Live a Healthy Life in the Blue Zone
Aging Matters

 A reader of my newsletter suggested additional tips about aging successfully. She suggested, "Why not research and look to those living amongst people of all ages? Why not talk to the 7th Day Adventists that are a blue zones of long healthy living? Check out their strategy in Loma Linda, CA, they have great insight in living a long productive and healthy life well into their 90s and 100s. This includes healthy mental capacity also."

So, I followed her advice and found the Blue Zones website extremely useful. It's inspired by the world's longest-lived cultures and helps thousands of individuals live better. Their working premise, "Americans spend 90% of our lives within 20 miles of home. That is the essence and focus of the Blue Zone Project. They improve street and park designs, public policy, and social involvement so that it's easy for people to make healthy choices."

The Blue Zone project launched in the Loma Linda, California area. Everyone here reaps the benefits of living in a place where well-being is a way of life and a great place to live, work, learn and play.

They improve health by making permanent and semi-permanent changes on multiple levels. They improve city streets with no smoking policies, bike lanes, sidewalks, public spaces, and walking paths. They get buy-in from schools, local businesses, grocery stores, employers, faith-based organizations, and encourage community involvement.

The residents change diet, become physically active, build friendships, create daily interactions with neighbors, children, family, and live a faith-based life.

If you go to the BlueZones.com website, be sure to check out three tools. 1. Take the 3-minute True Vitality Test to find out your life expectancy and to get customized recommendations on how to live longer. 2. Learn how to improve your health and happiness by optimizing your home, kitchen, bedroom, and social circles. 3. Take the free test to see where you are on the happiness scale and get personalized recommendations to improve your wellbeing.

While there, check out the recipes, articles and expert advice, and groundbreaking books. Blue Zones suggests not smoking, eating a healthy diet, regularly exercising, keeping a healthy body weight and a moderate alcohol consumption.

Older residents in Loma Linda are known to live well into their nineties and sometimes beyond.

Get my newsletter. Send an email to Carol@seniorcare.com with newsletter in the subject line.

Carol Marak, aging advocate and editor at Seniorcare.com. She's earned a Certificate in the Fundamentals of Gerontology from UC Davis, School of Gerontology.

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Does growing older get in your way?
Aging Matters

 No matter where you are in life, especially at 60 and beyond, there are things to consider in terms of having fun, finding passion, and creating a circle of support.

This week in the Elder Orphan Facebook Group, a member posts the statement, "Do not allow loneliness to lower your standard." For the sake of the column, my statement to, "Don't let growing older limit your mindset and outcome." Ask, "What limits do I place upon myself as I get older?"

An article in Psychology Today, reminds us to pay attention to what our minds say, and offers three warning signs:

• Beliefs influence behavior - if you believe that you're capable, competent, and deserving of your dream job, you're probably more likely to notice and seek opportunities that could help you get there.
• Your Beliefs Influence Others Behavior - People who see their partners in an idealized light become more satisfied with their relationships over time, experience less conflict, and are more likely to stay together.
• Beliefs Impact Health - Middle-aged adults who held more positive beliefs about growing older live an average of 7+ years longer than those who held more negative beliefs. In a number of other studies, optimistic people were found less likely to develop heart disease or other conditions.

Each of us has gifts and talents that can make a lasting impact. When nearing retirement or career, some look for greater significance. A friend retired a month ago, and he's ready to get back to work! Instead of going back to work, which could distract his 'real' yearning, maybe he should consider time and pause over these questions by Karl Moore, professor at the Desautels Faculty.

• How have your passion and interests evolved to shape your purpose?
• How do they connect to your interests and dreams from your early days?
• What pursuits would inspire and give meaning to you?--What impact would you like to make on others?

"The nice thing about leisure is you don't have to spend a lot of money on it," says Ken Dychtwald, CEO, Age Wave. "Sometimes the best moments are with your grandchild or watching a beautiful sunrise or playing piano for the first time in your life at age 71. Leisure is not just killing some hours, but a transformation of oneself. And people are experiencing it with gusto."

What about you? Do you experience life with gusto? Are you doing things you enjoy? I'm trying, but have so much more to do.

Get my newsletter. Send an email to Carol@seniorcare.com with sign me up in the subject line.

Carol Marak, aging advocate and editor at Seniorcare.com. She's earned a Certificate in the Fundamentals of Gerontology from UC Davis, School of Gerontology.

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Local Resources for Seniors

Aging Matters

The most frequent question asked by older adults and family caregivers, "Where can I find help for my parents/myself about elder care concerns?" Sometimes they have money to pay for services and sometimes they have limited income. Either way, several websites and even brick and mortar services do exist.

Since elder care is a complex responsibility, and the long-term care system is hard to navigate. Many caregivers and seniors don't know the first thing about giving care or the best place to receive advice about it. A reader asked, "Where can I go to receive free legal advice on setting up our health care proxy and advance directives?" It's the reason for this column since it's hard to know what a relative needs, where to go to receive help, how to pay for it, and how to deliver better care at home.

Where to begin looking for assistance? Each time, they're directed to, "The local Area Agency on Aging. Sometimes they're called the Department on Aging."

Here's an overview of what they do for seniors and family caregivers:

• They are experts on all aspects of aging, and their vision captures the spirit: To help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
• The local, regional offices, named the Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), and they serve as single points of entry into the long-term services and supports (LTSS) system for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, veterans, and families. They exist in numerous locations throughout each State.

Each resource office:

• Takes on a crucial information and referral role, connects families with local providers who can help create a caregiving plan, solve challenges, and identify support services.
• Provides direct support to caregivers such as respite care, individual counseling and support groups, education classes/training; and emergency assistance.
• Develops transition strategies with the family to improve planning, transportation, in-home care services, and case management.
• Plays a significant role in detecting and preventing elder abuse.
• Offer programs to help older adults and their caregivers better manage their health.
• Coordinates home-based-community services.

The agency is the trusted source of information where people of all incomes and ages can access long-term support options and benefits. They rely on the work of volunteers. If you can donate your time to help people in need, please reach out to your local, regional Area Agency on Aging office, call 1-800-677-1116 or visit Eldercare.gov.

Other resources:

• PayingforSeniorCare.com,
• State/county legal aid offices,
• Local Meals on Wheels,
• Community nonprofits that serve seniors,
• The State Ombudsman office.

Get my newsletter. Send an email to Carol@seniorcare.com with newsletter in the subject line.

Carol Marak, aging advocate and editor at Seniorcare.com. She's earned a Certificate in the Fundamentals of Gerontology from UC Davis, School of Gerontology.

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VISITORS

PREMIERE DEBUT ALBUM CREST
WITH METAL ASSAULT

NEW ALBUM OUT TOMORROW

Salt Lake City, UT - July 12th, 2018 - Heavy, experimental five-piece Visitors are teaming up with Metal Assault for the exclusive premiere of their debut full-length album Crest. Listen to the album stream HERE. The band's newest release will be available digitally tomorrow, July 13th. Fans can purchase Crest on the band's website here: http://visitorstheband.com.

Visitors have already released two singles, "Pollyanna" and "Apoplexia", off tomorrow's debut full-length album. The band's long awaited concept album, Crest, is the follow up to Visitors most recent EP Vortices, A Foreword (2017) and acts as a continuation of a concept and storyline they introduced in the previous release. The nine song album was tracked, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Stephan Hawkes (Chelsea Grin, Attila, I Declare War) at Interlace Audio.

Just this past weekend, the Salt Lake City natives played a hometown show at Club X SLC to a packed house. The band's headlining show kicked off with supporting performances by Middle Class Rut and Black Map. Fans can follow the band on socials for more information or to stay up-to-date on all upcoming tour dates.

Visitors is a heavy, experimental, progressive rock band based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Formed in late 2012, the band developed a reputation early on in the west coast post-hardcore scene for progressive-yet-accessible songwriting, high-energy live performance, and extensive use of guitar effects. Their previous releases, Blueshift (2014) and Vortices, A Foreword (2017) were met with praise from critics and fans alike for their expansive and dynamic sound, poignant lyrics, and dark ambience.

Visitors is Ian Cooperstein (Vocals, Lapsteel, Baritone), Bryan Lee (Drums), Ian Hilton (Guitar), Cameron Jorgensen (Bass), and Ty Brigman (Guitar). 

Crest Tracklisting:

1. Pollyanna

2. Sea of Limbs (A Diminisher)

3. Apoplexia

4. Styrofoam Needles

5. Fugue (In D Minor)

6. Monachopsis

7. Stationed (South of Nadiria)

8. In Part (Entrained)

9. In Whole (Encased)

Follow Visitors:

Website: http://visitorstheband.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitorsSLC/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisitorsSLC 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VisitorsOfficial/