Back in 2015 I enrolled in a graduate program in Gerontology to become more informed about what lay ahead both for myself and for the people I coach. As over sixty folks, it’s natural to do some thinking about our future and what’s the best place for us to live. Many silently worry about the years ahead, while others take action and make a plan that will work them. I lhoped I would find some answers in the program, and by far the most interesting course was entitled Environmental Gerontology.
Environmental Gerontology is a study of the immediate and broader environment that affects the safety and well-being of older people. It is immensely important to consider your living arrangements as you grow older, as every aspect of it directly affects one’s safety, freedom and happiness.
The professor who taught this course served as an advisor in Washington DC and was steeped in research and practice of creating optimal environments for older citizens. One of the most interesting pieces of the course was an assignment to conduct an audit of an older person’s immediate environment to determine the benefits and shortcomings of it from start to finish. I didn’t have to look far to find a subject, I chose myself.
I’ve been coaching and speaking about wellness for more than 20 years and my mission is to make the information you need to be healthy easy to access. When you have the information, you can follow through with a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular movement, restful sleep, strong social connections and effective stress management. These are the 5 Pillars of Health and they are a natural part of your environment.
A good place to start is with your environment. Is it organized, pleasant and peaceful? Do you have a ready supply of quality food in your home? Is your kitchen layout age-friendly? Do you have a walk in shower? Are your stairways clear of debris and do you have railings? Do you have adequate lighting in all your living spaces? Is it quiet and conducive to a good night’s sleep? Do you have a computer and access to the internet? Can you get outside and enjoy sunshine, safe walkways and friendly neighbors? Do you have easy access to shops, libraries, transportation? All of these affect your well-being and safety as do the Five Pillars of Health.
Some stunning numbers came up during the first two years of the pandemic. When we reached 800,000 deaths in the US we learned that fully 600,000 of them were people over age 65. One might conclude that anyone over 65 is at high risk, but when the numbers were analyzed, only 6% of those 600,000 people who passed were in good health when they got sick with covid. The rest had co-morbidities, most often obesity and high blood pressure. It shows the value of building a healthy lifestyle, and the remarkable thing is you can start to do this at any time. The body knows how to heal when given the right support.
When I was approaching age 50, I began to have some minor health issues. I didn’t think of them as a big deal at the time, but had I not made changes in my lifestyle I likely would be in that category of the over 65 at risk. But what I learned is once you have the information, it is entirely possible to make changes and generate improvements in your health very quickly.
You can’t get better unless you are informed. You need to be aggressive and seek out the solutions to your health challenges to get healthy, with a peaceful environment and lifestyle adjustments being the first line of attack.
Think about your state of health right now. Of the Five Pillars of Health, are there some that need attention? What can you do to improve your health and lower your risk for disease? What do you want your 60’s 70’s 80’s and 90’s to look like? And perhaps your hundredth birthday? By 2060 it is predicted there will be over 569,000 centenarians. If you are one of them, how do you want to look and feel? You need to be motivated and you need to believe that the way you treat your body, mind and emotions will impact your health status. Your environment sets the stage for how you live, just as I learned in the gerontology course. Having a peaceful, safe, socially connected place to live will make it easier for you to access quality food, health care, and support.