By Ron Rubenzer, EdD, MA, MPH, MSE, FAIS, Mayo Clinic Champion
*This is an article from the Summer 2021 issue of Contentment Magazine.
CNN Medical consultant Dr. Sanjay Gupta writes, “…People who live better — and longer — are the ones who hold on to hope. They keep their chins up and often throw themselves into the service of others. “1
The older are wiser about COVID, even though they are hardest hit. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 93 percent of COVID-19 deaths nationwide have occurred among those ages 55 or older.2 Despite this imminent threat to our older citizens, it is reported “As a group, older adults, appear to be withstanding the mental health strains of the COVID-19 pandemic better than all other age groups.”3 In other words, our seniors may appear to be more resilient in bouncing back from this COVID crisis.
Our senior citizens’ motto could be, “What age dictates, we mitigate!” says senior learning consultant, Dr. Ruth Woo, of the Jacksonville’s Senior Services Department.4 Additional good news is “about one-half to two-thirds of people show Post Traumatic Growth (PTG).5 PTG is a type of positive change which people experience as a result of struggling with major life challenges or a traumatic event. You have the “resiliency gene” baked into your DNA.
This article will explore:
- Six benefits of entering your golden years.
- Tips on how to adjust to being among “The Rest of Us” (54 years+), including memory loss.
- How to communicate meaningfully with non-boomers (or how not to over-share “baby boomer fables.”)
- Six Benefits of Entering Your Golden Years.
There are several advantages accompany aging. Older adults:
- Are less irritated by things
- Become more reflective
- Grow wiser
- Spend less time worrying and fighting
- Improve mental performance especially in job-related and verbal skills
- Report positive life satisfaction
2. Tips on How to Adjust to Being Among “The Rest of Us”
Use It or Lose It — Your Memory.
As the oldest baby boomers just turned 74+,6,7 many worry about their memory. But mental abilities can actually increase as we age if we use our skills. Problems with memory and computation result more from lack of practice than change in our physical thinking equipment. About 89 percent of elderly DO NOT experience Alzheimer’s disease. (About 11.3 percent of those over 65 do have Alzheimers.)8 “An idle mind is the devil’s playground,” and that devil is Alzheimer. But brain disease can be slowed down by using your brain in particular ways, says Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his 2021 book “Keep Sharp,” in which he offers 13 “Brain Muscle Building” exercises to help you use your brain rather than lose it.9
The best way to remember what you read or do is to concentrate on what you are doing or reading. Learning to concentrate on your breathing, will improve your overall concentrating ability and therefore your memory. Also, silently repeating to yourself, what you have just done (i.e., “I turned off the stove, brought in the dog,”) will help you remember later that you did turn off the stove or brought in the dog.
A normal memory problem occurs when you can’t remember where you put your keys. A serious memory problem happens when you can’t recall what your keys are used for. In either case, you should go see your doctor.
Simple memory (and Whole Brain) boosters include: 
- “The palest ink is better than the best memory,” so put it in writing. Write notes to yourself. You can use sticky notes (those small yellow notes that allow you to cover an entire desktop or refrigerator with reminders). Leave messages to yourself on your phone. Like “location, location, location,” remember, “repetition, repetition, repetition.”
- Play with your brain, that is, keep your brain in tune by playing games. “Bridge” the gap. One of the brightest people this author knows plays bridge youthfully and expertly, yet technically qualifies for AARP membership. There are many resources for games to play. Games, World of Puzzles magazine is great.10 AARP offers a whole host of games and brain challenges, available online and on your iPhone. Put down that TV remote and find something that fits your interests.
- Create routines. Remember the old saying, “A place (and time) for everything and everything in its place.” It may be boring but learn to routinely put your keys (and wallet, etc.) in one place. That will be one less thing you have to remember.
- Tell jokes to tested audiences, like your best friends. This requires timing and remembering the punch line. If you can’t remember punch lines, write them down.
- Communicate electronically. If you are not computer phobic, join a group—there is one for everyone based on shared interests. Connect on the internet, make a call or write letters to your friends, using snail mail.
- Take a course that has nothing to do with what you have to do, but something you want to do (painting, coin collecting). You probably don’t need credits, but it will give you something to look forward to. Even your classmates can keep you young.
- Finally ask your doctor about supplements that may help with aging. Many are advertised but only some, such as ginkgo, have research. Supplements and herbs may interact with other medications or conditions, so please check with your doctor.
- Use the real “fountain of youth,” exercise, to add years to your life and life to your years. Following an exercise prescription from your doctor will retard the aging process, make you feel better and improve your stress-coping abilities. Exercise increases your brain size according to a 2014 article from Harvard Medical School. 11
- Make Today Count. The “Make Today Count” national organization focuses on helping mature but troubled adults cope with aspects of aging. As the name of the organization states, enjoy each day you are given by maintaining an “attitude of gratitude.” Keep a judgment-free journal of your daily gratitude.
Dr. William Osler (one of the world’s most famous Physicians) advised:
“Live neither in the past nor in the future,
but let each day absorb all your interest, energy and enthusiasm.
The best preparation for tomorrow is to live today superbly well.”12
3. How to communicate meaningfully with the “Young.”
Thanks to Covid, multiple generations have had to learn to live together under the same roof, making positive communication extremely important for emotional fitness.
Avoid the temptation of telling “When I was your age…” stories. These “Boomer fables” often elicit an “OK, Boomer”13 response from the young. “OK boomer” is a catchphrase and Internet meme often used by teenagers and young adults to dismiss or mock attitudes typically associated with people born in the two decades following World War II, (aka baby boomers.).
There is almost a “knee jerk reaction” by boomers when listening to the complaints of the entitled-young. For example, in a reaction to “youngsters” complaining they don’t get “6 G”, an elder might say, “When I was YOUR age, we had to walk to school in knee–deep snow, and it was uphill both ways.” Instead find ways to connect to their experiences; get curious; ask open-ended questions; and find shared interests.
Some “words of wisdom” from an unknown author
VALUES
The best day . . .
Today
The greatest comfort . . .
Work well done
The greatest handicap . . .
Fear
The easiest thing to do . . .
Finding fault
The greatest mistake . . .
Giving up
The worst bankruptcy . . .
Loss of enthusiasm
The best gift. . .
Forgiveness
In conclusion, the golden gift of time is Experience. Experience can be helpful in adjusting to life’s occasional storms. As an “advanced scout,” as you reach your summit, you can offer the younger climber a “hand up” when necessary.
As the older–yet–wiser would say “Make today Count!” And say to yourself- “I am still standing,” even after this COVID Crisis. Get ready for your own “Roaring Twenties,” as your ancestors did after their 1918 “Pandemic Flu” was finally over.
References
- Gupta.S (2021) Keep Sharp. Simon & Shuster. p. 227
- COVID-19 Deaths by Age | The Heritage Foundation
- https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941668
- Dr. Ruth Woo, https://www.coj.net/departments/special-services/senior-services.aspx
- Growth after trauma (apa.org)
- https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/12/by-2030-all-baby-boomers- will-be-age-65-or-older.html
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/03/01/baby-boomers-parting-gift-workforce-one-last-mess/
- https://www.alz.org/alzheimer_s_dementia
- Gupta.S (2021) Keep Sharp. Simon & Shuster.
- https://gamesmagazine-online.com/
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110
- https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1080278-live-neither-in-the-past-nor-in-the-future-but
- https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/ok-boomer/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ron Rubenzer, EdD, MA, MPH, MSE, FAIS is a Contributing Editor with The American Institute of Stress. He holds a doctorate and two master’s degrees from Columbia University in New York City. He won a doctoral fellowship to attend the Columbia University’s Leadership Education Program. While serving as a school psychologist at Columbia, he won a national student research prize of the year for an article written on the brain. Also, while at Columbia University, he wrote an article for New York Magazine on enhancing children’s development of their full potential. He has devoted his career to specializing in “reducing stressing-during testing” for better outcomes. His Columbia research proved that reducing test-anxiety increased aspects of intelligence, which lead to his book, How the Best Handle Stress – Your First Aid Kit https://www.amazon.com/How-Best-Handle-Stress-First/dp/1731056508
Dr. Rubenzer worked at the Washington DC Office of Education. He has worked as a stress manager for a hospital based cardiac/stroke rehabilitation facility and their Employee Assistance Program. He also coordinated a wellness program for a large school system. He is a fellow with The American Institute of Stress and writes focus articles on “using stress to do one’s best” at home, work and school.
He has helped the U.S. Veteran’s Administration with COVID COACH, a free on-line resource containing of helpful tips to come through this COVID phase. He recently wrote, Taking the Stress Out of Test-Taking; to help educators properly identify the needs of students after the COVID Pause. He believes we will land on our feet, and maybe have our own version of the Roaring 20’s.
His books are available at https://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Ron-Rubenzer/e/B004C994IO
Contentment Magazine
The dictionary defines “content” as being in a state of peaceful happiness. The AIS magazine is called Contentment because we want all of our guests and members to find contentment in their lives by learning about stress management and finding what works best for each them. Stress is unavoidable, and comes in many shapes and sizes that makes being in a state of peaceful happiness seem like a very lofty goal. But happiness is easy to find once you are able to find ways to manage your stress and keep a healthy perspective when going though difficult times in life. You will always have stress, but stress does not always have you!
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.