{"id":1405977,"date":"2019-09-11T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T13:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=987476"},"modified":"2019-09-11T07:00:55","modified_gmt":"2019-09-11T13:00:55","slug":"for-longevity-in-both-the-mind-and-body-stimulation-is-essential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/local-news\/for-longevity-in-both-the-mind-and-body-stimulation-is-essential\/","title":{"rendered":"For longevity in both the mind and body, stimulation is essential"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note: This sponsored content is brought to you by <\/em><\/strong>Renew Senior Communities – Glenwood Springs<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"
A senior community\u2019s enrichment and activity program must be designed to redirect focus away from a resident\u2019s limitations and toward productive, educational and social activities that will enhance the quality of life.<\/strong>
Courtesy of Renew Senior<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Ample
\nresearch demonstrates the mind\u2019s capacity to influence a person\u2019s health, both
\npositively and negatively. If left unchecked, depression and despair can
\ninhibit recovery from illness and lead to hopelessness and premature death. <\/p>\n

Researcher
\nKen Wells, in the landmark Rand study at the University of California, Los
\nAngeles, found that 50 percent of all depressed people are over 65. Wells
\nstudied depressed versus nondepressed people and found that depressed elderly
\npatients used four times the amount of health care dollars than nondepressed
\nseniors, and had a 58 percent greater mortality rate within the first year of
\nadmittance to a skilled nursing facility than their nondepressed counterparts.<\/p>\n

For
\nexample, depressed people tend to lack motivation to get up and move about.
\nThis inactivity makes them susceptible to urinary tract infections and
\npneumonia, which if left untreated can lead to kidney failure and death.<\/p>\n

Stimulating the mind and body<\/strong><\/p>\n

For a
\ncommunity\u2019s enrichment and activity program to be effective, it must be
\nsensitive to the emotional forces that motivate people in this age group. The
\nprogram must be designed to redirect their focus away from their limitations
\nand toward productive, educational and social activities with a positive
\nemphasis that will enhance the quality of life.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s
\nsenior apartments are full of activity. Residents are attending college
\ncourses, cooking classes, traveling, and remaining active in service
\norganizations in the community. Variety and respect for individual preference
\nare key elements in a successful recreational activities program. Leisure
\ninterests are lifelong habits that each person develops. These interests
\ncontinue into later life, even after one has entered a senior living community.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Courtesy of Renew Senior<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A sense of purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many
\ninnovative programs utilizing different services and modalities have been
\ndeveloped. Where communities provide supportive living and socialization, along
\nwith medical care, resident functioning is enhanced and deteriorations of old
\nage are significantly delayed. <\/p>\n

More
\nand more research shows that if seniors want to feel younger and stay
\nhealthier, they need to get involved with life. The very act of volunteering
\nand interacting with others brings a sense of purpose and contribution to one\u2019s
\nself and community in a way that can actually build longevity while
\nstrengthening the body, mind and spirit. <\/p>\n

Improving brain function<\/strong><\/p>\n

According
\nto recent studies, there is a strong and direct link between physical activity
\nand how the brain works. Different types, amounts and intensities of physical
\nactivities improve brain function. Michelle Carlson of Johns Hopkins University
\nis working with a novel new program called Experience Corps. This program
\nembeds physical and mental activity into weekly volunteering for older adults
\nto mentor children in local elementary schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe
\nneed to address socioeconomic barriers to motivate older adults to regularly
\nengage in healthful behaviors,\u201d Carlson says. \u201cAnd many people don\u2019t appreciate
\nthe power of physical activity for our brains.\u201d <\/p>\n

Multiple
\nstudies from this and other similar programs have found that regular physical
\nand mental activity has resulted in improved memory and other cognitive
\nfunctions. <\/p>\n

Theme-based activities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Intergenerational
\nprograms are part of the routine at Renew Roaring Fork. \u201cWe have a weekly music
\nexpressions group which brings seniors at the community together with toddlers
\nto share a regular musical journey and explore the feel, sound and vibrations
\nfrom various musical instruments,\u201d according to Jennetta Howell, Renew
\nenrichment director who leads the group. <\/p>\n

As a
\nmusician and former singer\/performer, she has both experienced and personally
\nwitnessed how the children and residents interact through the common string of
\nmusic. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe
\nresidents, children and moms all look forward to these weekly sessions which
\nleave everyone invigorated and engaged,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She has
\nfound that targeting low-intensity activity that is theme-based, in this case
\nmusic, is an important and scalable intervention that leaves everyone
\nchallenged and satisfied.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Renew Senior Communities are full of activity. Residents are attending college courses, playing golf, traveling, and remaining active in service organizations in the community. <\/em><\/strong>
Courtesy of Renew Senior<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Meaningful impacts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many
\nolder adults have a desire to participate in meaningful, productive activities
\nthat have been proven to be highly beneficial. In one recent study published in
\nAging magazine, epidemiological data suggests that for older adults,
\nvolunteering and intergenerational activities have been associated with lower
\nmortality, improved well-being, life satisfaction and may decrease functional
\ndecline. <\/p>\n

We all
\nage differently mentally physically and emotionally. Whether you are you are
\nsimply experiencing \u201csenior moments\u201d or have been diagnosed with dementia,
\nresearch shows that the condition is never bigger than the person and that
\nthere is something everyone can do to make an impact. <\/p>\n

Whether
\nit is helping children with reading skills or making art to donate to an
\nunderprivileged children\u2019s program, seniors are not done yet and they still
\nhave something to contribute \u2014 and seniors are strengthened from that
\ncontribution, according to research in major universities like Johns Hopkins. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe use
\nactivities and programming to promote a sense of well-being and purpose,\u201d
\nexplained Lee Tuchfarber, CEO of Renew Management<\/a>. \u201cThis provides a sense of
\naccomplishment and contribution that is \u2018instrumental\u2019 to combatting the
\nunhealthy effects of boredom and depression.\u201c<\/p>\n

Active aging<\/strong><\/p>\n

Research
\nshows that creativity and imagination are untapped reserves in all elderly
\npeople and even in those with dementia. Given that, it\u2019s possible that true
\nretirement can actually become obsolete for active adults. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe
\nbelieve there are no age limits and that age is just another limit to shatter,\u201d
\naccording to Mr. Tuchfarber. \u201cParticipating in a volunteer program drives
\nhealth benefits through increased physical activity, a sense of contribution,
\nand social connectedness. \u2026 Keeping busy by volunteering is a form of active
\naging and if you don\u2019t use it you lose it, but if you do use it, you become
\nstronger,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note: This sponsored content is brought to you by Renew Senior Communities – Glenwood Springs A senior community\u2019s enrichment and activity program must be designed to redirect focus away from a resident\u2019s limitations and toward productive, educational and social activities that will enhance the quality of life.Courtesy of Renew Senior Ample research demonstrates the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1405977","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-10 11:30:55","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KKCH - The Lift FM","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1405977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1405977"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1405977\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1405977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1405977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kkch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1405977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}