Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of February 1st
EXERCISING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESSFUL AGING
Winter’s short days and cold weather make it all too easy to slip out of healthy routines. The Office for the Aging, though, makes it easier not only to stay healthy, but to regain health you might have thought was lost for good.
It’s never too late to start an exercise program, even if you’ve never done it before, even if French fries have been your favorite vegetable. And when it comes to exercise, there’s no such thing as “too old.” The Archives of Internal Medicine reports even seniors who first took up exercise at age 85 and above were able to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Additionally, seniors who took up exercise were found to be less likely to be lonely and more likely to remain living independently.
Start by having a conversation with your doctor about exercise, since you’ll need their written approval to begin OFA’s Senior Exercise and/or Tai Chi programs. Approvals are required for both in-person and remote classes. We’re also planning for springtime classes in our “A Matter of Balance” falls prevention program. Contact OFA for more information; space is limited.
The weather this time of year can make outdoor exercise potentially dangerous, especially for seniors with limited mobility; but you need not give up outdoor exercise altogether. Dress in layers of wind- and water-resistant clothing, and make sure your hat, gloves, scarf and boots are winter-ready. Having an exercise buddy is always a good idea, especially during winter.
Start slowly if you’re exercising outside, because it’s going to take longer for you to warm up. Stay hydrated, also – there might not be as much obvious sweating as there is in the summer, but dry, cold winter air can still contribute to dehydration, especially on windy days. Speaking of wind, check the wind chill factor before stepping out the door. Have sunglasses and sunscreen ready for those bright, sunny days where the sunshine comes from overhead as well as reflected from snow.
For snowy, wet or bitterly cold winter days when outdoor activity isn’t an option, keep a small set of weights near the TV, or exercise along with a video; but remember that if you’re exercising at home, try to do it while somebody’s home with you in case something goes wrong.
We saved the most encouraging news for last: any amount of exercise is better than nothing. The most recent study confirming this was released in January by the University of Oxford. They found that any amount of exercise contributed to cardiovascular benefit.
Most general recommendations call for between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week, which can be broken down into manageable units. A TV commercial break is enough time to work in an exercise “snack” of a few minutes. Walking laps through your house while the morning coffee is brewing; going out to check the mail; sweeping or vacuuming: it all counts toward exercise goals, and it adds up quickly.
Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 114 Delafield St., Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone (845) 486-2555, email: ofa@dutchessny.gov website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging
CAN’T READ WHAT’S ON THE SCREEN? USE YOUR BROWSER’S ZOOM FUNCTION
We send out Aging News emails using larger-than-usual type to make text readable for most of our readers – but some readers would like the type to be larger still. And then there’s the whole vastness of the rest of the internet, which may or may not be adapted to aging eyes.
If you’re still fairly new to using desktop computers and internet browsers, you might not yet be familiar with one easy way to adjust the size of the text you’re reading, whether you’re using the Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox browsers. And it’s easy:
On your keyboard, while holding down the “Ctrl” (control) key, hit the + (plus) key to make text larger. You can enlarge the text as many times as you need to.
To go with smaller text because you want to see more text on the screen, hold down Ctrl and hit the – (minus) key.
To reset the text size to the way it was when you opened the browser, hold down Ctrl and hit the zero key, or just close the browser.
The same keyboard shortcuts also work if you’re using a PDF reader to look at the Aging News.
Other aging news online:
Dementia may manifest itself as problems managing money, long before a formal diagnosis: https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/dementia-may-cause-problems-money-management-years-before-diagnosis?utm_source=nia-mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=healthyaging-20210125
Did a coyote wander through your neighborhood this winter? From the state Department of Environmental Conservation, here are the do’s and don’ts when it comes to potential encounters with coyotes: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6971.html
(Video) Looking for a new hobby? Here’s an intro to birding from the National Geographic Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nYgs69Q9FQ
(More hobby links here: https://seniorplanet.org/get-creative-and-social/?mc_cid=ddad1b7539&mc_eid=4149ad7bda)
This week in senior birthdays:
2/1: Actor/comedian Garrett Morris (84)
2/2: Comedian/actor Tom Smothers (84)
2/3: Actor/comedian Nathan Lane (65)
2/4: Former vice president Dan Quayle (74)
2/5: Soul singer-songwriter Barrett Strong (80)
2/6: Journalist/author Tom Brokaw (81)
2/7: Journalist/author Gay Talese (89)
And here’s a school related Bad Joke for those whose grandkids are starting another marking period:
Q: What were the pirate’s grades last semester?
A: Seven C’s.
