50 plus 04 07

T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E 50PLUS A p r i l 7, 20 1 5 | 1

PAGE 6 PAGE 6 PAGE 6

Enjoy outside activities in B-CS this spring

Great outdoorsApril 2015 • Vol. 14, Issue 1 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Inside...

Memory MedicAnxiety can speed up aging

Pg. 10

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Physical health� e importance of hydration for seniors

Pg. 2

2 | A p r i l 7, 20 1 5 50PLUS T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E

A couple of weeks ago, I had a physically active 66-year-old female in my clinic ask me how much water she should be drinking every day. She mentioned that she and her husband will get leg cramps at night, making it difficult to fall asleep. She recalled reading something about dehydration in older adults who don’t drink enough water during the day from lack of physical activity and medication use. She also said the only medication she takes is

for high blood pressure and cholesterol

Keeping hydrated

See Bradwaypage 4

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“It pays to plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark” – Peter F. Drucker

There are fi ve retirement phases for which to plan. Many of my readers are in the pre-retirement phase, which begins around age 50. This is a good time to start seriously thinking about your later retirement years, including your mid-retirement and your late-retirement phases. These two phases begin with your 70th birthday and go on up to your years of great wisdom. Mid-retirement years are those during which your otherwise good health could take a nosedive. You should enter your mid-retirement phase with the courage to face the possibility of giving up and transferring control. Your late-retirement phase starts when your health has already taken that dive and there is not much chance that your health will fully recover. At this point, you need a lot of help to function day to day. If you have taken Mr. Drucker’s advice, you will have done all the planning, and your transition through this phase will be as manageable and life-affi rming as possible.

Aging in place Aging in place is what they call it

when you are staying in your home. Many people consider that this retains their independence. It can be that, and it can be social isolation. If you are considering staying in your home in your wisdom years, you will want to stick with me here. Even staying put is better when you plan for it.

In June 2012, Forbes Magazine ran an article about social isolation as a health risk. Staying at home can be isolating if you are not mindful to keep up your social life. “Loneliness in individuals over 60 years of age appears to be associated with increased risk of functional decline and death,” the article states. If you want a long, healthy and independent life, don’t neglect this aspect in your planning to stay home. Don’t slide into it like a vehicle on an icy road. Plan for control and keep control of your social activities. As you age, social activities take eff ort to maintain, but it is well worth the eff ort.

Aging at home will almost certainly mean you need outside assistance or care at some time. To plan ahead, you

fi rst need to understand the types of assistance from which to choose.

Family caregiver This is usually a relative or a good

friend who helps when you require some degree of assisted living. Generally these helpers are unpaid. Caring for you in your wisdom years can be rewarding for your helpers in many ways, but it can also take a toll. That toll is physical, emotional and fi nancial.

Professional home care servicesThese are providers of non-medical

services to you in your home. They help with your Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and your Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). ADLs are eating, bathing, dressing, toileting , transferring (walking) and continence. IADLs are daily tasks such as cooking, shopping, washing, etc.

Home care services professionals are also hired simply to provide companionship. My mother’s friend has a home care services professional. Her friend and the professional go to exercise class together every day. These professionals many times work for an agency. In Texas, these agencies are known as Home and Community Support Services Agencies. They are licensed by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. In other states, they might not be required to be licensed.

Professional home health care providers

These professionals deliver medically-oriented care, and are licensed by the state as licensed practical nurses or therapists. Like the home care professionals, they often work for an agency, which must be licensed in Texas. They can also work for a public health care department or a hospital. Their services might include skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Start planningIf you are even thinking about the

possibility of staying in your home during your late-retirement years, run through these questions until your answers provide you with a solid plan for aging in your home. These questions are in the book, “What’s the Deal with Retirement Communities,” by Brad C. Breeding. It is available through Amazon.com for about $7.

1. Will your home need to be modifi ed to accommodate potential

mobility challenges?2. If you live in a two-story home,

is your bedroom upstairs? If so, what is your plan if you reach the point where you are no longer able to climb stairs independently or without risk of falling?

3. How will you maintain your home and yard when daily physical activity becomes more challenging?

4. How will you stay socially active to minimize loneliness, even when your

mobility and independence declines?5. Who will provide transportation

to doctors’ appointments and other necessary errands if you are no longer able to drive safely?

6. How will someone know if you fall and cannot get up on your own?

7. Who will make sure your bills

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Planning for life in late retirement

Tra Cy STewarTFiNaNcial liTeracy

See Stewartpage 8


and her husband is the same, except he is taking a few more medications for his heart condition. She walks with friends four to five times a week.

How important is water for our bodies? Water gives us life. Our body organs, cells, bones, muscles and nervous system are made up of 70 percent water. Water is so essential for our life that if we went without it for more than three to four days, that would be the end of one’s existence. Everything that makes our body function requires water.

Water makes up a big part of our blood system, carrying oxygen to different cells and organs for energy, and water is needed to carry away waste. Water regulates our body temperature and produces sweat, tears or congestion from allergies or a cough. It regulates many body systems from daily to extracurricular activities.

How do I know if I’m not getting enough water throughout the day? Here are some simple tips:

• Your mouth is dry and sticky.• Check your urine color. The color

of your urine should be light yellow or clear. If it is dark yellow, then you’re

not drinking enough water.• Pinch up your skin on the back

part of your hand. If the skin returns quickly back to where you pinched it from, your level of hydration is good. If it stays bunched up or returns slowly to its original position, drink more water.

• Low level of energy, or you fatigue quickly.

How much water should an older adult drink in a day? Here is a simple way to estimate the amount of water you should drink. For every 25 pounds of weight, you should drink one 8-ounce glass of water. For example, a 145-pound female should drink six glasses of water a day. If you exercise daily, don’t forget you will need to drink more water. It’s also important to know that other types of fluid intake cannot substitute for the benefits of plain water.

Can I drink soda, coffee/tea or juices instead of water? Soda on a daily basis is a big no-no. Sodas are full of sugar and calories, and the carbonation depletes important minerals in your body. If you choose to drink coffee or tea, make sure it is decaffeinated. Too many caffeinated drinks will dehydrate your body. If you like to drink coffee or tea with caffeine, limit your intake to 1 cup a day. A small glass of orange, tomato or apple juice

is a good start for you in the morning. However, limit your intake of fruit juice throughout the day as a substitute for water because a lot of them are high in sugar and this will only make you gain weight. Be sure to drink water regularly throughout the day and not just at meal times.

The body needs lots of water, especially while taking prescriptions. Many drugs have side effects like diarrhea, or because of the chemical makeup of the drug, they can cause dehydration and electrolyte loss. Would you believe a symptom for many drugs used today is dehydration? For example, drugs like diuretics, blood pressure and steroids can all dehydrate your body of water and create leg cramps. This is why the pharmacist always tells you to drink plenty of water when taking your medications. Being an older adult equals taking more medications. This is why it is important for anyone taking prescription drugs to drink lots of water. If you take more than four or five prescriptions at one time, your chances for dehydration more than doubles. Talk to your primary care provider about your medication use and loss of body electrolytes to prevent dehydration.

Probably one of the worst misconceptions people believe is that

the older you get the less water you have to drink. It’s amazing that when you ask an older person or couple how much they drink during the day, water is the least. Many older individuals will drink some coffee in the morning, maybe some juice, a little water at lunch and something for supper. Other than that, not many fluids are consumed. If you’re not drinking much water during the day, re-establish your consumption of water. Water is important for healthy living and preventing illnesses. Exercising 20 to 30 minutes a day, four times a week is important for your overall health.

Here are some ways to drink more water:

• Use a bottle or cup with a straw. One tends to drink more using a straw.

• Every morning, fill a pitcher up with water and by the day’s end, make sure you drink all of the water. Fill the pitcher up only halfway to start with.

• Slice lemons or limes to give your water taste. This is my favorite way to drink more water.

Don’t wait on drinking more water - start today!

Leon Bradway is a doctor of physical therapy and director of the Sports, Back and Pain Management Clinic. See www.bvphysicaltherapy.com.

Bradwayfrom page 2

In the fall of 1981, I was sitting on a bench on campus in deep conversation with a gentleman who had been my mentor for several years. I was a college junior, trying to decide between several different career paths.

“I like several of my options, but I don’t have the foggiest idea which is best,” I said.

My mentor smiled and said, “The problem is you’re trying to figure out the what before you discover the why. Why are you here?”

“Life is tough. It can beat you down,” he continued. “Many people end up going mindlessly through life. They take some hits and go through the motions. Their influence shrinks instead of expanding - all because they never discovered their why.”

“Gary, make sure your why is big

enough. Everything else will flow from that,” he concluded.

Only as the years went by did I discover how true his words were.

Life has taken a bite out of most of us. Many have endured multiple, serious losses: family deaths, health issues, financial disasters and relational estrangements. Others seem to have had a smoother road, but we can’t see the heart and the deep struggles that happen there.

We’ve all been wounded. We all have baggage to deal with. We each travel our own road and make decisions about what we’re going to believe, how we’re going to live, and who we’re going to do life with.

The paths we’ve chosen often have to do with the voices in our past - some negative and others positive. I remember hearing statements like: “You can do it. I believe in you.” “You are so smart.” “That’s great! Way to go!”

I can also recall the following: “You’ll never be good enough.” “You’re nobody.” “No one will ever love you.”

Who knows why the human heart chooses to believe one statement over the other? Part of it has to do with the person behind the words. If they were close to us, such as a parent, sibling or close friend, their words might carry more weight. Yet, it’s amazing what power words from a stranger can have on our souls.

Our hearts hear it all. We sift through it, and decide what we’re going to believe about ourselves. Then we begin to unconsciously live that out.

Sadly, the negative seems to pack more punch than the positive. Words have power, and can wound us deeply.

On top of this is the pressure of our culture to be more, do more and have more. We begin comparing ourselves with others at an early age, unaware that when we do so, nobody wins.

Deep within most of us is a nagging

feeling we’re not enough. Not good enough, smart enough or athletic enough. Not manly enough, pretty enough or successful enough. Add to this some guilt, shame and regret, and we begin to walk through life gazing down at the sidewalk.

As we get older, our challenges seem to grow. Health becomes more of an issue. Our limitations naturally increase. It can feel like our lives are shrinking. Since we can do less, we begin to feel we are less. If we don’t counteract this trend, we can find ourselves simply going through the motions, living on auto-pilot and passing time.

The words of my college mentor come drifting back across the years. Is our why big enough? In most cases, I don’t believe it is.

How to live with meaning and purpose

Gary roehosPice

See Roepage 5


In my years as a hospice chaplain I’ve heard hundreds of life stories. Though all different, one common theme emerges. Our greatest wounds, regrets, delights and joys are all connected to other people. My hospice patients have told me, one way or another, that life is about relationships.

If this is the case, our why, whatever it is, must be about people. It has to do with things like love, understanding, forgiveness, commitment, kindness and service. Our hearts soften in the presence of these virtues. Healing and growth take place. When our relationships are right, we become more of who

Roefrom page 4

See Roepage 10

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By HOLLI L. KOSTERSpecial to The Eagle

As spring gets under way and cooler temperatures begin to warm up, opportunities for seniors to enjoy the outdoors abound in Bryan-College Station.

From fishing in city parks to hiking, local organizations are offering a wide array of affordable classes and activities geared toward drawing people outside.

FishingAn outdoor family activity that is both affordable and close to home is fishing, and

College Station’s Central Park pond is stocked with channel catfish in the summer and rainbow trout in the winter. With generous bank access, adequate parking and restrooms, the pond is a safe and well-maintained site.

Located on Krenek Tap Road off the Texas 6 service road, the park’s pond spans 2

acres, and is surrounded by 10 acres of dense woods, sports facilities and nature/bike trails.

Adults need a current fishing license with a freshwater stamp to fish at the pond, which is classified as a Neighborhood Fishin’ lake by Texas Parks and Wildlife. Children under the age of 17 do not need a fishing license.

The lake is stocked every two weeks, from the third week in April through early November (except during August).

For more information or to borrow equipment from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s free Tackle Loaner Program, visit www.neighborhoodfishin.org or contact Jeff Henson at 979-822-5067.

City of Bryan special events and marketing spokeswoman Gwynne Shillings said fishing is also allowed at Bryan Municipal Golf Course, near the intersection of Villa Maria Road and South College Ave. For more information, contact the city of Bryan Parks and Recreation Department at 979-209-5518 or visit www.bryantx.gov.

Fishing is also available at Lake Bryan. For more information, visit www.lakebryan.com. For more lakes, such as nearby Lake Somerville, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov.

BirdingFor those who love the outdoors, birding gives

seniors the opportunity to venture to places far and wide – or, if they prefer, to remain in their backyard.

“Your backyard is one of the most convenient places to start,” said Rick Laughlin, president of the Rio Brazos Audubon Society, a local chapter of the national organization that promotes enjoyment, understanding and conservation of native birds and their habitat.

“You can add native plants or a fountain feature in your backyard and watch the birds that come to visit,” said Laughlin.

The organization offers tips and resources for backyard birding, from information on the wide variety of available bird feeders and foods to proper feeder placement, as well as on water baths and native plants. For more information, visit riobrazosaudubon.blogspot.com.

Beginning birders also can take a free Birding 101 Bird Walk with the society -- a two-hour, 1.5-hour walk in Lick Creek Park, located at 13600 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. The classes, held at 8:30 a.m. the first Saturday of each month in the park’s Butterfly Garden, cover the basics of birding and bird watching.

Laughlin said a birding hobby originates with the curiosity and desire to see new things.

“Many of the things we see on our trips have been previously documented by other observers,” said Laughlin. “Often times a new birder will be

Opportunities for seniors to enjoy outside activities in Bryan-College Station this springGreat outdoors


seeing birds they never realized were in Brazos County because they hadn’t had the time to look. This is probably the most exciting time as a birder – so many birds you never realized were right in your backyard!”

With spring migration in swing, Laughlin said locals have an opportunity to see some dazzlingly colorful birds.

Some beginning birders may opt to invest in some gear, such as binoculars or a birding guide such as those published by the American Birding Association or the Crossley ID Guides, but while Laughlin said these items are useful, observing nature doesn’t take much more than time and curiosity.

The Rio Brazos Audubon Society offers field trips to various locations in the Brazos Valley and beyond on the second Saturday of each month. On April 11, the society will view the local migrants of Brison Park and Country Club Lake, 1207 Texas Ave. South in College Station, and on May 9 it will travel to the same location for the North American Migration count.

For more information, visit www.riobrazosaudubon.org.

Survival skillsIf you’ve ever been curious about how you would fare in the wild without the

aid of high-tech gadgets, Primitive Living Skills of Texas in College Station offers outdoor classes to teach wilderness survival skills.

Among the classes offered by Mark and Amy Suter are Edible Wild Plants, Bow and Arrow Making, Standard Survival Skills and Wildlife Survival Skills.

“My interest evolved from camping a lot as a child, and I slowly started wanting to become more self-reliant,” said Suter, who launched the school with the goal of teaching independence in the wild to others.

“There are a lot of people into survival nowadays that are doomsday people; I’m not one of those people,” said Suter. “I do it for the fun of doing it, and really, it’s good to be prepared for anything during a disaster that might cause your power to go out for several days.”

Suter said he also incorporates care for the land into his courses.Primitive Living Skills is leading a two-day Edible Plants class in College Station

through Texas A&M University’s Outdoor Adventure Program April 25 and 26 at Lick Creek Park.

“Spring is the season for wild plants,” said Suter. “Several of them taste very good and are packed with vitamins and minerals. Everyone has five to 10 of these edible wild plants growing in their own yards. They just don’t know it.”

Some examples of spring plants are dandelions, wild geranium, spreading hedge parsley, chickweed and several different types of clover – all of which are extremely nutritious and most of which can be eaten raw, said Suter.

“Not only are these plants very nutritious, they are also free,” said Suter. “They can be pulled from your yard or even from a vacant lot. In fact, many of the weeds you pull out of your garden are edible.”

Class participants will sample most of these plants and learn about plants that can be used for medicinal purposes and for utilitarian purposes, such as rope or basket-making and shelter covering. Suter will also discuss poisonous plants.

The class is $25 for members of the Texas A&M Rec Center or $30 for non-members, and it runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.

For more information on the Edible Plants class and other courses, visit www.primitivetexas.com or contact Suter at 979-777-3902.

Other upcoming outdoor events• April 4-5, April 18-19, May 9-10, May 23-24 - Scuba classes at Bryan Aquatic

Center at 3100 Oak Ridge Dr. in Bryan. www.bryanparksandrecreation.com or 979-209-5222.

•April 10, 8 p.m. - “The Sandlot” - Watch the movie at Wolf Pen Creek Park at 1015 Colgate Dr. in College Station. Cstx.gov/movies or 979-764-3486.

• April 11-12, 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. - Family Campout at Austin’s Colony Park, 2400 Austin’s Colony Parkway in Bryan. www.bryanparksandrecreation.com or 979-209-5528.

• May 8, 8 p.m. - “Brave” - Watch the movie at Wolf Pen Creek Park at 1015 Colgate Dr. in College Station. Cstx.gov/movies or 979-764-3486.

• May 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Pawpaloosa at Morris Buzz Hamilton Park, off Park Hudson Trail between FM 158 and Copperfield Drive in Bryan. www.bryanparksandrecreation.com or 979-209-5528.

Opportunities for seniors to enjoy outside activities in Bryan-College Station this springGreat outdoors


are paid if your cognitive functionality declines?

8. Who will help you prepare meals, get dressed and perform other activities of daily living when you are no longer physically able?

9. If you require facility-based care due to an unexpected injury, such as a fall, do you know where you will go to receive such care? Do you and/or family members or other support network have a plan in place for this occurrence?

10. Do you have any present health conditions or illnesses that might become more difficult to manage over time, such as diabetes or chronic lower respiratory diseases? Such illnesses could present increased challenges as you seek to stay in your home.

11. If you require in-home care

Stewartfrom page 3

See Stewartpage 9

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or assistance, who will manage scheduling and payments, as well as regular oversight, to assure adequate

care is provided and to prevent elder abuse?

So you see that choosing to age at home is not a matter of just staying put in your easy chair. You need to make the eff ort to keep up your social life, make sure your home will

accommodate your changing needs and plan for a support system. Once you have the 11 questions addressed, you are well on your way to fully planning for aging in your own home.

If you want to know what to think about when considering the other

option of spending your late-retirement phase in a retirement community, pick up The Eagle May 5; I’ll be tackling that topic in my 50 Plus column.

Contact Tracy B. Stewart, CPA, PFS, CFF, CDFA, CFP® at www.TexasDivorceCPA.com.

Stewartfrom page 8

CALENDAROngoing

Sit and Fit Chair Exercises - Workout while sitting in a chair. Seniors meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or [email protected].

Line Dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 or [email protected].

Bluegrass Jam Session – Bluegrass Jam Session is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All levels. Bring string instruments and a friend. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or [email protected].

Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers bridge for seniors on Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more, contact 979-764-6351 or [email protected].

Learn how to play 42 dominoes - Learn the game of 42 every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or [email protected] for more information.

42 dominoes - Seniors meet every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or [email protected].

Bible study – Bible study is held for seniors at 9:15 a.m. every Thursday at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station. Contact 979-764-3779 or [email protected] for more information.

Dominoes - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays dominoes all day on Tuesdays and Fridays and from noon to

closing Wednesdays. Sack lunch for those playing dominoes from 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873/ www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Bridge – Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bridge 12:30 p.m. until closing on Tuesdays; noon to closing on Thursdays; and 12:20 p.m. to closing Fridays. Partner needed Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Games - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays board games, Scrabble and other card games on Tuesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873/ www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Bible study - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds Bible study 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call 979-822-6873 or visit www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Exercise class - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds exercise class 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Bingo - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bingo 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Canasta - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Canasta from 11:30 a.m. to closing on Thursdays. For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Dominoes 9 - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Dominoes 9 all day Fridays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

Potluck luncheon - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, has a potluck luncheon 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays. For

more, call 979-822-6873 or visit www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com.

April 7Senior World Passport Program

- Texas A&M Public Partnership and Outreach and College Station Parks and Recreation will hold this free program for seniors at 10 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Topic is “World Cultures.” For more details, call 764-6371.

April 13Beginning Line Dance Workshop

- Free workshop for seniors teaches beginners the steps and terminology of line dancing. Held at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more details, contact 764-6371.

April 14 Genealogy Class for beginners – Held

on Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., from April 14 to May 19 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Learn how to solve the mystery of your family’s origin and history. Cost is $35. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486 for more information.

April 15Genealogy Computer User Group

- Group shares an interest in computer genealogical information. Meets the third Wednesday of the month at Carter Creek Training Room, 2200 N. Forest Parkway in College Station, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Topic is “How to use Ancestry.com.” For more details: 764-6371 or mrodgers @cstx.gov.

Exploring History Luncheon - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department will present lunch and a lecture on “Texas A&M: The first 25 years,” at Aldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway S. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. RSVP for lunch ($5) by the Friday before at 979-764-6351 or [email protected].

April 16 Movie & Popcorn - Seniors meet for

a free movie and popcorn at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. “The Adventurer:

The Curse of the Midas Box” starts at 1 p.m. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or [email protected].

April 20 Beginning Computer Class – Class

meets from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday, from April 20 to 29 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Start with the basics and progress to software, email, creating and saving files, editing and printing. Cost is $45. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov, or call 979-764-3486.

Intermediate Computer Class – Held 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday from April 20 to 29. A continuation for the students of Computers 101 or the already seasoned beginner. Cost is $45. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486 for more details.

April 24Bingo & Birthday Celebration -

Seniors meet the last Friday of the month to celebrate birthdays for that month with cake and bingo, at 1 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. For more details: 979-764-6351 or [email protected].

April 27College Station Senior Advisory

Committee meeting - The College Station Senior Advisory Committee meets on the last Monday of each month at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, at 10 a.m. For more information call 979-764-6371.

April 28Senior World Passport Program

- Texas A&M Public Partnership and Outreach and College Station Parks and Recreation will hold this free program for seniors at 10 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. The topic is “Haiti.” For more information, call 764-6371.

April 29Keeping the Heart Healthy Seminar

- The Brazos County Health Department will present a seminar on heart health at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. at 10 a.m. For more information call 979-764-3779.

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Angst and anxiety are supposed to be the special plight of teenagers. But seniors also have a lot to worry and be anxious about.

Almost all of us seniors worry about our health. Will we have a heart attack or stroke? Will we get cancer or Alzheimer’s Disease? Will we become invalid and need a nursing home? Will we go out with boots on or slippers on?

Then, too, many seniors worry about fi nances. Will savings last until death? Will we become wards of the state or a burden to our children?

We worry about our children. Did we do the best we could in raising them? Will they suff er as they age? And our grandchildren: It seems they will not have the bright future we had at their age. They are growing up amid moral and cultural decline. Their country and government is becoming dysfunctional. The world teeters on the edge of chaos.

As if these worries are not enough, there is now evidence that anxiety as such can speed our own aging. A study just reported out of the Netherlands examined a cardinal sign of aging, shorter telomere length in chromosomes, in 2,300 people with and without anxiety disorders. The subjects were relatively young, averaging 41.7 years. The anxiety group had shorter telomeres, proportional to the degree of anxiety scores.

Less shortening was observed in patients who had long recovered from their anxiety. Maybe telomere shortening is reversible by eliminating the anxiety and stress. Of course some other undiscovered factors may exist that promote psychological recovery and protect telomeres in an independent way.

The anxiety-telomere correlation held up, even after accounting for other factors that are associated with shorter telomeres (smoking, heavy drinking, abnormal weight and a number of specifi c diseases). The projected shortening of life ranged from 3.5 to eight years, depending on the specifi c kind of anxiety. The underlying problem is probably excessive release of cortisol, oxidative stress and infl ammatory cytokines, all of which are associated with shorter telomeres.

Another study that tracked middle-aged adults found that people who felt socially isolated had over 200 genes that were expressed diff erently from socially secure people. Many of the genes that were turned on were involved in promoting infl ammation, while many genes that were involved in protective immune responses were poorly expressed. Similar fi ndings have been reported for other kinds of stresses, such as abuse as a child, poverty or rejection by close friends. These kinds of gene expression changes make people more susceptible to diseases. I suspect that this even applies to cancer. Over the years, I have been stunned by learning of so many people coming down with cancer

almost immediately after an intense stressful experience.

Even young people are not resistant to stress. Studies show that students have poor immune function at examination times. Studies show that chronic work stress is associated with higher incidence of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and other medical problems.

We all have access to coping skills that can reverse stress-induced sickness. For example, infl ammatory gene expression was reduced in a group of 200 women who underwent a 10-week stress-management course. Exercise can reduce anxiety and depression, as well as improve general health. Healthy diets help. We can get engaged more with others and with activities that help take us outside of ourselves. Social isolation is a common source of stress for seniors. We can fi nd some inner peace through yoga and meditation.

Most of all, we can fi nd new purpose for our life as we discover that age has made our old purposes untenable. We should focus on a present purpose for our life rather than on all the things we should have done or cannot undo. No one gets to re-live the past, but everyone can infl uence their own future.

Most useful is to think and pray more deeply about our religious convictions. Communist Karl Marx called religion the “opiate of the masses.” He meant this despairingly, but religious faith does relieve anxiety and emotional pain. That is a good

thing. This is an imperfect world, but the burden of saving the world is not on our shoulders. It is OK to do what we can even when that is not enough. We can be forgiven our sins and failures. Accept that the fate of those we love is not under our control, nor is much of the future. We can pray for strength to endure and believe it will come. We can believe that the world’s problems and dysfunctions are in God’s hands and that He works for the best for us.

Worry and anxiety are not in our best interests. Rejoice in the extra years of happiness that a stress-free life can bring.

To know more about aging well, check out my e-book, “Improve Your Memory for a Healthy Brain. Memory Is the Canary in Your Brain’s Coal Mine.” Available at Smashwords.com.

Sources:Cossins, Danile. (2015). “Stress

fractures.” The Scientist. January. p. 33-38.

Verhoeven, J. F. et al. (2015). “Anxiety disorders and accelerated cellular aging.”

The British Journal of Psychiatry January 2015, DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.151027

Warren, Rick. 2002. “The Purpose Driven Life.” Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.

Dr. Klemm is a senior professor of neuroscience at Texas A&M University. His site is thankyoubrain.blogspot.com.

Anxiety can speed the aging process

dr. BILL KLeMMThe MeMory MeDic

we really are. Love coaxes us out of hiding. It

energizes our will. We live on a higher plane and engage more naturally with the important stuff . Minus love from the equation and we wilt. Add some harsh judgment and criticism, and life can quickly become dark.

How do we live with meaning and purpose, even in the face of aging and growing limitations? It has to do with our why.

Why are we here? Here are some answers I’ve heard

recently: “To love other people with all I am and have.” “To serve, protect, and love my family.” “To help hurting people heal and grow.” “To love deeply, encourage often, and forgive quickly.” “To live generously.”

When giving these answers, the speakers never indicated they had it together or had accomplished these things. Their why was their goal, their mission - something they were learning about and growing toward.

Once we know and articulate our purpose, we can begin to make decisions that help us live it out. It’s a simple, three-step process.

1. Articulate your purpose. Take some time. Think deeply. Why

are you here? Write it down. Let it sink in. Tweak it. Keep it simple and short.

2. Post your purpose. Post your why someplace prominent

- maybe several places. Put it where you will see it several times a day. We need these reminders, or else the mediocre and mundane can drift in and seize us.

3. Determine your next action step.

Once you’ve identifi ed and posted why you’re here, think about what your fi rst action step will be. What’s one thing you can do to begin living this out?

Do you need to tweak something to

be more intentional? Do you need to get out of your comfort zone and engage in new ways? Be specifi c and practical.

Living with great meaning rarely happens naturally. It happens on purpose. We must be intentional.

Why are you here? It’s time to fi nd the answer, and to become even more of who you are.

Gary Roe is an author, speaker, and chaplain with Hospice Brazos Valley. Gary’s most recent book, Heartbroken: Healing from the Loss of a Spouse, is an Amazon Bestseller, available from Hospice Brazos Valley (821-2266), Amazon, or www.garyroe.com.

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WHERE TO GOKNOW

From life-saving emergencies towellness visits…we have you covered.

Know that St. Joseph Emergency Center atSouth College Station is just minutes away.With life-saving treatments and specializedER doctors, St. Joseph Emergency Center isclose to home and backed by the strength ofSt. Joseph Health System.

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EXPERT CARE, CLOSER TO HOME.

ST. JOSEPH EMERGENCYCENTER – SOUTHCOLLEGE STATION(Located in the Lowe’s Plaza)

4411 State Hwy 6 SouthCollege Station, TX 77845979.731.5223

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It’s three a.m. You’re not feeling well.Not sure where to go?

In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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