The Paradox of Aging

Positivity goes a long way.  That’s the message Laura Carstensen delivers in her TedTalks video,  Older people are happier. Carstensen, a psychologist and director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, has "extensively studied the effects on well being of extended lifetimes." In this video, she lightheartedly demonstrates through a series of studies that older people are happier people. 

How?

She discovered that with age, there are changes in our ability to monitor our own lifetimes. Younger people are trying to soak up all the information they can by taking risks, exploring, and meeting new people because everything is interesting and there’s always something more to see or do. But…

“As we age, our time horizons grow shorter, and our goals change,” Carstensen says in the video.  “When we recognize we don’t have all the time in the world we see our priorities most clearly.  We take less notice of trivial matters, and we savour life.  We’re more appreciative, more open to reconciliation.  We invest in more emotionally important parts of life and life gets better.  So we’re happier, day-to-day.”

The paradox of aging isn’t in what there is to dwell on, but in what there is to look forward to.  As the aging adult encounters each curve ball that continues to be thrown in this game called life, they can choose whether or not it is worth their time to dwell on the situation.  By focusing on what matters, life becomes more enticing, and the world continues to open up with opportunity.   

To watch the 12 minute video of Laura Carstensen's talk, click below. 

Innovations are life-changing

Improving technology, at the extended rate it moves today, is overwhelming and can even be risky.  But it proves successful when it has positive results, especially within the health-care industry.

“The Solitaire flow-restoration device” (no this is not a card game) is a new gadget that earned federal approval a month ago in the United States.  According to the article on Healthzone it “is used in the brains of stroke patients much like an artery-opening angioplasty procedure for heart blockages.”   

The device is supposed to help improve the care of patients who have suffered a stroke.  “Studies of the new device in Europe and Canada show that it significantly improved stroke outcomes.” 

Created by Covidien of Dublin, Ireland, the procedure is to be minimally invasive.  “Doctors thread a thin tube through an artery — typically in the top of the leg—up to the brain. Then they advance within that tube another instrument with a miniature, slinky-like stent to the blockage. The stent expands and helps doctors remove the clot more easily. To be sure the blockage is entirely removed, doctors take pictures of the arteries.”

Today, technology is unavoidable.  But there are many benefits besides utilizing it for our entertainment, and the health industry is just one example.    

Wake up and dance

“Dance has the rare and precious power to unite people of all ages, cultures and religions and has an intrinsic value to Canadian society.

Consider the enthusiasm of children as they express themselves through movement; the joy adults exude after a ballroom dance class; the profound emotional response of audiences and their reflections after a powerful dance performance; the incredible energy generated in a room when everybody starts to boogie; and the passion and history reflected in traditional and cultural dances.

Imagine how desolate a world without dance would be.

Dance speaks to the mind, body and soul in a way that goes beyond the power of words and its social impact and capacity to engage should be celebrated. As an art form dance can be impressive but expression is its fundamental nature.”

~Yvon “Crazy Smooth” Soglo, artistic director of Bboyizm

Shake it, move it, wiggle it, drop it… The Canadian Dance Assembly invites you to participate in this year’s National Dance Week.  It will run from Sunday, April 22 to Sunday, April 29. It's focused on promoting International Dance Day on the 29^th.  During this week, one theme will be celebrated each day to embrace the rich and varied landscape of Canadian dance, according to the ilovedancecanada website.

SarahJane Burton, the head of the dance division of musical theatre at Sheridan College, says that dance is a key source to keeping your channels open.  “Dance is a full mind-body experience,” she says, “You are improving your co-ordination, increasing your flexibility, and creating a greater endurance.”

On Wed April 25, it is “dance is a source of well being for seniors” day.  So, turn that volume up just a little bit more that morning.  Take five minutes out of your day to just sway to rhythm of a song.  Your movement can encourage a positive energy that is addicting, and can encourage others to join in.  It’s an endorphin feeding frenzy!  So… what are you waiting for? Get up and dance!  

http://ilovedancecanada.wordpress.com/national-dance-week/

Good Health adds Life to Years

“It is not age that limits the health and participation of older people. Rather, it is individual and societal misconceptions, discrimination and abuse that prevent active and dignified ageing” – World Health Organization

Key facts (provided by the WHO website) ·      The number of people today aged 60 and over has doubled since 1980. ·      The number of people aged 80 years will almost quadruple to 395 million between now and 2050. ·      Within the next five years, the number of adults aged 65 and over will outnumber children under the age of 5. ·      By 2050, these older adults will outnumber all children under the age of 14. ·      The majority of older people live in low- or middle-income countries. By, 2050, this number will have increased to 80%.

April 7 – it’s my grandmother’s 76^th birthday, my cat – she turns 12, but more importantly, globally, it’s World Health Day; and this year’s theme is Aging and Health. 

This Saturday, World Health Day will be celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO).  It is “a global campaign, inviting everyone – from global leaders to the public in all countries – to focus on a single health challenge with global impact. Focusing on new and emerging health issues, World Health Day provides an opportunity to start collective action to protect people's health and well-being.”  

This year’s focus – how good health adds life to your years – intends on informing aging men and women on how they can lead full and productive lives and continue to contribute to the growth of their families and communities. 

Most importantly, WHO targets the six stereotypes that are conflicted with the process of aging:

1. Older people are “past their sell-by date”

2. Older people are helpless

3. Older people will eventually become senile

4. Older women have less value than younger women

5. Older people don’t deserve health care

To learn more, click here for the World Health Day 2012 Toolkit