• How we change as we age:
  • Sight  (Optomitrist: "Please read the chart on the wall."  Me: "What wall?")
  • Hearing  ("Can you hear me now?)
  • Sense of taste
  • Sense of smell
  • Changes in reaction time
• How regular doctor checkups can catch or prevent medical conditions:
  • Mamograms (Is this what they mean by "Breast Reduction"?)
  • Colonoscopy (You wan to do WHAT???)
  • Skin care
    • Melanoma
    • Dry skin
    • Thinning skin
    • ("I don't remember having these age sport or wrinkles when I looked in the morror yesterday!")
• How regular exercise support overall health and promotes independence:
  • Muscle tone, "Use it or Lose it!"
  • (I always thought that "exercise" was a four letter word, but I am forcing myself to embrace "profanity")
  • (I believe that they invented Malls so that seniors could shop under the guise of increasing their Cardio Vascular Fitness.)
• How eating habits can affect the quality of life and longevity.
  • (Eating foods that are good for you but taste really bad can just make life SEEM like forever!)
• How can I afford the health care that I need?
  • Is the new National Health Care Bill going to help or hurt me?
• How can I afford to retire?
• Who is going to take care of me while I am helping my adult children and taking care of my aging parents?

Do you think you're too old for exercise? Think again. Even people who need wheelchairs can participate in exercises to maintain or restore upper body strength. Always check with your doctor first to be sure you're healthy enough to exercise. You don't need any fancy equipment to get started, just a comfortable pair of shoes that can cushion your feet. Then go for a brisk walk every day for an aerobic workout to get your heart pumping, strengthen your bones, joints and muscles, and burn calories.

Try to keep up a pace that will still allow you to talk without getting breathless. Aim for at least 10 minutes to start and work your way up to 30 to 45 minutes as your body acclimates. In inclement weather, crank up the jams and dance, dance, dance! Exercises like yoga and Pilates build flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance. Swimming is a terrific all-body workout that supports your body weight. Working with light weights a couple of times a week to target specific muscle groups also builds strength and endurance. People who exercise tend to live longer, remain independent longer, and suffer less frequently from Alzheimer's and dementia.

Exercise improves heart health and lung function, strengthens the immune system, and fights depression. It lowers your risk for diabetes, obesity, colon cancer and high blood pressure. Rest and relaxation are also important components of fitness. Try to get enough sleep, even if it means napping occasionally. Relax with whatever activity does that for you; reading, gardening, doing puzzles, enjoying a hobby or playing with your pet, for example. The payoff will be a stronger, sleeker, more confident you, better able to tackle life's everyday chores and challenges.

As a senior, if you are looking for a form of physical exercise that will not only be of benefit to you health-wise but also impact your ability to enjoy life, you might want to look into exercises that incorporate stretching as all of part of the routine. The health benefits gained by going through a series of stretching routines are often immeasurable. The less movement one's body makes, the faster the body is likely to deteriorate. This deterioration can affect one's ability to function normally. Once one's muscles have begun to deteriorate, it can take a lot of work to bring them back to a near-normal condition.

One of the easiest means of preventing muscle deterioration is to put together a set of stretching exercises that use as many of your muscles as possible. If need be, ask your physician to refer you to a physical therapist for recommendation on beneficial stretching exercises.

If you feel adequately confident, you can also contact your local YM/YWCA to see if they offer low-impact stretching exercises. You may even want to consider trying yoga to see if it fills your needs. Don't start with the most difficult stretching exercises. If you are out of shape, it will take awhile for your body to reach a level where you are able to "reach for the stars."

Just know that each time you make a concerted effort to reach for something or you establish a regime of stretching exercises that helps you feel fit, more healthy, and even more energetic, it becomes more likely you will be adding to the length of your life.

There are many things that baby boomers can do to stay healthy and fit. People in the age group over 50 have changed their attitudes. They want to stay happy and healthy way into their senior years. Some baby boomers are watching what they eat. They are eating the right foods, and maintaining a balanced diet from the four major food groups. They are also counting the calories and eliminating most junk food from their diets.

Others are starting to exercise more. Baby boomers are finding that physical activity can help prevent some diseases, and improve their emotional state. The key to exercise is to take it slow, and don't give up on it. Some women baby boomers are using housework as a way to get some needed exercise. Many of these women aren't to keen on joining a gym, but they will gladly keep up with their housework. Chores like vacuuming, mopping the floors, and cleaning out closets is a good way to burn calories, and use those muscles. The plus side is a clean house, and no gym membership.

Another good past-time for baby boomers is taking up a sporting activity. Golf is a game some seniors have taken up in their later years. One reason golf is great is it's not too physically demanding. It gets a person out of the house. One benefit is being able to enjoy the company of friends, for some healthy competition. There are so many ways for baby boomers to stay active and healthy. It is good for your physical as well as emotional state. Whatever a person decides to do, hopefully they will enjoy themselves.

You should get your cholesterol levels checked regardless of age. A simple blood test does that, and it is very important to have. There are many ways to help lower the bad (LDL) and increase the good (HDL) levels of cholesterol. Exercise and losing weight are two of these. What you put into your body also plays an important part in reducing cholesterol levels.

You should eat red or organ meat sparingly. You should not eat whole dairy products like whole milk and ice cream. It is important to change from whole to nonfat milk. This can be done by switching to two percent, then one percent and finally to nonfat milk. Ice cream also needs to be switched to one that is lower in cholesterol, like frozen yogurt, which still should be eaten in moderation. Processed meats like hotdogs, bologna and salami should not be eaten. Check the labels to see if the food you are going to put in your cart has palm or coconut oil in it because these are very high in cholesterol and should be avoided.

Eggs have gotten a bad rap about cholesterol. Studies have shown that eggs help increase the good cholesterol and can be eaten in moderation. If you are concerned just eat the egg white instead of the whole egg, but do enjoy eggs. Try to not fry your foods with partially hydrogenated fats as they are high in cholesterol and are not good for you. Just use a spray like Pam.

Baby boomers lead the population in aging. They are taking stock of this fact and are doing everything to stay healthy. Staying healthy includes proper nutrition, exercise, and annual checkups.

In our youth, it was quick and satisfying to grab fast food. We may not have been aware of the calories or the bad cholesterol that was building in our bodies. Baby boomers are looking at these factors and are prepared to choose more wisely. They consider a balanced diet as a means to a better and longer life. Fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and fiber are replacing the fast foods.

No longer do you see people sitting on the front porch rocking as they age. Baby boomers are living longer and enjoying life by staying active. They are biking, jogging, and playing racquet ball. You see many on the golf courses. Exercise makes the body not only feel good, but look good. Weight lifting strengthens the body and there are cardio workouts for the heart and lungs. Exercise is not only limited to the physical body. Mental exercise increases memory. Challenge yourself with crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, or anything that will trigger your mind.

Annual physicals are important in staying healthy. You want to be ahead of the curve, so you can anticipate any health problems and take action while they are in an early stage. Doctors will keep your blood pressure in check. They will recommend the best vitamins for you.

Baby boomers are exploring a wide range of different options to stay healthy. They include all around good living, including eating right, exercise, and annual checkups. Follow these steps and live a long and healthy life.