Tackling a Summit of a Lifetime

Finding the perfect running shoes for the race of a lifetime can be just as critical as planning to age well. It’s the small things that can fowl up your game plan. Take for instance shoes. There’s a lot of noise out there about the best and perfect running shoe for tackling the Pacific Coast Trail hike that I will hopefully have finished by the time this issue lands in June. All my training will go right out the door if my feet hurt, due to a poor shoe fit that causes blisters, etc., because I purchased the wrong shoes. I shopped around a lot for the right shoes, as I realized that come race day, the health and comfort of my feet would be a big determining factor of whether I completed the race.

So often simple impediments in our homes create hazards that can potentially risk whether we stay in our home. Simple aging-in-place solutions allow us the opportunity to age with dignity, independence, and safety, which provides us the freedom to make choices like enjoying outdoor activities, which improve our physical, cognitive, and emotional health.

Some critical things to consider as you create your own training ground to age well and on your terms are exercise, nutrition, sleep, emotional health, home modifications, moving closer to family, rightsizing to a new home, or even moving to a senior living community. Some or all of the above will have a critical role in helping you achieve the way you want to age.

PLANNING IS KEY!

Having goals that allow for continuous learning, which supports your ability to make educated decisions about your future is empowering. The planning can feel overwhelming and time-consuming, but well worth it in the end. Very much like the Pacific Coast Trail hike that covers 28 miles in one day that I will be completing in May for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. I had to learn many hiking ‘tricks of the trade,” train for many months in preparation, purchase appropriate gear, plan for proper nutrition to keep me fueled, and develop a deep well of mental fortitude to keep going, especially when faced with another 7-mile, 3000ft elevation gain. The perseverance and determination to continue hiking through mud, rocky trails, and crossing waterways that can be as cold as 30 degrees, are all part of the process and the journey. I’m determined to keep going and finish on my terms.

Training For A Long Hike

The number one thing aging adults say is that they want to stay in their homes and age in place, but it just doesn’t happen because you want it. I believe aging in place IS training for a long hike, especially when it comes to staying in your home. The “short hikes” are the simple modifications needed in your home from removing trip hazards (rugs!) to installing grab bars in your showers (no tubs please!). Your “long hikes” are bigger room modifications from moving walls to modifying bathrooms and kitchens to installing chair lifts and ramps, all in the name of safety. These are the hallmarks that help keep you safe and hopefully mitigate any life-changing falls. If you don’t do the short hike, you’ll never complete the long hike, and the long hike gets you to the finish line. —

Patti Gerke

**Patti reports back in the Fall issue on how her hike went, whether she chose right on those shoes, and if she survived the 30-degree water! Patti started running at age 40 and at 68 years old, has no plans to slow down anytime soon. Age Well San Diego.

Patti Gerke is a Senior Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), a Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA®), and a Certified Aging In Place Specialist® (CAPS®). For the past 21+ years she has specialized in working with seniors and their family members, utilizing her compassionate perseverance, to provide guidance, assistance, and expertise when wanting to Age in Place with dignity and independence…or selling their home. She’s lived in Carlsbad for 39 years with her husband. Find Patti at patti@ pattigerke.com