PART VI
With appropriate gratitude we can plan the management of our future by employing a famous candy, “M&Ms”, as a mnemonic device. To achieve an exact fit, however, I’m suggesting an additional “M” which brings 3 “Ms” to represent words that call every senior to action. One”M” is for muscle, one stands for mind, and the third symbolizes mixing (socializing).
A few years ago a university medical bulletin carried the headline, “Stop Looking for the Fountain of Youth. You already have it.” Yes, exercise can help build a more youthful body. The print and electronic media remind us of that almost daily. The evidence for the benefits of exercise continues to accumulate.
A Yale University School of Medicine professor remarked that, of course, it is important that senior citizens follow good health rules and get adequate medical care, but their primary aim should be to avoid frailty. The weakness that accompanies old age can restrict normal daily activities with possible devastating results i.e. a fall from which the patient is too weak to undergo appropriate physical therapy. Younger people often have the same ailments as seniors, but they usually have the strength to carry out normal activities, and their lives are not greatly altered.
A friend attended a lecture by an exercise specialist who cited a study of a group of both men and women over the age of 70. They were asked to lift a weight of ten pounds. Seventy-five percent of the men did it, but only twenty-five percent of the women managed to do it. Further details are not available especially the ideal lifting weight for the septuagenarians. It would seem, however, that strength training for the women and for some of the men is in order. We know that everyone should consult a physician before embarking on an exercise program.
Sports provide opportunity for exercise. I used to play golf, and one day went out to the course. A man of 85 approached asking for the job of caddy. I replied “This bag of clubs is too heavy for you, but you can be the ‘fore’ caddy who yells ‘fore’ if it seems the ball I hit will strike another golfer either in front of us or at the side.” “How’s your eyesight?” “It’s 20-20″ he said. I hired him and stepped up to tee off. I gave the ball a hard smack and turned to the elderly caddy and asked “Did you see it?” “I sure did,” he replied. “Well, where did it go?” I asked. Perplexed, he put a hand to his head and murmured “I forget.”
