In this blog, we will explore essential tips to help seniors lead a healthier and more fulfilling life. Aging gracefully involves taking care of both physical and mental well-being. By adopting certain habits and making small changes in daily life, you can significantly improve your health and enjoy the later years of your life to the fullest. Here are some key areas to focus on, courtesy of Senior News & Living OK.

Stay Hydrated

Water is the most essential nutrient for our bodies, and proper hydration becomes even more critical as we age. It’s not uncommon for seniors to experience reduced thirst sensations, which can lead to dehydration if not carefully monitored. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps maintain bodily functions, improve digestion, and enhance cognitive function. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water daily. Consider carrying a reusable water bottle with you, and if you find it hard to remember to drink, set reminders on your phone to sip regularly.

Quit Smoking Now

Smoking can have serious health consequences at any age, but it becomes even more hazardous for seniors. If you are a smoker, quitting now can significantly improve your health and reduce the risk of various diseases, including heart disease, lung disorders, and cancer. Understandably, quitting smoking can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Seek support from friends, family, or join a cessation program. Nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications, or behavioral therapy can increase your chances of success.

Drink Less Alcohol and Seek Professional Help if Needed

As we age, our bodies’ ability to metabolize alcohol decreases, making it vital for seniors to moderate their alcohol intake. Limiting alcohol can lead to improved liver health, reduced risk of accidents, and better sleep. While occasional moderate drinking may be acceptable, excessive consumption can result in health problems. For those struggling to reduce alcohol intake, substance abuse treatment centers offer a range of professional help, including rehabilitation programs, counseling, and support groups, all of which can provide invaluable assistance in achieving a healthier lifestyle. If you’re concerned about affordability, you can find nonprofit and donation-based centers in your area.

Prioritize Getting Enough Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for anyone, but it’s especially crucial for seniors. Quality sleep supports cognitive function, mood, and immune system health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Establish a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends. Create a comfortable sleep environment with a supportive mattress and pillow, and consider using blackout curtains to block out light. Additionally, avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime, as these can interfere with your sleep.

Avoid Isolation

As we age, maintaining social connections becomes even more critical for our mental and emotional well-being. Engage in social activities that you enjoy, spend time with friends and family, or join clubs or groups that share your interests. Social interactions can reduce feelings of loneliness, enhance your mood, and even stimulate your cognitive function. Don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation or a shared laugh in enhancing your overall quality of life.

Embracing a healthy lifestyle is within reach for seniors by following these essential tips. Stay hydrated, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, prioritize sleep, and nurture your social connections. Each of these points may seem simple, but their cumulative effect can significantly impact your health and overall well-being. Remember, it’s never too late to make positive changes for your well-being. Your journey towards a healthier lifestyle starts with small, intentional steps and a commitment to your own health and happiness. Take charge of your health today, and enjoy the benefits of a more vibrant and fulfilling life as you age.

Across
1 Reminders of past surgeries
6 Starting squad
11 Lousy
14 Three-time WNBA All-Star Quigley
15 Scrapbook adhesive
16 Deeply regret
17 *Important figure in sports betting
19 Ideological suffix
20 Loafer adornment
21 Isn’t honest with
23 Cherry bomb’s “stem”
24 *Party pooper
27 Twistable cookies
29 Sailor’s realm
30 “Chicago” actor Richard
31 Consequence
33 Adapter letters
36 Journalist Koppel
37 *Record submitted to payroll
40 Yoga surface
43 White part of a citrus rind
44 Marshy ground
48 Guinness who was the first to play Obi-Wan Kenobi
50 “Chicago P.D.” extra
52 Region of ancient Mesopotamia
53 *Paper for doodling
57 Pixar film featuring a guitar-playing boy
58 Force into action
59 Chair for a new parent
61 Sushi-grade tuna
62 Does a daily chore using the elements at the ends of the answers to the starred clues
66 Turn bad
67 Show to be true
68 Mighty mad
69 Sudsy quaff
70 Softens
71 Donkeys

Down
1 Sticky tree stuff
2 Debate-ending procedure in the Senate
3 False names
4 Wash lightly
5 Adjusts, as a clock
6 Fruit for cider
7 Sticky roofing stuff
8 Language suffix
9 In any way
10 “On the __”: NPR show about trends in journalism
11 Cut of meat used for corned beef
12 Stark
13 Reduced in rank
18 Use needle and thread
22 U.K. language
23 Word on a gift tag
25 Spot for steeped beverages
26 Composer J.S. __
28 Lingerie item
32 “OMG! Stop talking!”
34 FDR or JFK, partywise
35 Corporate VIPs
38 Engrave
39 Folks who are in it for the long haul?
40 Lash lengthener
41 Hand sanitizer ingredient
42 Wood-eating insect
45 Single-celled creatures
46 Stash away
47 “No seats” sign
49 Lens cover
51 Analyzes grammatically
54 Phoenix suburb
55 American Red Cross founder Barton
56 Small speck
60 Seed in some healthy smoothies
63 Bout enders, briefly
64 Night before
65 __ Moines, Iowa

Don’t Give Up

This is not the world we grew up in, or even the world we knew for much of our lives. If my informal poll of friends and acquaintances is correct, we don’t like it much. The current state of the world has taken an emotional, physical and social toll on us. This isn’t the retirement we planned.
I hear:
We’re too trusting and it gets us into trouble when we fall for scams coming to us via phone, email and the internet, and resulting in identity theft and loss of money.
The pandemic locked many of us away, and we haven’t surfaced yet because COVID is still out there, as well as the annual flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) this winter. Staying home seems to be the safest way to avoid it all.
And there’s the television news. Some of us have started only watching the first five minutes to catch the weather and then turn to a different channel to avoid the political scene and crime reporting, some of which unfortunately is happening in our own areas. Channels showing reruns of retro programs are getting a lot of our attention now.
No, we don’t like it much, and some of us wonder if we’re sliding into depression.
But there are ways to regain some of what we’ve lost, and a trip to our physician might be the best first step. Go, and tell him or her what’s going on with you. A simple blood test might point to a change in diet that could help how you feel.
At the same time, he might know of some community resources, even if it’s having meals delivered.
Reconnect with friendships that matter (even if it’s on the phone), ask if the library delivers books, become a pet foster parent, look for senior exercise videos on YouTube, etc.
Don’t Give Up.

by Mike Lee, Staff Writer

What started as an idea to benefit a handful of seniors has blossomed into an annual event impacting the lives of hundreds in our community.
The Salvation Army 4th Annual Senior Living Fair will be held on Thursday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Salvation Army Chesapeake Energy Center of Hope, 1001 N. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City.
The Senior Living Fair, presented by Well Preserved Advisory Group and Senior News & Living, strives to spread hope by providing resources that empower older Americans to be more positive, active and physically fit.
“We’re excited to be able to showcase so many organizations in one place that can be a resource to senior citizens,” said Lisa Sydnor, senior programs manager at The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma. “We have nearly 60 exhibitors for this year’s fair who can enhance and empower our seniors to live fuller lives.”
Sydnor had the idea of inviting local service providers to come and show her seniors what they could offer them.
“I thought I could bring eight people in,” Sydnor said.
The idea was a hit from the very beginning with 12 exhibitors showing up that first year. The event has grown to be worthy of the the 18,000-seat Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The Senior Living Fair is free to the public, thanks to sponsors like Brookdale Senior Living, and includes exhibits for health and wellness, housing, Medicare information, insurance, aging-in-place, and fun ways to stay active.
Exhibitors for this year include the Oklahoma State Attorney General, Legal Aid of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Police Department, Oklahoma City Fire Department, Valir, Sunbeam Family Services, RSVP of Central Oklahoma, AARP, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Seniors on the Move and many more.
“We are doing this with no budget,” Sydnor noted. “Quite frankly I think it’s so popular because it’s a God thing. This was never supposed to be more than six people talking to seniors at one location. Now we have 60 vendors and expect more than 300 people.”
The event has continued to grow because seniors are finding value in it.
With everything from Zumba, to Tai Chi to line dancing almost everyone can find something to entertain them.
“I think because they know they’re going to have fun and we have staff floating through and inviting people to come to our centers,” Sydnor said, noting lunch is provided.
The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma operates five senior centers throughout the Oklahoma City metro. The centers are open every weekday to seniors ages 55 and older. Seniors have the opportunity to socialize, enjoy lunch and participate in numerous activities that include Bible study, exercise classes, crafts, dancing and much more.
“Our goal is for anyone who comes to the center to feel like they’re in their own home, relaxed and have good friends and company,” Sydnor said.

Paul Perryman

(Right) 100 years old. Paul Perryman of Claremore is a military veteran having served for 3 years in the US Army during World War II. Paul spent time with the Army in Scotland, England and France. He was married to his wife Mary for 75 years. Paul has these words of wisdom to us: Save Your Money!

Velma Landley

(Left) 100 years old. Velma Landley in Claremore was in the Civil Service in the Panama Canal Zone during WWII, was an accountant who lived & worked in 5 different states then became the C.F.A. of a manufacturing facility. She accomplished all of this beginning in the 1940’s when very few women worked outside the home, worked in Yellowstone Park two summers & retired in 1987.

Myrtle Parriman

(Right) 100 years old. Myrtle Parriman of Tulsa is a member of Ranch Acres Baptist Church, Horseless Carriage Club, Rebecca & Moose Lodges. She has volunteered for Alan Davis Ministries for 25 years and enjoys ballroom dancing, country music, holidays & fried chicken.

Anna Poling

(Right) 100 years old. Anna Poling of Yukon was a school teacher, retiring in 1986 and volunteered throughout her home community. Christmas was Anna’s favorite holiday because she made her own gifts.

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Shirley McKinney, a long-time volunteer at the Harrah Senior Citizens Center, answers phone calls while the kitchen full of fellow RSVP of Central Oklahoma volunteers moves in a swift, almost rhythmic, motion.
Since the pandemic, the Center’s five volunteers, all seniors themselves, and four staff members have not skipped a beat. When COVID-19 hit, the Center closed for gatherings, but the small but mighty team shifted into high gear, meeting a big need in their community for seniors now stuck at home—meals.
“We went from serving 60 meals a day before COVID to preparing 100 meals a day for delivery and drive-by pickup,” said Harrah Senior Citizens Center Director Kim Reynolds. “And our volunteers have showed up every day.”
In August, the Center served more than 3,200 meals. The ability to meet this continuing need is possible only with the help of the volunteers, staff, and the financial support of the Oklahoma County Nutrition Program, the City of Harrah and Areawide Aging Agency, said Reynolds
Prior to COVID-19, seniors came to the center five days a week for exercise classes, card games, snacks, conversation, and lunch. The Center also offers medical appointment and shopping services, which had to be put on hold for a few weeks. Volunteers make phone calls to check in with the homebound seniors. Some of the programs have recently opened back up—medical appointments and shopping trips, and patio bingo just started. Reynolds hopes that the Center will be completely reopened by early November.
“It is a very important social connection for our seniors,” said Reynolds. “If we weren’t here during this time, I’m concerned we would have lost some of our seniors.”
Shirley McKinney has volunteered with the Center for 25 years. In fact, she says, she started volunteering before she was even a senior herself. She has done a little bit of everything over the years from serving on the board and filling out daily Nutrition Program reports to preparing meals, selling dinner and auction tickets.
“Being here for me and for a lot of the seniors is like having another family,” she said. “It helps people to have a place to go to and get out among people. That’s why it’s been so important to stay connected with our seniors during COVID. The Center helps people to not be so lonely.”