It’s National Volunteer Month – meet our valued volunteers!
“40
Under Forty” honors two from the Elder Services family
Spring flowers bloom with beauty and meaning
Ensuring loved ones carry out your wishes
Aging gracefully – it’s in your hands
Mission Statement
The mission of Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. is to provide Berkshire older adults, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Statement of Inclusivity
Elder Services practices non-discrimination in employment practices and service delivery.
Embracing diversity, our in-home and communitybased services are available to all without regard to race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or lifestyle.
Volunteering is a win/win
by Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director of Elder Services
April is Volunteer Month, the perfect time to thank and acknowledge our volunteers (see page 6) for all they do to enrich the lives of older adults and a great opportunity to encourage those who may be sitting on the sidelines to consider “spreading a little sunshine” to their Berkshire neighbors who need a little assistance.
Berkshire County is almost 950 square miles with the second oldest population in the Commonwealth. Simply put, without our volunteers, Elder Services cannot support all the Berkshire older adults who need help. We rely on our volunteers who selflessly share their time, talents, and life experiences to help make the lives of their neighbors more fulfilling.
Berkshire Senior
Editorial Board: Deb Aldrich-Jegtvig, Perry Burdick, Christopher McLaughlin, Ned Averill-Snell, Susan Guerrero, Kara Graziola, Peter Olsen and Lisa Jamros.
Advertising: To place an advertisement in Berkshire Senior, please contact Amy Filiault at (413) 496-6322 or e-mail advertising@berkshireeagle.com.
Berkshire Senior is published bi-monthly by Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc., 73 South Church Street, Pitts eld, MA 01201, (413) 499-0524 or (800) 544-5242, e-mail: esbc@esbci.org or on the internet at www.esbci.org.
NOTICE
Berkshire Senior advertising helps to the defray the costs of producing the newspaper. Inclusion of advertisers in no way implies that Elder Services endorses any product or service.
Signed columns are the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion of Elder Services. For medical, nancial or other advice, seek a quali ed professional in the appropriate eld. Elder Services and its programs are funded, in part, by the Executive O ce of Aging & Independence (AGE).
State and federal funds provided to Elder Services are limited. Elder Services welcomes charitable donations to help meet the growing needs of Berkshire seniors, and gratefully acknowledges all donations.
People who live in Berkshire County genuinely love our community and want to help. However, the thought of volunteering can be intimidating. Some believe that volunteering means having to commit many hours a day, several days a week. While there are opportunities for those who choose to work several hours a day, our volunteers commit to the number of hours and days that work best for them
Volunteering is a tremendous opportunity to expand your horizons and introduce new light and energy into the world of others in our community. Elder Services’ volunteers assist older adults in many of our programs, including: Kitchen Volunteers, Meals on Wheels Drivers, and Meal Site Volunteers: Kitchen volunteers help prepare meals in our Lanesborough kitchen. Elder Services is one of only two organizations like ours throughout the Commonwealth that operate their own commercial kitchen! Drivers deliver meals Monday through Friday and do invaluable well-being checks on homebound clients. Meal site volunteers serve meals at one of Berkshire County’s many senior community-dining sites. Chances are there is a meal site close to where you live; see page 14 for a site directory.
continued on page 5
Honored for serving our community – and still shy of their 40th birthday
by Elder Services Staff
Remember being young enough to consider a 40-yearold pretty old?
To many Berkshire Senior readers, people under 40 might seem an inapt topic for these pages. But we’re lucky to have a great many 39-oryounger caregivers, Councils on Aging and senior center staff, nurses, fundraisers, Elder Services staff (and our volunteers… see page 6) and others who play a vital part in our Berkshire senior-care ecosystem, helping to keep our county’s older adults healthy, safe and independent.
Among these shyof-40 dynamos are Hilary Houldsworth and AJ Cote. Hilary works at Elder Services as a behavioral health clinician, while AJ, chief advancement officer at The Food Pantries for the Capital District in Albany, serves on the Elder Services board of directors and chairs our Marketing & Development committee.
Besides dedicating their time and energy to enhancing the quality of life for Berkshire older adults, what these two whippersnappers have in common is that both were selected for this year’s Berkshire Community College (BCC) 40 Under Forty, an annual appreciation of twoscore young’uns who make the Berkshires a better place.
“40 Under Forty is an annual celebration of talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community,” says BCC. The
annual awards “honor people from all areas of Berkshire County who are making a difference.”
BCC selects its annual awardee roster from among the professional pool of the designated age, based on an evaluation of their professional work and how it makes a difference, their personal commitment to their community, and other achievements that make life better for those living and working in the Berkshires.
Among other duties, Hilary, an LICSW, runs Elder Services’ Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations program, which addresses the unmet behavioral health needs –depression, anxiety or really any mental health concern – of Berkshire older adults. The program offers flexible, person-centered interventions for anyone 60 or older facing a
mental health challenge. And it’s free.
Readers wanting to learn more about the program or to sign up for a session with a mental health clinician need only call Elder Services at 413499-0524.
“Inspired by early volunteer work in a therapeutic horseback riding program,” Hilary wrote in her 40 Under Forty profile, “I developed a lifelong commitment to community service that continues to guide my professional work…. I provide clinical supervision to client services coordinators pursuing social work licensure, serve on multiple community committees, and deliver training on elders at risk to local law enforcement officers participating in crisis intervention team training.”
AJ’s work also has long focused on mental health. In his recent previous role as
director of development at the Brien Center, AJ helped secure the private support for the Brien Center that keeps mental health and substanceuse services available across all 11 Berkshire school districts and dozens of local programs.
Still a Berkshires resident, AJ now applies his fundraising skills to The Food Pantries for the Capital District, a coalition of 75 food pantries in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties, while continuing to serve as a volunteer chaplain at the Berkshire County House of Correction.
BCC’s strategic partner 1Berkshire, a countywide marketing and economic development organization, identifies recruiting and retaining young people as an economic imperative for Berkshire County –hence the importance of shining a spotlight on young professionals who prove Berkshire County a great home base for those eager to do work that matters.
“By celebrating this younger generation of people in the Berkshires,” 1Berkshire says, “we underscore the importance of their contributions to our community and to its future prosperity.”
In the weeks after the March 18 awards ceremony, Hilary, AJ and each of the 38 other 40 Under Forty winners will have the opportunity to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshires-based nonprofit.
Imagine what these extraordinary young people may achieve after 40? Stay tuned….
April showers bring May flowers
by Susan Guerrero
Many people who have already lived through several decades of life have childhood memories of spring flowers. Who could forget the first whiff of heaven when sticking one’s nose into a lavendercolored lilac?
Perhaps it is the first yellow daffodils of spring that jog the memory.
Looking like little spheres of goldenyellow, they appear bright and cheerful in the morning sun. Their heads bob up and down when a slight spring breeze rustles the air. Spring also brings lilies of the valley. Perhaps early memories of them conjure walks through the woods in the spring. There, hiding behind thick, long green leaves, the small, bell-like white flowers of lilies of the valley still fascinate. They also come in coral.
They make perfect bouquets in the tightly clenched fists of little children who go hunting for them in the woods. Their fragrance, once again, intoxicates with its delicate sweetness.
There is even a song about lilies of the valley that some people sang as children in elementary school. It starts out, “White, coral bells, upon aslender stalk, lilies of thevalley deck my garden walk….” It continues, “Oh, don’t you wish that you could hear them ring? Only in the morning when the bluebirds sing.”
Mother Nature is generous with her gifts of flowers.
With thousands of colors, fragrances, shapes, and varieties, they make gardens splendorous places to see, smell, and walk through in the spring.
Many spring flowers have a great deal of folklore behind them. too. Some go back a long, long way in history.
Libraries and the internet have endless information about the folklore behindspring flowers.
One book that survived the cut of a home library liquidation is Garden Flower Folklore by Laura C. Martin. It is a treasure trove of all the mysteries and folkloric backgrounds behind every season offlowers.
Pansies are very popular spring flowers. Garden centers sell hundreds of these flowers. They are among the first of the spring season to be sold in front of area supermarkets, too. Their colorful petals sometimes look like little faces.
One can find pansies on a salad or in desserts, too, because they are totally edible.
Some people may remember picking smaller versions called “johnny-jump-ups.”
Martin writes that the name pansy has been derived from pensee, a French word that means “thought.” The clincher behind thatname, one going back many centuries, is that the Frenchbelieved pansies could “make your lover think of you.”
Pansies are always associated with love and thoughts of love, according to the author. She also notes a tea made from dried, heart-
shaped leaves of pansies is a love potion.
Another early spring flower is the iris. Lavender, purple, and white iris look like royalty in a garden. Their fragrance is delicate but quite beautiful. One internet source notes that the shape of the iris resembles a bird in flight. The three petals symbolize faith, valor, and wisdom. They do not last long but while in bloom, they bring loveliness to any garden bed.
The delicate iris, which comes in several colors including lavender, is a flower that has been around a very long time. One story told about it goes back to 1479 B.C.E. when Thutmose III, an Egyptian king, came home to his country after conquering Syria. He instructed artists to draw pictures of irises and other flowers from conquered lands on a temple wall, according to author Martin.
Tulips, which come in a variety of bright, perky colors, are also very ancient flowers. Their images have been found on pottery jars from 2,200 to 2,600 B.C. Grown by the millions in the Netherlands, tulips make stunning bouquets in vases.
They have been said to represent “passion.”
One tidbit about tulips probably unknown by most people: Their bulbs can be eaten. Martin writes they can be substituted in any recipe for onions.
She also tells how the name “tulip” was derived. It comes from the name of a Turkish hat: turban . Tulip blossoms
resemble upside-down turbans. The flowers were referred to as “tulibands” which eventually became “tulip.”
FoliageFriend.com notes that spring hyacinths have been cultivated for thousands of years. Native to the eastern Mediterranean region, they are considered symbols of rebirth and renewal. Hyacinths are known for attracting bees to the garden and represent the beauty and joy of spring. It has also been written by FoliageFriend that spring lilacs are not only extremely fragrant, but have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Compounds in their leaves and flowers have antiinflammatory and anti-cancer properties. They also tend to calm the nervous system.
Lilac bushes can be found still growing near foundations that once held houses that are long gone. The lilac bushes, however, are still growing and standing, sharing their beauty with the world.
After the long and challenging winter New England has experienced, all of spring’s flowers are extra welcome this year. They bring hope and beauty, colors, fragrance, and renewal to all.
A walk through a garden of flowers in full bloom can lift spirits and fill hearts with gratitude for getting through the winter, and also, just to be alive.
As the late Lady Bird Johnson said, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope” and that is something everyone can use this spring.
Volunteering
continued from page 2
Long-Term Care Ombudsman:
This program trains volunteers to advocate for residents of Berkshire County’s nursing homes. Ombudsmen serve as intermediaries between older adults and their nursing home so older adults receive the support and services they need to maintain the best quality of life. With 13 nursing homes in Berkshire County, chances are there is one close to you.
Money Management: This program trains volunteers to help older adults manage their checkbooks and track monthly expenses. These are not complicated financial transactions… mostly basic budgeting and bill paying that enables your neighbors to remain living independent in their homes for as long as possible.
SHINE Counseling: SHINE ( Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone ) counselors help older adults maximize their Medicare and other public benefits, saving them money by finding them the plan that best meets their needs. SHINE counselors who assist older adults help them to save, on average, $3,400 in insurance premiums and healthcare costs!
Drivers, Shoppers, Companions: Volunteers drive older adults to appointments or grocery shopping, shop for them or spend time getting to know them.
These are just a few of many opportunities for you to brighten the life of someone in need.
I offer our sincerest thanks and appreciation to our volunteers and respectfully ask that if you can, you seriously consider spreading a little sunshine to older adults.
To learn more about how volunteering could benefit you and your Berkshire neighbors, please call our Volunteer Coordinator, Peggy Zamierowski, at 499-0524.
Until next time be good, be kind and be careful.
Tulips
Hyacinths
Pansies
Lilies of the Valley
Lilacs
Volunteers spring into action
by Peggy Zamierowski
We leave the dreary skies and chilly mornings gladly, knowing what’s to come. It’s time to dust off the sleepy mantle, get moving and get outside!
But wait – we here at Elder Services have been moving and grooving all winter long, including our dedicated volunteers. We want to take this time during April, during National Volunteer Month, to express our enormous gratitude for all they do.
In 2025, 242 of our active volunteers donated over 16,250 hours in 45 different volunteer roles at 28 sites throughout Berkshire County! We cannot thank them enough.
Last year was a momentous one. Surrounded by a world of changes, we weathered the storm, offering our signature programs and incorporating new ones along the way.
All year, our volunteers did what they always do: assisting our kitchen workers in assembling almost 1,000 meals a day, getting those nutritious meals out to homebound older adults, serving lunch and camaraderie to folks who were able to get out to the congregate dining sites, bringing those who are no longer driving to medical appointments, shopping with and for some of our homebound neighbors, and visiting with people who have found themselves too alone in
their older years.
Some volunteers assisted with clerical tasks in our office. Other volunteers visited and advocated for residents of nursing homes, advised more than 3,800 older adults in determining and securing the right health insurance for their circumstances, and assisted others in managing their budgets and bills.
Our dedicated board and committee members volunteered their time to ensure that our agency continues in good standing. Some of our volunteers assisted with producing our Pittsfield Community Television show Berkshire Senior TV, as well as producing what you are reading, Berkshire Senior!
Our volunteer program had a few firsts in 2025. SHINE volunteers took some of their continuing education and exams within the newly rolled out online education program from the Commonwealth. Some of our Meals on Wheels drivers and others in the Nutrition department received education on, and began using, electronic devices to increase their efficiency in delivering meals on their routes. We developed a veterans program in 2025 that included two of our veteran volunteers visiting and assisting some of our veteran consumers receiving home care.
Our volunteer services often are coordinated with members of our home care team so that we can deliver as many services as possible in supporting older adults to remain independent living at home.
Elder Services’ volunteers come from many walks of life. They’re retired people who want to make a difference, people from developmental
disability agencies who report deriving great satisfaction from serving meals and checking on homebound older adults, and working people who express a strong desire to serve their community.
This could be you! Please consider joining our volunteer
force so that we can continue to honor and serve those who need our care in their older years.
To start your volunteer journey with Elder Services, call 413-499-0524 and ask for the Volunteer department.
Elder Services thanks its valued volunteers!
Board of Directors
Bruce Bernstein
Kulli Bloom
Teresa Caldwell, Clerk
Kalee Carmel, Treasurer
Sandra Carroll
Kelly Charon
Anthony “A. J.” Cote
Roberta Gale
John Graziano
Rhona Hetsrony, Vice President
Christopher King, Finance Committee
Georgette Kinney
Barry Kriesberg, President
Tara McCluskey
Je rey J. Menkes
Walter Orenstein
Virgil Stucker
AAA Advisory Council
Robert Allard
Kalee Carmel
Quentin Chin
James Clark
Maria Craft
Sarah Fontaine
June Green
Sandra Lussier
Peggy Malumphy
Vincent Marinaro
Meri-Ellen Morgans
Deborah Phillips
Nutrition Department
Sandra Aasen
Sidni Anderson
Norman Antonio
Maureen Avery
Jeanne Bachetti
Barbara Bailly
Ann Marie Bartlett
Anna Beining
Paula Bergeron
Jessica Best
Benedicta Bonsu
Allan Brazeau
Johanna Brogan
Francesca Brown
Christina Bu
Nora Burch
Angela Burke
Joshua Burrows
Brenda M. Bush
Amy Butler
Beth Castella
Kristine Charbonneau
Louise Charron
Je rey Chenail
Eileen Clarke
Frank Clarke
Carol Couture
Linda Cox
Catherine Darling
Barbara Delmolino
Donna Delmolino
Robert DeSanty
Alan Dunlavey
Emilee Eichorn
Hannah Eichorn
Michael Ende
Garret P. Erwin
Robert Fiedler
Kelsey Marie Fontana
Timothy Franchere
Donald Freedman
Sandra French
Charles Gallivan
Gordine Galusha
Andrea Gaylord
Elsie Gilligan
John Gilligan
Noel Gilson
Donna Gleason
Kalie Graves
Eric Paul Greenberg
Wadja Groleau
Thomas Guachione
Samuel Guy
Marissa Guzzo
Margaret “Mal” Gwozdz
Katherine Hamick
Thomas Hardy
Michelle Harwood
Sally Haver
Mary Hope
Rosemary Houghtlin
Kevin Huttle
Charles Joch
Av Kadish
Doreen Kahlstrom
Julia Kaplan
Je ery Kane
Elizabeth King
William L Kormanik
Erna Lampman
Tre Nicholas Lehman
Michele C. LeLandais
Andrew Lipps
Alexis Luczynski
Donna MacDowell
Elizabeth A. Mach
Mary Machia
Nancy Macy
Kaylin McCarthy
Helen McCormick
Lisa McSheen
Maria Mendonca
Alan Metzger
Brent Mille
Candace Mills
Josephine Monserud
Germaine Monson
Susan Morris
Donald Murray
William O’Brien
John O’Donnell
Maureen O’Hanlon
Margaret O’Keefe
George Oleen
Alexander Pettus
Joan Powers
Victoria Provencher
Christopher Reardon
Sanford Reback
Kathleen Richards
Marlene Rivers
Roman Rivers
Wendy Robbins
Karen Roche
Elizabeth Rodgers
Bruce Rose
Virginia Rose
Eleanor Rosier
Susan Rothschild
Jane Rozak
Richard Rozak
Edward Scarafoni
Ryan Schwendenmann
Susan Scionti
Linda Shaw
Dan Skorcz
Ronald St Germain
Kathy Staropoli
Arlene Stockley
Dakota Sunskis
David Sweeney
Julia Taylor
Kelsey Taylor
Jenna Thomas
Gail Tighe
Margaret Tringali
Emily Tynan
Flora Whi en
Nancy Wilcox
Sarah Wiles
Aiyana Will
Dominic Williams
Charlene ‘Charli’
Winseck
Bonnie Worth
Shirley Zurrin
Money Management Program
Amy Backiel
Sharon Bartels
Yvette Bastow
Wendy Batchelder
Aimee Bernardo
Rushelle Bowie
Shelley Crippa
Judith Douville
Michael Einstein
Marianne Fresia
Linda Gravel
Linda Gunderson
Tanya Haas
Heather King
Paula Morey
John Philpott
Ronald Terry
Donald Usher
Robin Zeamer
SHINE
Aimee Bernardo
Rushelle Bowie
Holland Brown
Patricia Carlino
Phyllis DeMartino
Bonny DiTomasso
Terrill Douglas
Frank Engels
Catherine Hall
Rosemary Harnett
Nadine Hawver
Nancy Leren
Henry Maimin
Joseph Nawazelski
Timothy O’Brien
Kathryn Plamann
Carlos Rivadeneira
Rebecca Robak
Steven Rosenthal
Larry Shea
Mary Skorupa
William Tarmey
Winnie Veretto
Ellen Winters
Home and Community Based Programs
Emily Aranow
Wendy Batchelder
Roger Beaulieu Jr.
Nancy Belouin
Nancy Bullock
Ellen Cook
John ‘Kemble’ Corbett
Jamie Coyne
Anthony DeBenedictis “Mick” Mikolaj Galazka
Linda Gravel
Lauri P. Hall
Alexandra Huber
Amanda Koch
Julia Le Clair
Nicholas Lincoln
Steven Lozyniak
Emily Minkle
Karen D. Oak
Barbara Orville
Mary Ann Palucci
Vicki Robare
Alex Seseske
James Singletery
Diane Weinstein
ESBCI Kitchen
Dennis DeVergilio
Susanne East-Brooke
Roxanne Iwanicki
Amanda Lardizabal
Peggy Malumphy
Susan Sorcinelli
Robert St. Peter
Hannah Stans eld
Indirect Services
Wendy Batchelder
Emily Minkle
Patti Romanello
Annie Rutledge
Berkshire Senior TV
Diane Chicoine Je Turner
Berkshire Senior Newspaper
Susan Guererro
Peter Olsen
Long-term Care Ombudsman
Gail AltmanOrenstein
Virginia Bosco
Eileen Gabriel
Donna Gordon
Georgette Kinney
Peter Olsen
April is Advance Directives Awareness Month
by Kara Graziola
It’s a touchy question no one wants to think about, but now’s the time to ask: If you passed unexpectedly or suddenly became incapacitated, would your family know how to carry out your wishes in that situation just the way you’d want them to?
Advance Directives
Awareness Month encourages adults of all ages to prepare for, discuss and document their wishes to ensure that they receive the care they want at end of life or if a debilitating emergency occurs.
It’s best not to wait to start making these decisions, or at least to start having discussions about them with your loved ones. Too often, someone waits too long or thinks that they’re too young for something bad to happen. You never know when you may face a life-changing event, and proper planning will ensure your needs and requests are met.
What is an “advance directive”?
An advance directive provides guidance regarding a person’s desires in the event that they are unable to direct their wishes for healthcare, treatments and sometimes other matters. Advance directives are an important aspect of end-of-life planning.
Following are descriptions of the most common types of advance directives.
Health care proxy
A health care proxy (HCP) is a legally valid form which allows you to name someone (an “agent”) whom you empower to make healthcare decisions for you in the event you are unable to make or communicate those decisions
yourself.
The agent can be a friend, family member or any person that you trust to make these important decisions for you. An HCP takes effect only when your doctor determines that you are no longer able to make or communicate your healthcare decisions. You can find an HCP form online, at your doctor’s office or at a hospital.
Power of attorney
A power of attorney (POA) is a document through which you authorize a person to manage your assets, financial affairs or other matters. Examples of responsibilities and transactions a POA agent can perform include property transactions (real or personal), banking and investment transactions and estate planning.
In effect, a POA makes your agent “you” in legal matters, so that person’s signature on a legal document is as valid as your own. POAs come in four flavors, so you can pick the one that best matches your needs:
• A “limited” POA empowers your agent to act on your behalf only regarding matters specified in the POA document. For example, you can draft a POA that empowers your agent to sell your house, but not to represent you in any other matter.
• A “general” POA typically empowers your agent to act on your behalf in any legal or financial matter, but loses all force should you become incapacitated and therefore unable to consult with your agent.
• A “durable” POA works just like a general one, except it remains in force if you become incapacitated, enabling your agent to make
decisions for you that you can no longer make or express.
• Like a health care proxy, a “medical” or “healthcare” POA empowers your agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you cannot. This type of POA exists because some states limit the effect of other types of POAs to financial matters only.
While drafting a POA does not require an attorney, it’s a good idea to consult one to help select the type and terms that meet your needs. You usually must sign a POA in front of a notary.
Living will
A living will specifies medical treatments you may or may not want used at the end of life, along with your preferences regarding medical treatment, pain management and organ donation. An example of this is the “Five Wishes,” a document used to document your personal wishes.
Within a living will, you can define an HCP. You can say exactly how you wish to be treated in the event that you become seriously ill. Examples of such wishes include anything you want your caregiver to know, whether you wish to receive tube feedings or be put on a ventilator, how comfortable you want to be, how you want people to treat you and what you want your loved ones to know. Visit www. fivewishes.org.
Be mindful when choosing someone to make important healthcare decisions for you. Choose someone whom you trust and who will keep your best interests in mind. It’s important to make your wishes known to your family and friends, so they will know what matters to you when it comes to end-of-life decisions.
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We are dedicatedtoprovidingthe best guidanceandadvicepossibleto veteransand theirfamiliesin regardstoeligibility andthe applicationprocess for VA Benefits.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY LEGISLATORS
UNITED STATES CONGRESS
Congressman Richard Neal
372 Cannon House O ce Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5601
300 State Street, Suite 200 Springfield, MA 01105-1711 (413) 785-0325
Two elderly men were discussing their aches and pains. One turned to the other and asked, “How do you feel?” The other replied, “I feel just like a newborn baby.”
“Really?” the first man asked. “Yep,” the other man replied. “No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.”
Thanks to the internet, I am able to share much of what I have learned about aging and grace.
Growing older with grace is about embracing life’s journey with dignity, humor – especially humor – and a positive mindset. Rather than a thing to resist, aging is a privilege, a chance for new strength, and a time to have a “twinkle in your wrinkle.”
Here’s advice from a few seniors about growing old gracefully:
“Stay weird.”
“Spend all your money, because if you don’t, your kids will.”
“Cultivate younger friends; your old friends keep dying.”
“I met an old person, and it was me.”
Considering ourselves old seems like a far-off concept for so long – until one day we arrive. It happens in small and big ways that we come to recognize who we are now. Maybe it’s shifts in our appearance, abilities, or attitudes, but we begin to become what we consider old.
The concept of aging gracefully emphasizes shifting from an “anti-aging” mentality to one of acceptance and growth. Anti-aging mentality often revolves around the following traits, according to writer Kristen Senz:
• Memory loss (Where are my keys?)
• Medications (What can you
take that is not worse than the disease)
• Balding scalps and hairy ears (men)
• Hot flashes and postmenopausal problems (women)
• The joys of staying home and going to bed early
Far too many people think of themselves as an “average” old person. Here’s an example:
“I’m an average old person. I’m twenty pounds overweight,
make the most of who you are, and move on gracefully.
Living life gracefully means embracing life’s changes with dignity, gratitude and positive attitudes rather than fighting the aging process. It’s your mindset, stupid.
The concept of aging gracefully involves finding joy in experiences and managing stress to prevent physical ailments. So how does one do this? Some thoughts for your consideration:
and my muscle tone hit the road during COVID. Since then, I have lost and gained the same four pounds every year. I fell off the wagon and ate a brownie – so sue me. At the end of the day, I’m happy to sit down with my remote and watch worthless, noninspirational junk tv, or videos of cats and dogs.”
Is this where you want to be? Okay, you say. I’m not perfect. We older adults can make peace with our circumstances. But this doesn’t mean you have “given in” to aging. It means you have the potential to find ways to be comfortable with yourself,
• Work on friendships: Friendships are fuel, providing energy, love, and feeding your emotions. You are never too old for new friendships.
• Embrace change: Life is change. Resisting it wastes precious time and energy. Living for it can create an adventure you never thought possible.
• Learn: Exercise your brain continually. Read. Be gentle with yourself. Listen to your own inner voices and do what makes you feel best.
• Surround yourself: Seek out people who lift you up and don’t bring you down.
• Manage stress: Regular physical exercise can help with stress management. Don’t damage yourself, but move just enough to keep the body from atrophying.
• Don’t try to be everything to everyone: It’s impossible, so don’t try.
• Always have something to solve: Making progress feels good, and often it helps someone else and brings you both happiness.
• Do daily “awe-robics”: Exercise your brain to pay attention to all that is awesome right in front of you. When you do, it’s like an automatic smile, and that’s gratitude, which leads to a positive attitude. ( The New Old Age, Alice Park)
“I feel I finally reached the truly joyful years of my life,” reports one older adult. “I don’t worry about my body type anymore. I’ve made it through very serious lifethreatening experiences, yet I am still breathing. Just to wake up every morning, have a relaxing breakfast, and say “yes” and “no” to the things that come my way are precious.” This person is living a graceful life.
What does it mean to age gracefully? Aging gracefully is about embracing the journey of growing older and finding ways to thrive and live a fulfilling life. It is about having a positive attitude, taking care of our physical and mental health, staying engaged and active, and accepting the changes that come with age. So… become that person. Live life gracefully.
• Laugh and cry: But laugh a lot more. It can feel good to release your endorphins, your body’s feel-good chemicals.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY BERKSHIRE COUNTY
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