Dallas County Living Well Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 35

Healthy Aging:
Stay Involved, Be Positive
and Know Your Neighbors

Life is measured in moments...

Make every
moment count.

By Jim Concotelli

W

hether it’s listening to an iPod, surfing the web
or keeping up with the news, staying involved
and in tune with the times may help people live
a longer life. That’s some of the advice from a poll of older
adults who were questioned about the secrets of longevity. Being positive and socializing are additional attributes
touted as important factors for a long and healthy life.
Although there is some decline biologically throughout
our lifetime, we continue to grow and develop socially,
emotionally and intellectually. Dr. Helen Kerschner, executive director of the Center on Aging at the University
of New Mexico, and her colleagues conducted focus groups
with people of all ages and asked them what they considered to be the keys to healthy aging. “The study was all
about measuring quality of life and trying to understand
what are the key drivers for successful aging,” says Kerschner.
The key factors were categorized in three broad groups:
involvement, positive mental attitude and relationships.
Involvement was described as being engaged in daily recreational activities. Both physical and mental activity was
listed as important. If you enjoy a specific type of exercise
or a certain intellectual pursuit, you are more likely to
continue to stay involved. Maintaining a positive mental
attitude focused on an ability to laugh, being hopeful and
looking forward to the future.
Having mutually beneficial and respectful relationships
with family, friends and individuals in the community was
also very important. Maintaining social interactions and
being able to converse about current events