Step On It!
Recent research has demonstrated that how fast seniors walk appears to be a better gauge of how long they will live than trying to do a more complicated analysis of age, sex, health, smoking history, and other variables.
A study found that seniors’ walking pace is linked to their longevity. In a study, it was found that those who walked at a pace tantamount to 2 ½ mph on a treadmill lived longer than those who walked slower.
The report researchers from University of Pittsburgh found that walking speed can be used as a measure to determine how long elders will live. It was found that faster walkers had a greater chance of living longer than their slower counterparts.
The report presented at the Gerontological Society of America, studied data of 492 elders of the age 65 and above. Yazan F. Roumani, research analyst and Stephanie Studenski, geriatrician and professor of medicine at Pitt, examined the performance of the group at Kansas City, Mo, for a decade. The result published after nine years showed that 77 percent of the elders who walked slower than 1 ½ miles per hour on a treadmill had died. However, out of those who walked on average speed of 2 ½ miles per hour on a treadmill survived longer. Only 27 percent had died in the group in comparison to 77 percent (slow walkers).
Change Your Attitude!
The researchers considered other factors such as chronic illness, age, race, sex and hospitalization. However, it was found that walking speed seem to be a separate factor in determining longevity.
According to Studenski, this amazing study highlighted that the common saying “as people get older they start to slow down” is true. The decrease speed is now known to be associated with longevity.
However, according to Studenski, the analysis is simplistic. Yet, it offers vital information for doctors and physicians.
Walking speed seem to be able to mirror healthy conditions of other body parts like the circulatory system, lungs, heart and limbs. The decline in walking speed can be associated with impoverishing functioning of these body parts. Thus, walking fast might mean that you are going to live longer.
Feeling good has often been associated with good health. A new review of existing research seems to prove this is true for seniors— “positive emotions do influence healthy outcomes for older people.” Shape up, people!
AMD On Decline!
A major cause of blindness in seniors, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has dropped by about 1/3 in the past 15 years. Smoking cessation, better nutrition, and improved exercise may be possible explanations (along with having a better attitude and walking faster!).
Pancreatic Cancer Cure???
In “one of the most important studies ever,” University of Oklahoma scientists have “stopped pancreatic cancer in early stages.”That’s good, huh!
Tax Time Help is Near
The AARP Tax Aid group has set up shop at the Earl Brown Senior Activities Center to provide low and moderate-income seniors assistance with their taxes. The hours are 9:30 – 1:30, Monday and Friday.Ten Toughest States to Retire
According to the website, Money-Rates.com, the worst state to retire in is Nevada, followed by Michigan, Alaska, South Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina,Missouri, and Arkansas. Florida received “honorable mention,” whatever in the hell that means.The “10 Best States to Retire,” according to the same source, were New Hampshire,Hawaii, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Virginia, Utah, Connecticut, Vermont, and Idaho
Assignment: Send all your retired friends in Idaho a Valentine and tell them how lucky they are.
MainStreetDeLand
Feb.12—Craft Beer Festival (60 beers from 36 breweries)—Artisan Alley—1-5 behind the Conrad building between Georgia and W. New York Ave. |
| Lucy and Desi |
Stetson Baseball/Softball
If you have been watching men’s Stetson basketball, you are more than ready for a change of scenery. The men open the season with a three game set with the University of Georgia on Feb. 18, 19, and 20, and follow up with four games with the. U. of Maine 25-28.
The women host a tournament Feb. 11-13 (Mich. State, Boston, Tenn.), 18-20 (South Dakota State, Kansas, BCU), and 25-27 (Valpo, BCU, Chas. South.)
Book Sale
The super monthly book sale at the Library will be held February 11 & 12, 9:30-4; 50 cents is the top price. $2 dollars a bag on Saturday afternoon! Now there is a Valentine for a favorite friend. At this price, you can give one to an enemy!Love, Older American Style
Last year at this time I printed this essay from the Senior Journal in our “Valentine’s” edition of Stuff. I have noticed that we still have way too many lonely singles out there, so here’s another try. (There’s a reason there a lot of pink on these pages, folks).
After pointing out that as we age it becomes more and more important to be connected to loved ones—or to make new ones, the essay noted that there are “abundant opportunities” for seniors looking for companionship.
Beginning with the point that there are about 4.5 million seniors in Florida, with about five women for every four men, the odds of finding such companionship should be pretty good. They suggest trying one or more of the following strategies:
1. Hit the Senior Center. The DeLand Center, for example, has all kind of activities from weekly dances to shuffleboard See our more complete list of activities at the Sanborn Center). This place defines “active.”
2. Take a class. Your area colleges all offer some kind of life-long learning programs.
3. Volunteer. Help your community and meet people at the same time. Now that’s novel.
4. Check out library events. The DeLand Library hosts several each month.
5. Explore online dating sites. Many of these focus on seniors. Be careful, select only good sites, and get with it.
Sacred Slave Stories
Museum of Florida Art, Feb. 5 & 6Sacred Love Stories unfolds as a series of living memories of courage, sacrifice, resilience, tragedy, and hope.
Also at the Museum until March 13: Topographies, an exhibit by nationally recognized Barbara Sorensen.
These large-scale sculptural installations remind us of the globe’s wild, natural beauty.
The Museum of Florida Art is located at 600 N. Woodland. Call 734-4371. Or, go online at: www.museumoffloridart.org
Events at The Sanborn
M- Senior Tennis Clinic-8:15, Shuffleboard- 1:30, Monday Dance 2-4, SquareDance-6T- Chorus Practice-2:30, Pinochle- 6:30, Ballroom Dance Lessons-6:30
W-Tai-Chi-8:30, It’s All About Art-9:45, Charley Baker Bridge-12, Chess Club-12, Mexican Train-12:45, Pinochle-6:30
T-Quilters-8:30, Canasta-11, Ballroom Dance Lessons-2:30
F-West Volusia Artists-9, Shuffleboard Open Play-1:30
(For more details on any of the
You and Punxsutawney Phil
Will the groundhog see his shadow and what does that have to do with us? Amazingly, the custom of the groundhog’s prediction has been around for 125 years with the same groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. What’s the secret to Phil’s longevity? One sip of “elixir of life” every summer at the Groundhog Picnic magically gives him seven more years of life.
Wouldn’t it be great if Phil shared his “elixir” with us mere humans! Imagine the life we would have knowing that each year we’re adding seven more years. What would you do with the added years? Would you
moan and complain about living too long, feeling young and having nothing to do? Or would you jump for joy knowing that you have all the time you desire to do ALL the things you desire.
Imagine living in a world where you have the time to “do over.” Remember playing as children when something wasn’t ‘right’ we’d yell “do over” and get to do it again. Somewhere while growing up we lost the
chance to “do over.” What would happen if you had enough time to:
1. forgive yourself and others
2. show unconditional love
3. let go of the guilt
4. hug like you mean it
5. say thank you for the little things
6. see your mate with new eyes
7. express your genuine feelings
8. dream unabashedly
9. help someone
10. live in the moment
You do have the time, even though we humans don’t get to share in Phil’s “elixir of life.” Starting right now, take a chance and “do over.” You’ll be amazed at the difference this will make in your life and others.
Yes, we will all watch and wait for Phil’s declaration! After all, he’s never been wrong in 125 years!
Inez Bracy, BS, MS, CNLP, inez@bracygroup.com
Lifestyle Transitions Coach, Speaker, Author
February Calendar
At The Athens
Live Entertainment:
4, 5, and 6—The Sands Theater Company Presents:
Noises Off! (The last three days to see the funniest farce EVER! Honest!)
11 & 12—An Evening of Elegance, music by the Greater Union First Baptist Church
25, 26, 27—The Gondoliers, Spotlight Theatre of Central Florida presents this tale of unintentional bigamy
Film:
2—Four Lions, Jihad as farce!
Independent Film Trilogy:
8--The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
9--The Girl that Played with Fire
15--The Girl that Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
(If you don’t know these titles, you wouldn’t be interested in seeing the films)
10—Howl, The story of the chronicler of the beat generation, Allen Ginsberg, and his (in)famous poem of the same name. Wow!
13 & 19—Tamara Drewe (When the ugly duckling sashays back to the village of her youth, she ain’t ugly anymore)
14—Romeo and Juliet, filmed before a live audience at The Globe
19—Mesrine: Killer Instinct, Odyssey of the legendary French gangster (“Man of a 1,000 Faces”)
20—Inside Job, The film that cost more than $20 trillion to make, how the world economic crisis of 2008 happened
27—Love’s Labour’s Lost, From The Globe to here
Opera:
6—Don Giovanni—If you like your opera a little on the racy side, this contemporary version is for you
20—Cosi fan Tutte—Mozart, girl swapping, in a modern setting. Nice, huh?
For more information and/or reservations, call the box office at 736-1500, or go online at: www.athenstheatre.org
AT Stetson
Theatre:17-20—Big Love (Stover Theatre)
Lectures:
9—Advance Man
10—A Darwinian View of Climate Change
21—The Russian Intelligentsia
25—The Emotional Brain
Music:
4—Faculty Recital, “Sounds New”
5—Faculty Recital, violin and piano
8—Music by Black Composers
11—University Symphonic Band
15—Faculty Recital—Organ
26-27—Universtiy Opera Theatre, Marriage of Figaro (at DeLand High School)
For much more information regarding Stetson events, please go to: www. stetson.edu then find and click on “calendar of events” at the bottom of their home page.
If you have some stuff you think belongs in Stuff, send your stuff to delandseniorstuff@yahoo.com and the odds are a little bit better than the NRA calling for a ban on guns that your stuff will appear in a subsequent issue of Stuff. (Or call Burgher, the editor – at 736-8364, unless he is watching a ball game, at the pool, thinking positive, reading a good book, watching a play, arguing, or doing some other fun stuff that seniors do.)
If you have information or comments about this publication’s blog edition contact nan.sherrill@gmail.com or at carfitsafetyexpo@gmail.com
