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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2020)
14 Wednesday, January 29, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Of a certain AGE Sue Stafford Columnist Aging gracefully... Recent disconcerting non-life- threatening health issues are proving frustrating, irritating, and a little lim- iting of my normal routine. On a scale of 1-10, however, they are maybe a 1.5. They are evident enough, though, to cause me to re-examine my goal of <aging gracefully= and what that really means. Several years ago, graceful aging meant I didn9t get upset with addi- tional birthdays or hide my age. I9m 75 and glad to still be here and functioning, if not quite as smoothly. Aging gracefully simply meant I wasn9t going to fight the inevitable 4 saggy skin, wrinkles, thinning hair, or a few <senior moments= when I can9t recall a name or& or& what was I going to say? With the onset of some age-related physical limitations or changes, I def- initely need to broaden my concept of aging gracefully. With my usual determination, I am assessing where I am in my life and where I want to be. At heart, I am a perennial stu- dent, so it is no surprise I have been educating myself on the entire field of aging since my days of working with seniors in Seattle and after mov- ing to Sisters. My five years as the Transitions coordinator at Hospice of Redmond were invaluable in provid- ing me with firsthand experience of what aging means on all fronts. It is one thing to experience it from the outside, quite another to find myself smack in the middle of my last act. I have choices to make. I can try to deny, disregard, or downplay my changing abilities (not a wise choice). On the other hand, I can practice what I have preached to former clients and put into practice all those things I know on an intellectual level make for <successful= or <graceful= aging. My regimen may not be the same as yours, but there are some scientifi- cally proven practices that are ben- eficial for all of us. The primary building blocks for successful aging include staying active (mentally and physically), eat- ing a healthy diet, getting appropri- ate sleep (not too little or too much), reducing or releasing stress, and find- ing a sense of purpose. Living by myself, I find it too easy to get lazy about healthy eating. After years of preparing meals for the family, I derive little pleasure from meal prep, which leads to grazing and not get- ting enough essential nutrients. That is No. 1 on my list of improvements to make. My writing keeps me mentally active and a dog needing three walks a day helps keep me moving. I could do other things as well. With no lon- ger keeping regular working hours, I have turned from an early bird into a night owl, opting to watch late-night TV to end my day with a little humor. I try going to bed earlier, but sleep eludes me at 10 p.m. Another practice to add to my list. I have always believed, and do so now even more, that a big part of aging gracefully has to do with my attitude (which is negatively impacted by unhealthy habits) about my life. I desire to enjoy whatever time is left. I am much more inter- ested in quality rather than quantity of life. My doctor has me chasing blood pressure numbers, trying medi- cations with all kinds of unpleasant side effects which limit my activities due to disequilibrium and tiredness. We will be having a conversation very soon. Along the way, I have picked up sage 4 and some funny 4 advice from wise elders and I offer it here. Take what fits but do at least consider all of it. " It is never too late to try some- thing new and, while you9re at it, why settle for just one thing. " Ask for help when needed and graciously accept it when offered. " Do what you want to do. Don9t worry what others think 3 they9re not thinking about you. " Cultivate younger friends. Sooner or later yours will all die off. " Keep or develop a sense of humor. Laughter truly is the best medicine. " Be adaptable, flexible. If you can bend, you won9t break. " Stay or get involved. It9s been scientifically proven that volunteers are healthier and spend less time in hospitals. Share your gifts of time, talent, and treasure. " Stay curious 4 about yourself, other people, and the world around you. " Look forward 4 to people you want to meet, things you want to do, and things you want to learn. " You may no longer be employed, and your family may be grown, but that doesn9t mean your life is over. What are you passionate about? What does your community or the world need? What are you good at? " Good relationships keep us hap- pier and healthier. Nurture the ones you have and grow new ones. Find and connect with people. " Don9t isolate. We tend to equate living alone with independence. But when that independence results in loneliness, research has shown that loneliness gives rise to physical and Therapeutic Associates HELPING PATIENTS GET MOVING! Physical Therapy • Aquatic Therapy Post-Surgical • Sports-Specifi c Training Strengthening & Conditioning Strengthe 541-549-3574 2022 Desperado Trail, Ste 201 at Sisters Athletic Club www.therapeuticassociates.com/Sisters For years, Therapeutic Associates has been keeping the active folks in Sisters active, despite the inevitable aches, pains and injuries of the Central Oregon lifestyle. Their unique step-down program allows patients to continue their rehab at Sisters Athletic Club after they’ve completed formal physical therapy. Aquatherapy is also available through the SAC pool — a great way to recover. Therapeutic Associates can also help with long-term mobility issues. You can schedule an assessment and learn how to move better, avoid injury and perform bet- ter in your activities. Therapeutic Associates also offers a free injury screening to Sisters Athletic Club members. Matt Kirchoff of Therapeutic Associates and Andrew Loscutoff of SAC will offer a foam rolling class in February. All of their work and all of their classes have one goal in mind: helping people in Sisters live the way they want to live in an environment that richly rewards an active, outdoor lifestyle. All American Hearing People have three basic questions when they come to All American Hearing: 1. Do I have hearing loss? 2. Will hearing aids help? and 3. How much do hearing aids cost? A full evaluation at All American Hearing’s office provides an answer to all three. An audiometric test will evaluate the state of your hearing, and they’ll program hearing aids to see what helps. And when it comes to cost, American Hearing has hearing aids for literally any budget. Lanie Tandy explains that she evaluates patients’ life- styles and their hearing needs, then works with them to choose a hearing aid that best fits all the criteria. She loves to get to know people and help them tailor hearing aid services to their specific needs and budget considerations. Hearing is vital to well-being. All American Hearing offers a path to ensuring that you maintain or restore the most optimal level of hearing you can achieve.