Research suggests seniors who have an active social life with friends and family can reduce the likelihood of conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia, according to a recent study published in the journal, Lancet Neurology.
“They’ve shown that people that have a good support network, whether it be family or friends or a combination of both, do seem to have better health overall,” said local pharmacist David Schwartz.
“They haven’t exactly pinpointed why, but it just seems that’s the way it works,” he added.
Delsie Cumming, 81, is one local resident who has tried to have a very busy social lifestyle. She lives on her own, continues to work at the Fort Frances Times, and tries to attend most of the events that occur in town.
“I try to support everything that goes on in Fort Frances and I eat out at least once a day,” she said. “I like playing bridge, I love my friends. . . .
“But you know, if you just keep track of what’s going on in the town, you can’t be bored,” she added.
Cumming stays physically active by exercising at Curves for Women here, and socially active by meeting with friends for coffee at McDonald’s.
Her advice for aging well is keeping busy and staying involved within the community.
“Don’t sit at home. Volunteer, there’s lots of work to be done,” she stressed.
As a pharmacist, Schwartz has become familiar with many residents and notes that many of the local senior population’s health problems are very similar to other communities in Ontario and across the country.
“Some of the other conditions that are very difficult for people to deal with are some of the psychological ones, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia as we get older.
“Parkinson’s is also a very debilitating disease not only for the patients, but for the caregivers, as well, because a lot of the caregivers don’t have the training needed to take care of these people 24 hours a day.”
He noted the health system is moving towards a “preventative role” to encourage people to improve their health so as seniors age, they can enjoy aging as opposed to seeing their health decline.
“We see as soon as you start to affect someone’s mobility, it becomes very difficult for that person to interact with the community,” Schwartz explained.
“Interacting with the community and other people is instrumental for health,” he stressed.
Becky Holden, a local health educator with the Northwestern Health Unit, has helped introduced many different activities for seniors.
“We have a senior SAGES program and there’s interest in it,” she noted. “SAGES was a program that was developed by a community care program for the district health unit and they do exercise programs for the elderly.”
Another program the Northwestern Health Unit is promoting is purchasing “Healthy Living” food boxes that she believes makes it easier for seniors and all of the community to get their fruits and vegetables.
“I know a lot of seniors find that it’s difficult for them to get around,” Holden said.
The food box is full of fresh produce that can be ordered once a month at a cost of $20. Last month, more than 700 boxes were bought, which Holden hailed as a success.
“A lot of comments from people have been, ‘I’m eating more fruits and vegetables because I have them in the house’ and ‘I’m trying more fruits and vegetables that I might not have tried before,’” she added.
By keeping busy, eating right, and maintaining relationships with friends and family, Cumming is one senior who doesn’t see herself slowing down.
“Coming here [to the Times] is the best thing that I can do because I get out of bed and I don’t stay at home,” she said. “If I stay at home, I’ve done nothing.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
