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2008 Director's Annual Message
By JoAnn Seiler

The baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1966. They number over 70 million people and the oldest are reaching retirement age this year. Many people in this age group have lived in times of increased opportunity, booming economy and increased standard of living and may not be ready to acknowledge that they are aging, but aging they are. Because this group is such a large percentage of the total United States population, what happens with the health of this group will have a big impact on the rest of the population. This is demonstrated by the concern about the nation’s ability to continue to fund Social Security and Medicare. More of them than any previous generation will live well into their 80's. Baby Boomers have the opportunity to make a majority of their senior years a time of good health.
Seven out of 10 people die from one of five chronic diseases - heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive lung disease or diabetes. However death alone doesn’t convey the full impact of these chronic diseases. These diseases are not curable but are treatable. The great burden of chronic disease impacts not just the person with the chronic disease who has a diminished quality of life, but it impacts every taxpayer and future taxpayer who shoulders the cost of treating chronic disease.
Chronic diseases are the most costly to treat but they are also the most preventable. Public Health Professionals have learned a great deal about how to keep adults healthy as they age. The following can be considered the 10 Keys to Healthy Aging.

1. Be Active - it’s good for muscles and bones of any age, it lowers blood pressure, lowers bad cholesterol and lowers the chance of developing type II diabetes.
2. Lower Systolic Blood Pressure - Eat fewer high sodium convenience foods, limit alcohol and lose weight if overweight.
3. Prevent Bone Loss and Muscle Weakness - Get enough calcium (1000 - 1500 mg per day), do weight bearing exercise daily, get screened for bone loss.
4. Regulate Diabetes - know your blood sugar level and seek treatment if elevated. Follow your diet and exercise if you have diabetes.
5. Participate in Cancer Screenings - Have a mammogram, a pap test, or prostate test every year and a colonoscopy every 5-10 years.
6. Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol - Eat less animal fat, lose weight if overweight, get regular physical activity.
7. Combat depression - be active socially and physically. See your doctor if you are depressed.
8. Get Regular Immunizations - Get the flu vaccine every year and the pneumonia vaccine once in your lifetime. The tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine should also be given to adults every 10 years.
9. Maintain Social Contact and Keep Smart - Go out, meet other people, try new activities, do puzzles, read, play games.
10. Stop Smoking!

Healthy senior citizens contribute much to their families and their communities. They will enjoy their senior years. Be a healthy senior citizen!

We are open weekdays from 8:30AM through 4:30PM. Call (315) 376-5453 or come by to see us!