| | New Bedford's Amazing Milly England is 111 Years Old
Dr. Gail Russell, director of the Gerontology Center at UMass Dartmouth, says of 111-year-old Milly England, "She is testimony to the social and technological trends that have merged with her personality and genetic makeup to allow her, and others like her, to live a long and fruitful life." England is marked by her ability to see the funny side in things that may not appear funny to others, which is in keeping with the New England Centenarian Study’s finding that the ability to cope with stress is important to increasing longevity. Her love of the game whist is only matched by her love of telling stories, which, undeterred by her deafness, she tells with great humor and even greater enthusiasm.
South Coast Today, May 22, 2011 MORE> |
May is Older Americans Month The Health Department of Nebraska takes the opportunity to disseminate important aging information during Older Americans Month: the Four Corners Health Department emphasized that by remaining physically active and finding enjoyable activities, one can live a long and healthy life. Four Corners encourages communities to embrace their older adults, urging them to "not only [recognize] what older citizens bring to our communities, but also to help them continue playing a vital role in weaving a unique and lasting community fabric." With the growing trend of older adults volunteering, the report notes, "Their efforts remind us that when older adults are active and engaged in their communities, everyone benefits!" York News-Times, May 21, 2011 MORE> Editor's Note: How did you celebrate creative aging last month? Read about Philadelphia's Creative Arts and Aging Network event, and tell us about your special event on the Creativity and Aging Blog! |
Centenarian Says Being Busy is the Secret to Longevity Ida Stonda Brunatti has been alive 100 years, not that she has had time to keep track of the passage of time between being a professional accordion player, a scout leader, a blue-ribbon gardener, an oil painter, a charter member of the Italian-American Civic League, a member in the St. Ann Women's Guild, the Salt Lake Council of Women and the Catholic Women's League, while at the same time traveling the world, spending time with her family, and volunteering at the 2002 Olympics. If that list seems long and complicated, let it be a testament to Brunatti's lifetime of activity. Says Brunatti, "People ask me what my secret is to living to be 100 and I tell them keeping busy." And she certainly has. Intermountain Catholic, May 20, 2011 MORE> |
Cellist Bernard Greenhouse Dies NPR remembers cellist Bernard Greenhouse, founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, who recently passed away. Greenhouse had been devoted to the cello for nine decades, many of which he spent imparting his considerable knowledge to fellow aspiring cellists. His love of music sustained him until the age of 95, when only a few weeks before his passing he was still making music on his 300-year-old cello. Greenhouse took pride in playing as well in his later years as he did in his earlier years, stating in an interview in his nineties, "That's why I practice every day. I fight against the closure of my ability. And I'm not going to let it happen. National Public Radio, May 16, 2011 MORE> |
Centenarian's Desire to Learn Does not Dim Chao Mu-ho embodies lifelong learning. Born in China, he attained his first degree during the Chinese Civil War, attained his next one decades later at the age of 91 and then got his masters at the age of 98. Now 100, Chao isn’t done yet. He spends his days learning English and how to use the computer, while maintaining and developing his calligraphy talent. Chao, who is guided by his motto "Opening eyes greet the morning and another day of work," hopes that his example will be followed by younger generations. While some may think Chao’s health allows him to study so rigorously, he is adamant it is the other way around: activity and stimulation have kept him in good health. Taipei Times, May 16, 2011 MORE> |
Love of Jazz Helped Me to Live to 100, Says Centenarian He plays the clarinet, the guitar and the saxophone, and now at 100-years-old, Frank Proctor is picking up the piano as well. Proctor, who is in good health and great spirits, says, "My recipe is made by healthy habits, affectionate relatives and a great passion for jazz music." He encourages others to set goals and not to be deterred by setbacks; a set rhythm is nice but certainly not necessary to make a good tune, and sometimes you just have to improvise. Voice-Online, May 15, 2011 MORE> |
Nonagenarian Irene Pens Third Romance Novel Even as nonagenarian novelists become less rare, they certainly are not less noteworthy for the vividness, vivaciousness and wealth of experiences they often contain. Irene Martyn is the latest author in her nineties to publish a novel--her third--and she has a fourth in the works. Martyn is somewhat of an authority on romance, having had two silver anniversaries with "two wonderful men." When asked the secret to her longevity, she replied, "You're only as old as you feel, and I don’t feel my age. I enjoy living and have had two tremendously happy marriages." Look Local, May 13, 2011 MORE> |
At 100, Still a Teacher, and Quite a Character Sholem Aleichem was a successful storyteller and instrumental to the storyline of Fiddler on the Roof, but perhaps his biggest success was instilling an enduring sense of humor in his granddaughter Bel Kaufman. Ms. Kaufman's humor has sustained her through 100 years, the first 12 of which were spent in revolution-torn Russia. A graduate of Hunter College and Columbia University, she honored her grandfather's humor with the best-selling novel Up the Down Staircase. Now happily married to a 94-year-old and with two retired children, Ms. Kaufman wonders at reaching the century mark. "It must have happened gradually, while I wasn’t looking," joked the new adjunct professor of Jewish humor at Hunter College. The New York Times, May 11, 2011 MORE> |
First Aging Plan Step: Check Your Attitude Frank Fein, director of senior adult ministries and educational services at The Baptist Home, laments the negative connotation old age has developed in society despite signs to the contrary being abundant. He encourages his readers to note that many studies have found a correlation between people's attitudes towards aging and their health while aging. And, he argues, if the studies are not proof enough, there is always the Bible. For example, in Romans 12:2, Paul says not to be "conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Fein points out this line, and several others, can be interpreted in terms of aging: don't accept society's view that aging is a negative process; take it upon yourself to stay engaged. Word & Way, May 11, 2011 MORE> |
Birstall User, 104, Urges Older Generation to Go Online As part of its campaign to encourage older adults to use the internet, the BBC featured one of the web's oldest advocates, 104-year-old George Higgs. When his son moved to America, Higgs joined the 45% of adults older than 55 in his native East Midlands who use the internet. Higgs recommends the internet to his generation, describing it as a "very valuable asset." He does warn, however, that the internet can be as much of a time waster as it can be a time saver. "I don’t twitter, I'd sooner buy a canary," quipped the cyber-skilled centenarian. BBC, May 11, 2011 MORE> |
As US Centenarian Numbers Double, Ex-Lawyer Sees Common Attributes Since founding the Centenarian Awareness Project in 1989, Lynn Peters Adler has met enough of the 72,000 American centenarians to form a decent sample pool, and she has formed some opinions on what leads to longevity. Now that modern medicine has allowed people to maintain their physical health, Adler has observed certain characteristics amongst the centenarian clubs. These attributes include a "positive but realistic attitude, a love of life, a sense of humor, spirituality, courage, and an ability to accept the losses that come with age." ABA Journal, April 28, 2011 MORE> |
A Master Journalist's Guide to Old Age Roy Rowan, 91, feels retirement should be just as busy as one's working life. And when you consider he spent his career covering the Chinese Civil War, chronicling the inside stories of stock manipulation and catching the last helicopter off the Saigon rooftops, that's a pretty big statement. But in his new book, It's Never Too Late, Rowan details the ways to stay active, like pursuing your passions and setting goals to accomplish. "Learn to play a musical instrument, master a foreign language, take up sketching or painting, or enroll in a course in gourmet cooking," says Rowan, who insists your new hobby need not be related to your previous career. Taking his own advice, Rowan is now looking to move his work to the silver screen.
Fortune, April 26, 2011 MORE> |
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