July 30, 2009 - Did you know that at age 60, your
pupils are one-third the size they were when you were 20? As a result,
they may take longer to adjust to darkness and bright light. And, it
might surprise you that retired 80-year-olds have double the social
interaction of their 50-year-old counterparts.
The true statement above supports research that
happiness increases with age - social interaction stimulates your brain
to release "feel good" chemicals like norepinephrine, which leads to
contentment.
These and other practical nuggets of interesting
information are packed into the book Old is the New Young: Erickson's
Secrets to Healthy Living.
Hitting bookstores in July, Old is the
New Young empowers people over 50 to live happier, healthier, more
active lives through a series of simple tips backed up by the latest
research.
Broken out into easy-to-read sections, Old Is the
New Young provides information about the four most important areas in
life-mental fitness, physical health, social engagement, and financial
stability. It even includes self-assessments for readers to chart their
course on the journey to overall well-being (see below, "How's your
social health?").
While subject matter ranging from mental to
monetary health may seem to run the gamut, what every section of the
book has in common is you. How are you taking care of yourself? How have
the latest scientific and sociological studies indicated you could take
care of yourself even better?
Written from experience
The book's four coauthors-Matt Narrett, M.D., Mark
Erickson, Jacquelyn Kung, and Lisa Davila-each have broad backgrounds in
aging and wellness. All work for Erickson Retirement Communities, a
national developer of full-service retirement communities for 25 years.
Coming from a diverse range of experiences-from
chief medical officer to chief operating officer-the authors are at the
forefront of senior living, research, education, and health care. They
say that the insight they've gained by working at Erickson was
instrumental in writing the book.
"Society dictates what we do for the first 60 or so
years of our lives-we go to school, we join the workforce, we raise a
family-but people are living longer and healthier than ever before; and
the later years are, for many people, a big question mark," says Mark
Erickson, chief operating officer of Erickson Retirement Communities and
son of the company's founder, John Erickson.
"There's a real opportunity right now to help
people see all the possibilities that are out there and realize how they
can make the most of this valuable time in their lives."
How's your social health?
Old is the New Young includes several
self-assessments, including this one that tests social health. Adapted
from research conducted by British gerontologist Kevin Morgan and his
colleagues, this test measures your level of social engagement.
Answer yes or no to the following questions:
1. Do you read a newspaper or magazine on a regular
basis?
2. Did you vote in the last election (local or
national)?
3. Do you attend religious services or events?
4. Have you had a personal telephone conversation
in the past week or so?
5. Do you browse or read books or materials from a
library or bookstore?
6. Have you read or written a personal note (letter
or e-mail) in the past week or so?
7. Have you attended a meeting or event of a club,
group, or society in the past month?
8. Do you have a reliable mode of transportation to
go shopping?
9. Do you have a full-time, part-time, or volunteer
job?
10. Have you been away for vacation in the past
year or so?
11. Are you planning to go on a vacation in the
next year or so?
12. Do you interact with friends/family as much as
you would like?
13. Do you have at least one friend or family
member living within easy driving distance?
14. Can you leave your home and walk independently
outside (with or without a cane or walker)?
15. Do you get out and do things as much as you
would like?
16. Do you have at least one friend or neighbor who
you could ask for urgent help if needed?
Below is the score for your Social Health
Give yourself one point for each "yes" answer to
the 16 questions above.
● 14-16 points: Your social health is excellent.
● 12-13: Your social health is fair.
● 12 or fewer: You need to work on improving
your social network.
Get the book
Old is the New Young: Erickson's Secrets to Healthy Living is published by Globe Pequot Press. It will be in
stores by August 2009 and is available for sale online at Amazon.com
(Click title for more information and to order at a discounted price from
Amazon.)
>> Erickson Retirement Communities,
headquartered in Catonsville, MD,
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