DIET
The aging person
should at the well-balanced diet we have advocated in Chapter 6. Many older
people feel better when they take a multivitamin tablet or capsule daily. If
this produces indigestion, ask your doctor to prescribe a diet that will
provide the extra vitamins. Old people do better, whenever possible, taking
small meals at frequent intervals rather than depending upon one or two large
meals a day.
WEIGHT The older person does best to be on the thin side.
This can be achieved by regulating intake of calories and by using regular
exercise. (See page 65 on weight reduction.)
EXERCISE
One of the truly
important aids to vigorous healthy old age is regular daily exercise. Brisk
walking is one of the best exercises.
Swimming another
But the choices are
limit- Aging less. Simply check your kind of exercise, what you enjoy most,
with your doctor to determine that it falls within the capacity of your heart
and lungs. And reread Chapter 8 on exercise.
HEALTHY EMOTIONAL LIFE
Good physical
condition is necessary for a good emotional life in old age because it is a
rare person who can be happy when constantly bothered by chronic illness or
pain. On the other hand, good physical condition does not guarantee emotional
health. It is such a pity to find elderly people whose bodies are in good shape
but who are mentally depressed, lonely, or dispirited from empty hours.
Retirement from work is always a serious change and should be discussed with
your doctor. If you are a "doer" and not a "sitter," it may
be necessary for you to find a new job, full or part time; or if you prefer not
to work or cannot find employment you like, then as a doer you need vigorous
activities and work hobbies.
COMPANIONSHIP
This is very
important, and as friends and relatives move away or die, new human contacts
should be sought in church groups, clubs, and social groups for older citizens.
For those who do not work, the day can still be full if there are friends and
relatives to visit, books to read, movies and television to see, radio to
listen to-and time for exercise. Each season has its appropriate sports, and
there is much enjoyment to be found. in viewing them on television or in
person.
SEX
Part of healthy
emotional life of old age is sex. Good medical thinking today recommends that
people continue sexual activity until they die. The enjoyments and also the
health/Disease Scenarios benefits of an active sex life are set forth in detail
and persuasively by Dr. David Reuben in his book, Everything You Always Wanted
to Know about Sex (David McKay, Publisher, 750 Third Ave., New York, N.Y.
10017).
SURGERY IN THE AGED
With the great
advances in surgery and anesthesia, even the very elderly today can be operated
on safely. There is no need for an older person to be disabled by a hernia for
fear of the surgery involved. And the same applies to cataracts and many other
conditions that require surgery for correction.
