by Janice Ancrum, NCCOA President & CEO
Before I begin, let me share that I’ve borrowed some of this content from Baptist Health, specifically the online blog, Juice. Baptist is a longtime partner of ours, and has been extremely generous over the years. Before we relocated to 1901 Island Walk Way, Baptist made sure we were housed on their Nassau campus in the “little yellow building.” From senior-focused programs and services to targeted sponsorships throughout the years, Baptist is a loyal community friend.
Fear of aging…most of us have it. Perhaps not as much when we’re young, but as we approach 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, it can be very real. “Seniors Living Happy, Healthy Lives” is how we describe the mission of Nassau County Council on Aging. What does getting older mean? In a society that often celebrates youth, many older people tiptoe into their golden years rather than embracing them. Many seniors believe:
-
-
- Dementia will be part of aging
- Old age is lonely
- Activities you used to enjoy, such as exercise, are just too hard to keep doing
-
While there may be some truth to these statements, the “happy, healthy” mindset is critical to making the most of each day. Here’s what we know…
Most seniors won’t get dementia. It’s true that as we get older, we lose some cognitive skills – depending on your age, you may become more forgetful or repetitive. However, according to Anjali Gupta, MD, an internist at Baptist AgeWell Center for Health, only about 5% of adults or so suffer from dementia, the most common type being Alzheimer’s disease.
“You might forget a name here or there, but that doesn’t amount to dementia,” Dr. Gupta said. “It just sounds scary when you know somebody who’s had it. It’s much more common to end up with diabetes or with heart problems.”
However, if dementia affects a loved one, we can help. The Club (located in the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center at 1901 Island Walk Way) is a therapeutic day program complete with entertainment, fun, music, friendships, outings, pet therapy and more in a safe environment for seniors needing assistance. (Caregivers also receive much-needed respite.)
Loneliness isn’t inevitable. When the kids move away and friends and family are lost, it may seem like the next stage of life is destined to be a lonely one. But for many, that isn’t what happens. People may move into senior living communities or decide to age in place at home. Whatever the decision, socialization is key. NCCOA’s Fernandina Beach and Westside Senior Life Centers are a great source of activities, classes, exercise, music and even a hot meal through our “Just Friends” program. Staying connected with society is one of the greatest strides to make as you become older. Every day, I see our seniors taking advantage of what we offer at our Life Centers. It always brings a smile to my face to know that we’re a solution to one of the challenges of aging.
People can exercise and participate in activities at any age. Exercise and movement as a senior may look very different from favorite activities in your younger years. The good news is there’s a version of just about any physical activity for any stage in life. At our Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center, we have a well-rounded offering of all types of mobility-focused classes. From tap dance to yoga, tai chi to Zumba, hula hooping to weight training…we have it all. Our classes are geared to the participants, and our instructors are specially trained for the more senior age groups. (And, there’s always the big ol’ beautiful beach in our backyard to help keep us healthy and happy.)
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), some of the most common fears are flying, heights, spiders and snakes. Don’t let aging make your list.
For more information on happy, healthy lives, contact NCCOA at 904-261-0701.
We’re all in this together.