October 2018 issue B

6
THE EDITOR’S PAGE by Linda Green
One thing we should be thankful for this Thanksgiving
is living well as we age. Here are a few suggestions
to help you enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Adopt a positive attitude toward aging. See
growing older as a gift and not as a negative experience.
Keep your vaccinations up to date. While infectious
disease rates are largely well controlled, they
are still a concern for older adults. Many will need to
stay current with diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and
will also want to consider shingles and pneumococcal
vaccinations.
Get adequate sleep. It is vital to brain health,
including cognitive function. Did you know metabolic
waste products build up throughout the day as
the body does its cognitive work? Sleep is the brain’s
opportunity to do a little housekeeping whereby it
clears out the waste, preparing us to face the next day
with clarity. Sleeping between seven to eight hours
each night is related to better brain and physical
health in older people.
Get physical. Purposeful activity and exercise has
a positive impact on brain health, as well as physical
health, including muscle strength, agility, bone
health. Exercise also boosts metabolic health, including
lower blood pressure and blood sugar control. All
these things improve quality of life and independence.
Being active also reduces the risk for depression
and anxiety.
Engage your brain: it is dynamic and constantly
changing. Throughout your life, the brain continues
to develop neurons and neural connections when you
participate in cognitively stimulating activities. However,
not any old activity will do. It needs to mentally
challenge your ability to think, like learning a new
skill, language, memory training exercises or a new
hobby. Novelty is also important, so try to find new
ways to stimulate your brain and for greater impact,
don’t go solo: engage your brain with someone else,
the social connection enhances the effect.
Human beings are social by nature; it’s in our
DNA. Not only do social connections help reduce
depression, evidence indicates that it helps lower the
risk of cognitive decline. Ways to be more social include:
joining a group with others who have similar
interests, teaching someone a new skill, volunteering
or helping others and, yes, using technology to stay
Special Printing For Members
Looking for that
Special Unique Christmas Gift?
(Continued on page 14)
The Sentinel can print a custom 2019 Calendar using
your own photographs (14 pictures-landscape style) for
$10.00 + HST per calendar. Email us your request or
leave us a message in our mailbox. You can usually find
us in the office on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday
mornings.
DONATIONS
To donate easily, with a credit
card, visit our website www.gwsaguelph.ca
and click on the
‘Donate’ button or call:
519-823-1291
October 1, 2018 is the deadline for
submissions for the
November 2018 Sentinel.
Email submissions to: sentinel@gwsa-guelph.ca
or drop yours off at the Evergreen Front Desk.
Distribution of the November issue
is on October 25, 2018.
Editor is not responsible for quality of submitted photos
(but we’ll do our best).
T S - O 2018 — V. 43, N. 2