Who's old? It's National Senior Center and Healthy Aging Month | Mark Mahoney
Celebrated every year in September, National Senior Center Month is a time to shine a light on senior centers, showing the entire nation how vital they are to the health and well-being of a community.
The 11,000+ senior centers in communities and neighborhoods across the country provide access to information, opportunities, and support to improve the lives of people in their communities as they age.
Healthy Aging Month is recognized as a time to celebrate life and the positive aspects of growing older. As a person ages, physical and mental health, as well as dietary and social needs, change over time. A person can take charge of their well-being by taking steps to age with a healthy body and a healthy mind and not lose control of their well-being.
Today’s column provides an overview on some important aspects of healthy aging and also illustrates the many services provided for seniors at the Tallahassee Senior Center, a unique resource to help support our aging community members to live a healthier by engaging them with a myriad of resources for an improved quality of life.
Healthy Aging Month
As we age, we become aware that our physical and mental health, as well as dietary and social needs, changes over time. However, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost control. You can take charge of your well-being, by taking steps to age with a healthy body and a healthy mind.
Get moving
It is important to consult your doctor before exercising. Start slow, know your limitations and modify activities if needed. Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.
Beginning physical activity can be as easy as walking for 10 to 15 minutes for three to four days per week and increasing as you go.
Maintaining regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight, lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Make your physical activity FUN and something you enjoy doing!
Maintain a healthy diet
Eat proper portion sizes
Overeating can lead to obesity and increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and have them make up half of your plate.
Avoid excess processed foods.
Stay hydrated- adults should drink between 10-16 cups of water per day, depended on gender, living environment, and activity level.
Stay social
Try something new by attending online or socially distant in-person classes that interest you.
Use technology like Zoom or Facetime to stay in touch with friends and family.
Balance your body and mind: Keep a positive attitude. Keep your mind active by reading or doing puzzles. Keep your body active through stretches and yoga.
Be proactive: Receive regular checkups, physicals and medical tests when needed as many diseases can be prevented when caught early. Don’t forget appointments with the dentist and optometrist too. Take vitamins, supplements and medications as prescribed.
Senior Centers Month
Senior centers work with community partners to provide access to health, economic security, social engagement, purpose, creativity, mobility, and nutrition— all in a social and fun environment. Getting the word out in a way that resonates with one’s community is an important goal of this yearly celebration.
Tallahassee Senior Center
An important resource for our seniors, The Tallahassee Senior Center (TSC) demonstrates the theme of National Senior Center Month, “Powering Connections” by offering many services for our aging population through engaging with numerous community member organizations allowing them to enhance their offerings.
The mission of Tallahassee Senior Services is to offer programs, activities, and opportunities designed to encourage active living, optimal aging and social fitness for independent adults age 50+.
The Tallahassee Senior Center offers a variety of learning opportunities, health and fitness classes, activities and games for active adults of all ages.
A listing of just a few of these follows:• Fitness classes• Lifelong learning classes• Art programs• UPSLIDE (Utilizing and Promoting Social Engagement f Loneliness, Isolation and Depression in the Elderly)• Grandparents as Parents (GAP)• Southside Senior Services and Outreach
Contact Information: You can contact the Senior Center between 8 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday (at 850-891-4000) for more information regarding the Tallahassee Senior Center activities, or visit them at 1400 N. Monroe St. and take a tour. You can also get on the weekly newsletter for the TSC
Donate and/or become a member: You can also support TSC by helping pay the instructor’s frees and the administration behind the scenes that make classes and programs possible. You can make a donation and/or become a member by supporting the Tallahassee Senior Foundation by calling 850-891-1400 or visiting them at tallahasseeseniorfoundation.org.
September motivation
Use September as the motivation to take stock of past experiences and what may be some future goals. Everyone ages differently, so there are no set rules. It’s never too late to start something new.
Staying active and vibrant as long as possible is the ultimate goal and is the best gift to one’s self. Staying physically and mentally active, as well as and nurturing social connections with friends and family are all part of the bigger picture in keeping the mind and body well
Additional information/resources
For those who may be interested: The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Trust for America’s Health are excited to announce the National Healthy Aging Symposium: Innovation Across the Age-Friendly Ecosystem. In observance of Healthy Aging Month, this no-cost virtual event will take place on Sept. 26. Details are available at health.gov.
Check out the following resource tips from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) for healthy aging atalzfdn.org.
Find out more information about the Tallahassee Senior Center by visiting talgov.com/seniors/seniorservices
Mark Mahoney has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (R.D.N.) for almost 40 years and completed graduate studies in Public Health at Columbia University. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Who's old? It's National Senior Center and Healthy Aging Month
