Gerontologists are social scientists who read and write research, study social and health trends, and make recommendations for positive aging outcomes. Gerontologists diligently search out good information for the benefit of their plus-60-aged clients and the general public. We work to improve adjustments, attitudes and assistance needed for successful aging-in-place or the smooth transition to a higher level of care for our clients.

Since Gerontologists are trained by significant study in the biology, psychology, sociology, lifespan development and ethics of aging, good Gerontologists can do the following for their aging clients and/or family members:

1. Determine specific needs of the individual based on his/her preferences and capacities in regards to social, environmental and lifestyle changes.
2. Promote successful aging* for the clients and their family members.
3. Identify potentials and probabilities for aging populations based on their specific parameters.

*Successful aging, defined in 1984 by Drs. Robert L. Kahn and John W. Rowe:

I am a great believer in “getting off the couch” early when it comes to positive aging. The sooner we start to prepare and plan for our own old age, the better. Whatever your age, today is a great day to begin working toward your own success in aging. And you can!

To contact Di Patterson, email her at [email protected]

©Di Patterson, MSG, CPG “No one WANTS to age, but EVERYONE wants to AGE WELL!”

Di Patterson’s Top Ten Tips for Success In Aging™

Based on Research Studies of the Last 5-10 Years

ONE:  Love yourself enough to take care of yourself.  Aging well begins and ends with LOVE. Love is the key to living well at any age. When you practice loving YOURSELF enough to take good care of YOU, you will do the things necessary to become happier and healthier every year of your life. You will have success in aging!

TWO:  Get good information about everything! Check all information for old wives’ tales, urban legends or rock solid truth. To get reliable wellness information: www.webmd.com  and www.health.com

THREE: Laugh.  Laughter is a natural stress-reducer. Stress oxidizes cholesterol, but laughter releases chemicals in our bodies that drive away pain and fear, two negatives usually associated with old age. Laugh often. Even better: laugh with friends. Friendship is the flagship of positive aging!

FOUR:  Exercise and keep your feet in motion.  This is a two-parter: daily exercise and daily foot health are extremely important in old age. Read about mobility and balance issues at: www.rwjf.org.  Some other benefits of regular exercise are: less depression; increased alertness; clearer thinking; improved ability to handle stress; a positive mood. Daily stretching exercises are a must in aging well.

FIVE:  Feed yourself well.  Learn about antioxidants, phytonutrients, and essential fatty acids; consume them everyday! You can fight internal inflammation (the healthy body’s enemy!) by eliminating food intolerances from your diet. Go to www.alcat.com ; www.inflammationnation.com .

SIX:  Be kind to yourself and get your rest.  Rest has been shown to be vital to our bodies’ recuperative powers. Sleep enough; seven or eight hours at night, in a dark room. Studies have shown that melatonin, our body’s sleep hormone, is triggered by darkness. Lack of sleep contributes to heart attacks, high blood pressure and internal inflammation.

SEVEN:  Floss your teeth.  Dental plaque and arterial plaque have been scientifically proven to be directly related, with new research (2007) also linking Alzheimer’s brain plaque to dental plaque. Dentists agree that flossing once daily is crucial, but floss before bedtime to avoid “morning breath.”

EIGHT:  Fight depression.  Depression is the #1 illness of old age. Loss is all too prevalent in the aging process. Fight back! Seek grief resources at www.griefnet.org. When our grandmothers got lonely, they volunteered. Volunteer. Stay connected to other people who benefit from your presence.  It will be a toss-up as to which of you will benefit the most. Ralph Waldo Emerson said,” Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of thyself.”

NINE:  De-clutter your space.  De-mess to de-stress! Organization of possessions and papers will cause peace and patience to fill your life. Set your personal parameters for every task: “I can; I cannot; I will; I will not.” Hire a professional organizer at www.napo.net if it overwhelms you on your own. Fill your space with beauty, as beauty feeds the soul, and helps us see with new eyes.

TEN:  Worship God.  Research by major universities has revealed that people who practice their faith, read religious writings and are part of a faith community have better immunities and fewer heart attacks and strokes. Because we are made in God’s image, our value is immeasurable; it is the reason that old age is positive and valuable and good.

©Di Patterson, MSG, CPG “No one WANTS to age, but EVERYONE wants to AGE WELL!”

As a Gerontologist, a social scientist who studies research, trends and the promotion of successful aging specific to ages 60 and above, I have a pretty good understanding of older age groups. In a previous blog, I rattled on about all sorts of (and sometimes irreverent) names we use for older adults. In an attempt to avoid ageism, that nasty prejudice that pits the elderly against everyone else, today I want to get a little academic.

The clinical (and tough-to-hear) identifying verbiage for older adults are the following terms: the young old: ages 65-74; the old (but I like to say just plain old!): ages 75-84; and the very old: ages 85-100+ . Older adults hate these terms; I know this because they keep telling me! The most common reason that much-older people hate the word “old” is because some younger people (and sometimes they themselves) equate “old” with “frail”, and just because people are old does not mean they are frail.

Many people see age 65 as an “easing up” of daily rat-racing, and anytime they can afford to stop working as the Golden Years. The thought of “easing-up” instead of “retiring” is positive to most Boomers; this generation is marked with a can-do attitude and a spontaneous nature. Negatively, only a little more than half were on track with retirement savings before the beginning of the New Recession (2008). Now everyone is behind where they hoped to be financially. Another component to Boomers working longer is that they don’t particularly want to retire if they don’t have to; a more palatable idea is “exploring their options”. Boomers really do see themselves as more vibrant than their own images of “senior citizens”.

Any Gerontologist will tell you that the Builder Generation of our great country were good savers, and looked forward to passing assets onto their Boomer children. These funds will help defer the 2008-12 losses in Boomer retirement accounts and for those who haven’t yet saved enough for their older age.

The real test of the metal of Baby Boomers will be in the way we use the wealth we are about to inherit. I would like to see “the metal” become “the medal”; that badge of courage to forego the possibilities of the present to prepare ourselves for the realities of the future. Being “old” may seem like a long way off; but being in denial that we will get there is just a waste of precious time. May we all be well-prepared to enjoy those Golden Years!

©Di Patterson, MSG, CPG “No one WANTS to age, but EVERYONE wants to AGE WELL!”