to retire, but ready to Re-Fire!  Boomers still have a lot to offer in this second half. Let’s start the Encore Movement! 

How will we as a nation, as a community, make it easier for the largest, best educated, longest living generation to create a better world for the generations to follow? What are your reactions or thoughts?

Bevan Gray-Rogel

Encoretampabay@gmail.com

www.encoretampabay.wordpress.com

http://journals.cambridge.org/ASO

KATHY BLACK and DEBRA DOBBS

ABSTRACT

Dignity is a universally important issue for all people, and particularly vital for older

adults who face multiple losses associated with ageing. In the United States of

America and beyond, the maintenance of dignity is a key aim of policy and service

provision for older people. Yet surprisingly little research has been conducted into

the meaning of dignity to community-based older adults in the context of everyday

life. As life expectancy continues to increase worldwide, unprecedented numbers of

people are living longer than ever before. The majority of older adults will face

declining health and other factors that may impact dignity in the course of ageing in

their communities. This paper reports on a study that explored older people’s

understandings and experiences of dignity through focus groups and a survey. Three

key components of dignity are identified: Autonomy, relational, and self iudentity.  In

addition, the paper discusses a range of factors that can facilitate or inhibit a sense of

dignity for older people, including long-term health issues, sensory deficits and

resilience to life events. Finally, the implications of these findings for policy and

 practice are considered in the context of American social structures and values.

This is the first of many yearly gatherings of our tribe.  We’ll meet at Libby’s on Osprey from 4:30 - 7 PM.  We will name our first Sarasota Aging Pioneers, introduce our new Topic Consultants, hear a few comments from dignitaries, and socialize.  There will be some door prizes as well.

Continuing the Conversation identified eight important issues that Sarasota citizens believe to be most important, and launched projects, wrote white papers, hosted guest speakers, and expanded our reach to other aligned organizations.  We are very proud of these beginnings, and now move with other like-minded groups to continue the search for aging in place with dignity and independence (ADI).  Our new name is Engaged in Aging.

Join us on the 16th!

http://www.meetup.com/LivinginCommunityNetwork/

Join Tracy, Jeanette, Linda, Shells, Doug and all the rest of us at this very social event.