15 minute read
Health Matters: Key Steps to Healthy Aging
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
As you age, your health needs change. Staying on top of senior wellness activities is important, but it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Creating a list of health and wellness to-do’s can help you stay organized, so you look and feel your best.
“Aging well is living well, and it all starts with a combination of activities that can improve our mental and physical well-being,” says Dr. Scott Kaiser, chief executive officer of Determined Health and a physician specializing in geriatric medicine. “Although health and wellness may seem to get increasingly complicated with age, it doesn’t have to be a struggle. A few simple – and fun – steps can keep us on the healthy aging path. By taking a proactive approach and prioritizing health, seniors can live their best life.”
Kaiser shares a simple senior-health checklist to help keep you or a loved one focused on wellness: 1) Annual physical: Everyone’s health is different. Even if you see specialists for certain conditions, it’s typically recommended to get an annual physical with your primary physician. This is an opportunity for important health screenings that may include tests to evaluate blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, bone density, and more. It’s also a good time for you to ask any questions and discuss concerns.
2) Vaccinations: Staying current on recommended vaccinations can help you stay healthy and limit the spread of disease. When cold and flu season arrives, be sure to ask your doctor about getting an influenza vaccine. The risk of severe illness from COVID also increases with age. COVID vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness and you can help protect yourself and the people around you by getting vaccinated. 3) Physical activity: All seniors eligible for Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, or group retiree plan may be eligible to join SilverSneakers at no additional cost and have access to live and on-demand virtual workouts, including nearly 2,000 activities and classes per week in a variety of lengths and formats. 4) Social connection: Maintaining friendships and connecting with others is an important component to supporting physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Set up coffee with friends. Join community groups. Check out social engagement opportunities through programs that feature working out with a group of peers to build friendships and community. 5) Mental health: Although prioritizing mental health is now more widely accepted, it still can be a challenge for older adults to admit they need help. Talk with your doctor about how you feel and about mental health concerns you may have. There are many ways to help with a variety of mental health concerns, including mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety, seeing a therapist, and taking medication. 6) Mental enrichment: Cognitive decline can occur as you age, so it’s important to be proactive to help support brain health through mental stimulation. Read books. Join a weekly game group. Check out GetSetUp, new for SilverSneakers members in participating health plans. This program provides an online learning platform designed for seniors with a wide range of live video classes – over 2,000 hours per week on more than 1,800 topics – to support mental enrichment. 7) Nutrition: What you eat fuels your body and mind, so it’s import-
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Climbing Mountains Continued from page 10 whole landscape. An early morning hot-air balloon ride over the Masai Mara provided the day’s excitement. “We had breakfast in the middle of nowhere!” says Sherie. “There was so much to see and take in.” The highlight of the day was seeing two leopards up close and then, because animals will be, well, animals, a pair of amorous lions made an appearance and Sherie caught it all on video.
Boarding an 18-seat plane took a good bit of faith and Hakuna Matata, but Sherie and Marianne made their way to Tanzania and one step closer to the hike of Sherie’s dreams. The pair spent time in a tent lodge where they were treated to African drums and dance, local cuisine, and more wild adventures. “We completed our big five at Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania where we spotted the endangered black rhino,” says Sherie. “It was exciting as he kept running and running!”
As if the joy and exhilaration of the safari were not enough for one trip, Sherie bid Marianne farewell and prepared to embark on the Kilimanjaro climb. What Sherie learned was that she was in no way prepared for the life-changing experience this climb came to represent. Sure, she had physically, spiritually, and financially prepared, but no amount of planning had prepared Sherie for the reality of the summit. The Swahili words of wisdom that she had learned while in Tanzania – “Pole Pole” which means “Slow Slow” – would come in handy over the course of her climb.
She wrote:
“Ascending was hard. Descending was harder. I did an excellent job on the first half with my pace. We were one of the first hikers starting up. About half way through, every few minutes I announced, ‘little break’ and we would stop to catch my breath.
I swear my heart was beating a thousand beats a minute. Slow it down. Keep moving forward. Always Pole Pole.
I kept looking back at the horizon when we got close to Stella
Point as it was going to be a beautiful sunrise. Festo (my guide) took pictures for me because of all my layers there would be no way I could push a button. They say once you make it to Stella
Point, it’s easy to reach Uhuru Peak (highest point). I say – FALSE!
Little by little we moved forward. Glaciers were all around. It was cold! But the feeling you have once you make it is unbelievable. 19,341 feet! Highest point in Africa. Highest I have ever climbed.
And I did it on my own two feet!!”
The soul-searching part of the journey was something unexpected and Sherie remembers having to dig deep in order to move forward. Also unexpected was the degree to which the old adage, “What goes up, must come down” applied to the trip down
Kilimanjaro. Rocks and gravel were fairly unforgiving on knees and the path was not something that could be made easier by wishing it away. “I was ready to quit hiking forever!” recalls Sherie.
“I was crying inside my head and was mad at myself despite the beauty of the summit.”
Turned out, things did get better. Food, water, rest, the restorative powers of Ibuprofen, and the beautiful songs of the porters proved enough to get Sherie down the mountain. “Watching the habitats change before my eyes was amazing and I knew I was close to the end when we got back to the rain forest,” recalls Sherie.
As all of the oxygen returned to Sherie’s bloodstream and the real processing began, the reality of her accomplishment began to take hold. Reading back over all of the comments that had been made by her friends and family was a humbling experience. Sherie tentatively reached out to “see” if anyone was interested in perhaps a Zoom presentation of her trip. They were, and it is exciting to Sherie that some of the very same technology that caused so much stress at the beginning of virtual learning – and has become an integral part of everyday life – will allow Sherie to take everyone along on her journey.
Sherie’s advice? Join a hiking group and get moving! You never know where it will take you! April 2022 Our Town Gwinnett
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Jasmine A. Mack Continued from page 8 field is one of Jasmine’s larger goals, both for herself and for others.
Biomedical research wasn’t her primary goal when she graduated high school. Her original plan was to be a pediatrician. “I was on the pre-medicine track while in college,” she remembers. “In my senior year of college, my advisor told me that I should consider public health. At the time, I didn’t know what the field really entailed, but I decided to apply to MPH programs and landed at Boston University.” But one thing remained consistent – the kids. “I came into the program concentrating in Maternal and Child health,” Jasmine adds.
In college, we really can meet people who will change our whole trajectory. Jasmine explains, “In my first semester, I took Introductory Biostatistics that was taught by Dr. Jacqueline Hicks. I picked up the material quickly as I really like working with numbers. I decided to add Biostatistics as a concentration, mainly due to Dr. Hicks.” But the connection with Dr. Hicks was more than just academic. It is an echo of Jasmine’s primary goal in the biomedical field – inclusion and representation. “It meant a lot learning from a Black woman in the Biostatistics field,” she says, “as there aren’t many of us. I don’t think I would have become a biostatistician without that experience.” And from there, a beautiful balance was struck. “Concentrating in both Maternal and Child Health and Biostatistics,” Jasmine adds, “I felt I truly had the best of both worlds: combining analytics with community health. Also having the opportunity to learn about statistical genetics, my experience in the MPH program was transformative.”
And Jasmine didn’t have to wait long to put her skills to work. “After graduating with my MPH,” she says, “my first job was being a research statistician at the University of Florida. I served in a supervisory role and managed a data team. Those skills I gained are so valuable, and they really help me as a PhD student.” But her end goals are still shifting and, true to form, pushing boundaries. “Now as a PhD student, I am still considering pursuing medicine,” she explains. “My path is very non-traditional, but I don’t think I would have it any other way.” Eventually, Jasmine plans on obtaining an assistant professorship at a research-intensive university and “hopes to lead a lab one day focused on reproductive health and lessening racial/ethnic disparities on a global scale.”
Jasmine adds, “I am very interested in increasing the number of historically excluded participants in genetic studies and in research in general. I am interested in public engagement surrounding genetic education. I have been involved as a judge for the American Society of Human Genetics DNA Essay Contest.” And along the way, she has also had opportunities to give back just as Dr. Hicks did for her. “I also enjoy mentoring other women of color in STEM,” she says. “I have served as an alumni mentor at Boston University in addition to mentoring students while I was a research statistician at the University of Florida. Mentoring really puts my work into perspective and reminds me of the bigger picture.”
Jasmine, from calculus to Cambridge, your journey into the biomedical field leaves us in awe, and your hometown is so proud of all you have accomplished. Thank you for your work and dedication.
ant to pack your pantry and refrigerator with wholesome foods. Stock up on fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, beans, and low-fat dairy. Then explore recipes you can try to experience new flavors and keep mealtime exciting. If you need help or have strict dietary concerns, consider working with a nutritionist for additional guidance.
Doesn’t it feel good to check a few things off your list? For more ideas on how seniors can stay active and connected, visit SilverSneakers. com. (BPT)
Key Steps to Healthy Aging Continued from page 20
Car Show in the Depot Continued from page 17 Menneg started Beyond the Ribbon and made it her mission to educate and support local cancer survivors and their families in their journeys. She visits survivors and their families in their homes and during treatments, offers cleaning services, organizes meal trains, and helps raise funds to cover treatments, medications, and living expenses. “I was lucky my support system was reliable, the best doctors and nurses you could ask for, the strength that I found in myself, and had decent insurance so as to not destroy us financially,” Menneg said. “Unfortunately, not so many others when diagnosed have the same support available to them.”
Menneg is partnering with the City of Lawrenceville, Ironshield Brewing, Slow Pour Brewing Company, The Dizzy Gypsy Art Gallery, and Georgia Pinup Posse to host this event at Lawrenceville’s Depot District, located along North Chestnut Street, just minutes from the Historic Square in Lawrenceville. She will be handing out awards for: Best in Show, Most Car Club Cars in Participation, Kids’ Choice, Top 30, and Survivors’ Choice. Additionally, door prizes such as gift cards, a barbecue kit, jewelry, gas cards, and a spa facial will be distributed to random winners.
“Anything with wheels is welcome: cars, trucks, motorcycles, sling shots, vintage and modern,” Menneg shared.
Participants are also welcome to enter more than one vehicle. The entry fee is $20 per vehicle.
Various car paraphernalia and other novelty items will be offered throughout the show space. Pinup models will be walking around and doing photoshoots. Live music, shows, and pinup makeovers will be happening on two different stages. Visitors can also view various car and pinup art by local artists displayed on the walls inside both breweries. Sponsors are constantly being added. A full list of sponsors will be available on the website.
Last year, with it being her first time hosting an event of this nature, Menneg set a goal of raising $5,000, but ended up doubling that in the end. “Thanks to our community and our incredible BTR Squad volunteers, we were able to pay out over $25,000 last year to assist our families in our community.”
With support from the City and even more sponsors, their sights are set even higher this year to impact even more survivors and their families.
More information at https://beyondtheribboninc.org and https:// www.downtownlawrencevillega.com.
Earth Day Continued from page 17
But the movement isn’t about just a day and won’t stop after April 22nd. It’s a continuous effort with plenty of ways to get involved if you’re looking for an ongoing commitment.
In the meantime, there are small ways we can affect positive change when it comes to our planet and its resources. We’ve all heard the words “going green,” and there are few things you can do to be a little “greener” without a lot of sacrifice.
Some common activities on many lists include:
Conserving water
Using public transportation, carpooling, walking, or riding a bike when possible
Reusing and recycling items
Cleaning up your community
Drinking from a reusable water bottle
Eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat
Whatever we do as individuals may not seem like much. But if we all do our share, we can make a difference every day, starting with Earth Day.
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