Senior Connections Senior Connections Aug. 2018

George and Joan moved onto a farm with 150 acres, where they farmed and milked cows for the next 23 years. Both George and Jean still live in Delano in the houses where they raised their families. Many nights, they slipped away from their busy lives to go dancing. Jean proudly mentioned that she taught George how to dance polka. She reminisced happily about growing up with a twin, saying, “everything we did together.” They went with their other siblings and neighbors to wherever a dance was taking place. “We knew everybody,” George remembered. “And we enjoyed ev- erybody,” Jean added. Delano truly had a spirit of community. Jean explained Delano as being like a big family. Describing each other, Jean said, “George is a hard worker, a wonderful per- son, and a quick learner,” George described Jean as being “a hard worker, very smart, and a great dancer.” It’s easy to see the love and admiration they share for each other. After 88 years, they still remain as close as ever. Asked if they have any regrets, George replied, “I can’t say that I have any regrets.” When Jean answered, she spoke with absolute certainty, “We just worked. We were happy, and we’re still happy. We were always happy together, and that’s the way it should be. Thank God for that.” They both grew up in a family that loved each other and worked hard. When they started their own families, they passed on those values to their children, Anthony and Elizabeth Schaust of Delano had 10 children. who passed them on to their grandchildren. Who could possibly have any regrets when they’re surrounded by so many people who love them? SUBMITTED PHOTO Are you moving enough to stay healthy? ABBIGAYLE SCHULTZ, NA Nursing student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities In rural Minnesota, where ideal weather is hard to ﬁ nd, the winters are long, and gyms are scarce, it can be hard to stay active. Though it is important to be up and moving throughout life, it is crucial to exercise later in life in order to prevent muscle and bone at- rophy (decay), an all-too-common condition in older adults. As age progresses, bones begin to weaken. Every- day wear and tear affects the joints and can cause painful diseases, including osteoporosis and arthri- tis. Hunger cues (feelings of hunger) decrease with age. This leads to malnutrition, which causes the body to take important nutrients from the bones, like calcium, in order to maintain normal function. Weakened bones lead to weakened muscles. Pain and stiffness discourage and prevent movement; thus, the muscles become smaller and weaker. All of the factors surrounding inactivity and immo- bility can lead to more than just skeletal problems. Someone who isn’t active is more likely to suf- fer from a heart attack as opposed to someone who keeps their body moving. Other diseases linked to inactivity include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and depression. The best way to stay healthy and prevent many dis- eases is to include moderate aerobic activity, as well as weight bearing activity into your lifestyle. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recom- mends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. This is 30 minutes a day, ﬁ ve days a week. Examples of moderate intensity exercise in- clude brisk walking and bicycling. Some examples of more vigorous weight bearing activity include mowing the lawn with a push mower and stair climbing. Swimming is a great aerobic ac- tivity which burns a lot of calories and strengthens the heart and lungs, but it is not as beneﬁ cial to the skeletal system as walking, jogging, or carrying gro- ceries from the car. There are many easy ways to stay active in the win- ter, as well. Many schools and public buildings are available during early morning hours for walking. In- stead of pushing the snowblower or riding the plow, think about getting out the shovel and moving some of the snow by hand. We are only blessed with one body to last a life- time, and it is crucial to take care of it into our senior years. Simply keeping busy and moving can prevent a wide range of problems that take a toll on our health and can even cause death. Challenge yourself and ﬁ nd new ways that you can add activity into your life, whether its walking to the post ofﬁ ce/mailbox instead of using the car, or as convenient as standing up and walking around during the commercials on TV. If you are permanently conﬁ ned to a wheel- chair or bed, be sure to speak with your physi- cian about passive range-of-motion exercises. These exercises are crucial in maintaining bone strength and muscle tone, even those located in sections of the body that are paralyzed. Senior Connections HJ.COM Senior Connections August 2018 5

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