Newswise — Meika Loe, Associate professor of Sociology at Colgate University is the author of Aging our Way, Lessons for Living From 85 and Beyond.
The book deals with many factors about aging, including independence anddependance. She is an expert source on anything aging. She is used to talking on the radio or TV as well as via e-mail.
Here are her thoughts:
1. While we constantly hear about cognitive decline, we rarely hear that important abilities such as perspective, social values, emotional regulation, and experience may all increase with age and can contribute to adaptability as one ages.2. In observing the "greatest generation" as they age, we can see that meaningful social connections contribute to health and longevity. They model a healthy balance of independence and interdependence; the key to thriving at any age.3. Current elders are also models for living longer and healthier because they are innovative and creative about how they care for themselves and others; they are prudent and persistent about living life on their own terms.4. A world that is aging - our current world- has the greatest potential to confront and eliminate ageism. In a non-ageist society, we can embrace age, aging, and death and approach these natural processes realistically.5. The experience of aging is changing. Are the elders in your family nonproductive, dependent, and diseased? While this is what we may expect when we think of old age, this is not the reality for most contemporary elders.
Contact Informationhttp://www.colgate.edu/academics/FacultyDirectory/mloe.html
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