10A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL FEBRUARY 15, 2017
Some benefi ts of growing older
Many people are quick to
think of growing older in a
negative light. Although there
certainly are some side effects
of aging that one may wish to
avoid, people may fi nd that the
benefi ts of growing older out-
weigh the negatives.
Seniors are a rapidly growing
segment of the population. In
the United States, the Adminis-
tration on Aging states that the
older population — persons 65
years or older — numbered 46.2
million in 2014 (the latest year
for which data is available).
Statistics Canada reports that,
in July 2015, estimates indicat-
ed that there were more persons
aged 65 years and older in Can-
ada than children aged 0 to 14
years for the fi rst time in the
country’s history. Nearly one in
six Canadians (16.1%) was at
least 65 years old.
With so many people living
longer, it’s time to celebrate
the perks of getting older rath-
er than the drawbacks. Here are
some great benefi ts to growing
old.
• Higher self-esteem: The
insecurities of youth give way
as one ages, and older people
have less negativity and high-
er self-esteem. A University of
Basel study of people ranging
in ages from 18 to 89 found that
regardless of demographic and
social status, the older one gets
the higher self-esteem climbs.
Qualities like self-control and
altruism can contribute to hap-
piness.
• Financial perks: Seniors are
entitled to discounts on meals,
museum entry fees, movies, and
other entertainment if they’re
willing to disclose their ages.
Discounts are available through
an array of venues if one speaks
up. Seniors also can enjoy trav-
el perks, with slashed prices on
resorts, plane tickets and more.
The U.S. National Park Service
offers citizens age 62 and old-
er lifetime passes to more than
2,000 federal recreation sites for
just $10 in person ($20 online or
via mail).
• Reasoning and prob-
lem-solving skills: Brain scans
reveal that older adults are more
likely to use both hemispheres
of their brains simultaneously
— something called bilateral-
ization. This can sharpen rea-
soning skills. For example, in
a University of Illinois study,
older air traffi c controllers ex-
celled at their cognitively tax-
ing jobs, despite some losses in
short-term memory and visual
spatial processing. Older con-
trollers proved to be experts at
navigating, juggling multiple
aircrafts simultaneously and
avoiding collisions.
• Less stress: As people grow
older, they are able to differen-
tiate their needs from wants
and focus on more important
goals. This can alleviate wor-
ry over things that are beyond
one’s control. Seniors may re-
alize how little the opinions of
others truly mean in the larger
picture, thereby feeling less
stress about what others think
of them.
Growing older may involve
gray hair or wrinkling skin, but
there are many positive things
associated with aging.
Eating healthy beyond 50
A balanced diet is an integral
element of a healthy lifestyle
for men, women and children
alike. But while kids and young
adults might be able to get away
with an extra cheeseburger here
or there, men and women ap-
proaching 50 have less leeway.
According to the National In-
stitute on Aging, simply count-
ing calories without regard for
the foods being consumed is not
enough for men and women 50
and older to maintain their long-
term health. Rather, the NIA
emphasizes the importance of
choosing low-calorie foods that
have a lot of the nutrients the
body needs.
But counting calories can be
an effective and simple way to
maintain a healthy weight, pro-
vided those calories are coming
from nutrient-rich foods. The
NIA advises men and women
over 50 adhere to the following
daily calorie intake recommen-
dations as they attempt to stay
healthy into their golden years.
Women
• Not physically active: 1,600
calories
• Somewhat active: 1,800 cal-
ories
• Active lifestyle: between
2,000 and 2,200 calories
Men
• Not physically active: 2,000
calories
• Somewhat active: between
2,200 and 2,400 calories
• Active lifestyle: between
2,400 and 2,800 calories
When choosing foods to eat,
the NIA recommends eating
many different colors and types
of vegetables and fruits. Phyto-
chemicals are substances that
occur naturally in plants, and
there are thousands of these
substances offering various
benefi ts. The Produce for Better
Health Foundation notes that a
varied, colorful diet incorpo-
rates lots of different types of
phytochemicals, which the PBH
says have disease-preventing
properties.
The NIA also advises that
men and women over 50 make
sure at least half the grains in
their diets are whole grains. Nu-
merous studies have discovered
the various benefi ts of whole
grains, which are loaded with
protein, fi ber, antioxidants and
other nutrients. Whole grains
have been shown to reduce the
risk for diseases such as type 2
diabetes, heart disease and some
types of cancer.
Another potential hurdle
men and women over 50 may
encounter is a change in their
sense of smell and taste. A per-
South Lane County Fire & Rescue:
Creswell Fire Station Advisory Committee.
South Lane County Fire & Rescue services a 132 square mile area for
Fire/Rescue/EMS services based on voter approved taxing rates, levies,
and bonds equaling $1.80/$1000, beginning with fi scal year 2016-2017.
Th e current voter approved permanent and levied rate is $1.50/$1000 of assessed
property value, including a house and fi ve acres within the District’s boundaries.
Th e District further provides advanced life support ambulance service to an area
totaling 850 square miles. Th e area outside the District’s 132 square mile area does
not provide tax revenue.Th e District operates from four fi re stations and staff s the
Cottage Grove and Creswell stations 24/7, with a combination of career/resident
and community volunteer personnel. Th e Saginaw station is staff ed 24/7 with off
duty residents and the Camas Swale station with community volunteers.
Th e District is managed by the Fire Chief who reports directly to the fi ve
member Board of Directors. All other District personnel report to
the Fire Chief utilizing a chain of command.
Th e district is seeking individuals who have the desire to contribute to ongoing
eff orts aimed at enhancing and improving fi re and EMS services in the
South Lane County community by serving as an advisory committee member for
replacing the District’s Creswell fi re station. Interested applicants must be at least
18 years of age, be an elector, or a property owner within the district. While any
person meeting the requirements may submit a letter of interest to the Board of
Directors, preference for appointment to the advisory committee may be given to
those within the Creswell area.
Interested persons should submit a letter of interest to the
SLCFR Board of Directors by close of business
Th ursday March 9, 2017.
Letters of interest may be hand delivered, mailed, or faxed to:
South Lane County Fire & Rescue
Attn: Advisory Committee
233 E. Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Fax: 541-942-3367
Offi ce: 541-942-4493
Deadline for submitting a letter of interest is Th ursday March 9, 2017 by 5PM
son’s sense of smell may fade
with age, and because smell
and taste are so closely related,
foods enjoyed for years may no
longer tantalize the taste buds.
That can be problematic, as
many people instinctually add
more salt to foods they fi nd
bland. According to the U.S. Of-
fi ce of Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion, older adults
should consume no more than
1,500 milligrams of sodium per
Did you
know?
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
regular physical activity is one
of the most important things old-
er adults can do to promote their
long-term health. The CDC rec-
ommends that men and women
age 65 or older who are general-
ly fi t and have no limiting health
conditions need at least two
hours and 30 minutes of mod-
erate-intensity aerobic activi-
ty, such as brisk walking, each
week. In addition, such people
should perform strength-train-
ing activities that work all major
muscle groups at least two days
per week. While many fi t older
men and women with no preex-
isting health conditions are ca-
pable of these activities, those
able to push themselves a little
further can opt for 75 minutes
per week of vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity, such as jogging
or running, combined with the
same strength-training regimen.
A combination of moderate-
and vigorous-intensity aerobic
activity coupled with strength
training may also provide ade-
quate physical activity for aging
men and women. Before begin-
ning a new exercise regimen,
men and women should consult
with their physicians to discuss
any limitations they may have
and how to manage those risks
while still being physically ac-
tive.
day. That equates to roughly 3⁄4
teaspoon of salt. Older men and
women should resist the temp-
tation to use salt to add fl avor to
foods, instead opting for healthy
foods that they can still smell
and taste. In addition, men and
women should mention any loss
of their sense of smell to their
physicians, as such a loss may
indicate the presence of Parkin-
son’s disease or Alzheimer’s
disease.
Maintaining a healthy diet
after 50 may require some hard
work and discipline. But the
long-term benefi ts of a healthy
diet make the extra effort well
worth it.
E
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