Anti Aging Articles
What Caregivers Need to Know about Their Own Aging
Michael Brickey, Ph.D.
What does it mean to be 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100? Most people mentally use their parents or grandparents as a benchmark for what it is like to be those ages. Caregivers can easily fall into associating aging with how their residents are aging.
But people are living much longer and healthier than even a generation ago. In the last century Americans’ life expectancy jumped from 47 years to 77 years—and it continues to rise. Most of the residents we work with are people who are not aging well. Those who are aging well are living in the community.
As caregivers it is especially important that we have a perspective and vision for how we can age well. As kids we had role models for the kind of people we wanted to be, e.g., rock stars, movie stars, athletes, and astronauts. Adults need role models too—especially role models of people who age well.
Fortunately, there are many role models. Consider Verona Johnston. Until she died in December 2004, she was America’s oldest citizen at 114. She lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright style home in Worthington, Ohio. She was a retired Latin teacher who at 113 could still do math in her head. A voracious reader she frequented the local library. Until the last several months of her life she was in good health except for some arthritis. At 113 she managed a flight of stairs to her second floor bedroom. Her only serious health problem was that she eventually could not see well enough to read. So her 81 year old daughter read to her and she used books on tape.
There are centenarians (people 100 old or older) who write best selling books, run for Congress, practice medicine, teach college, help produce Broadway plays, sculpt, paint, score in the 80s playing golf, graduate from college, and even father children.
Caregivers need to look for examples of people who are aging well. Set them as your benchmark for how you want to age. Our beliefs and expectations have a powerful influence on how our lives turn out. From your care giving, you know what it is like to not age well. Set healthy, ambitious expectations for how you will age and you will be more likely to age well.
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This article may be reprinted in E-zines, newsletters, newspapers, and magazines provided they the content is not edited and the following attribution is given:
Dr. Michael Brickey is President of the Ageless Lifestyles Institute and author of Defy Aging. His new book, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, gives two-page-a-week practical steps for developing a youthful mindset at every age. Further information is at www.DrBrickey.com.
Formatting may be changed and you may use one of the web site pictures of the author or books to accompany the article. If published online, please keep live links.
For further information on Contact :
Michael Brickey, Ph.D.
President
Ageless Lifestyles Institute
865 College Ave.
Columbus, OH 43209
614-237-4556
articles@DrBrickey.com
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