Thank you for your interest in writing for NCHPAD’s newest blog – Healthy, Active, and Aging: An Older Adult Blog! In this series, we hope to gain real life perspectives from our authors on what it means to be healthy, active, and aging. Topics will vary and you can contribute to the blog as frequently as you like. The contributions can be however long or short you like and will be published to our website for other’s viewing pleasure.
Blog #1: What does Healthy Aging Mean to You?
By: Sandra Morgan Epps
Often times, people think that getting older means they can’t do the things they enjoy and at one point, I thought the same. When I think back to my younger years imagining how life would be at this point, it is nothing like I thought. I did not think I would be diagnosed with fibromyalgia or need to have a hip replacement and joint replacement in both knees. Both conditions have made it difficult to get around on my own. Living with disability was never part of how imagined my life. It’s not how I had things “planned.” After the initial shock of learning that I would have limited mobility wore off, I decided to take charge of my health and make sure my disability did not define me or stop me from doing the things I loved.
Living a healthy lifestyle is important to me, especially since I do have some health complications. When I had my hip and joint replacement in my knees, I started going to Lakeshore Foundation to regain strength. Although I am not able to do all of the things I once was able to, I have regained strength and wouldn’t have been able to walk had I not started working out. Going to Lakeshore Foundation (which is an accessible fitness center) has also spurred other healthy habits, such as eating a more balanced diet. Because of the healthy habits formed in my older years, I am able to still live a very full life and do most of what I enjoy.
Blog #2: What does Healthy Aging Mean to You?
By: Ethel “Kabu” Brunt
Being a retired nurse, after a career that spanned more than 40 years, I have always prided myself on living in a healthy way. As a young woman, I made sure to do the things that would ensure I lived to be a healthy old age – eating nutritiously, staying active, and consuming alcohol only moderately. Now that I am living as an older adult, I realize there are things I cannot or will not do as I would when I was a younger woman. I knew there would be certain changes I would experience in living to a “ripe old age,” and because of that realization, I have made adjustments to my day-to-day living. Activities like getting in and out of low cars and going shopping alone are not part of my routine anymore. I don’t attempt to do small home improvement chores on my own and don’t cook as much as I used to. In addition to being an older woman, my rheumatoid arthritis has helped set limits to what I can do.
Being a healthy older adult has a variety of meanings to me. Maintaining a certain level of independence, doing things I enjoy, and keeping up with doctors’ appointments are some of what it means to be healthy. Although I am not able to do things I once was able to or as much as I thought I would be able to do in my older age, I still consider myself a healthy person. Doing modified activities around home and lifting, playing with, and cuddling my two great-grandchildren are some of what contributes to my health and happiness. Engaging in heart healthy activities, such as walking, also helps keep me energized. Given the circumstances of the world now, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is extremely important. I still have a lot of living to do.
Blog #3: Why Not Exercising & Not Eating Properly Can Damage Your Health
The importance of maintaining a healthy body is absolutely necessary to living a life of independence, peace, and joy. Just being consistent in bodily movement, being able to function daily, physically, mentally & spiritually – exercise & the foods we eat enable us to do that. For many years exercise kept me physically fit, younger looking, & energetic. When I stopped because of COVID, concerned about being around people and staying indoors, I developed poor habits. I began eating the wrong foods and not exercising. I aged several years, my body started to ache, it was crying out for help – yet I did nothing. At this point, my health began to decline. Now I know I must always make exercise & a proper diet a priority. I’m looking forward to regaining control of my health again by being active, doing what’s necessary to have a healthy lifestyle, independence, peace of mind, and still doing things in life I enjoy.
Blog #4: Why Are Immunizations Important to Me?
By: Carol Hunt
Immunizations are important to me because I do not want to be sick. I will do everything possible to avoid illness. To me, immunizations are the best way to prevent getting sick. I trust the science community to make an effective vaccine to prevent the targeted condition or illness. Have any immunizations specifically made and impact on your life? Yes, I am up to date on all the vaccines that are available to a person my age (80) and have led a healthy, illness free life. I am grateful to the science community for developing the various vaccines that immunize me from conditions like polio, shingles ,pneumonia, the flu and especially COVID 19.