As many of us baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) reach the age of being able to collect our social security checks, we really admire those fellow baby boomers who never, ever gave up on their dream of accomplishing great things despite their age.

One might not think being 64 is by any means “old”.  However, when you think about swimming 110 miles from Cuba to Florida in shark infested waters without a shark cage you’d think that only a young person would have that much courage and endurance. You would be wrong.

On Monday, September 2nd,  Diana Nyad, a 64 year old U.S. endurance swimmer, showed the world how to accomplish a lifelong dream, how to never give up in spite of the odds, and how not to let your age keep you from doing anything.  Diana made her first attempt to cross the Florida Strait in 1978 but failed.  She made 3 more failed attempts in 2011-2012 until her amazing accomplishment this week.  

Make a plan to take a page from Diana’s life and set goals for yourself to age gracefully.  Include physical activity in each day whether it’s 20 minutes of walking, swimming or taking up ball room dancing.  

Change your diet to include lots of foods high in antioxidants and rich in color like spinach, red peppers, red berries and lots of fish and nuts.

Stay socially active by participating in group sports, join a book or garden club, or go back to college to take a course in something you’ve always wanted to learn more about.

Above all, keep your mind active with mental exercises like learning a language, playing a musical instrument, playing Sudoku, chess or jigsaw puzzles.  

October is Healthy Brain Month at Willson House and there are several opportunities for you to learn how to keep your brain healthy and to age gracefully.  Click on Special Events for all the details. 

Research shows that people who are regularly engaged in social interaction maintain their brain vitality. But again, the combination of physical and mental activity with social engagement — and a brain-healthy diet — is more effective than any of these factors alone.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association one study of 800 men and women aged 75 and older showed that those who were more physically active, more mentally active or more socially engaged had a lower risk for developing dementia.  For those who combined these activities the results were even better. Read the full article here.

At Willson House and Jason Lee Manor there are plenty of opportunities to stay socially active. Our residents can volunteer at the on-site Child Development Center, participate in the activity program facilitated by two life enrichment directors, or interact with the children who come up daily for an activity. Each building also has a beautiful lobby filled with board games and jigsaw puzzles and lots of books to read and TVs to watch with a friend.  There’s plenty to do outside by tending a garden, clipping roses or walking along the beautiful Mill Creek that we are lucky to call “our backyard”! 

No matter what a person does, staying socially engaged in activities that stimulate the mind and body may prevent or at least delay the onset of dementia. Call us at 503.585.6511 to schedule a tour of our beautiful building and grounds. See why we are the best kept secret in Salem with our first-of-its-kind intergenerational program!