Category: Aging

Betsey Johnson, 82 Fashion Icon Since The 1960s

May 2, 2025

Betsey Johnson is an American fashion designer born in Connecticut in 1942. Her fashion career started in the 1960s and by 1978 she established her own fashion line.

Betsey Johnson developed an edgy, offbeat style during the new wave/punk era of the late 1970s. Her designs are typified by fun, but rule-breaking clothing at an accessible price point.

Today, at 82 she continues to design clothing, shoes, and accessories. Her website is BetseyJohnson.com.

Myth: I’m Too Old To Exercise

April 25, 2025

I’m Too Old To Start Exercising

This is completely false. Age does not play a role in your ability to exercise. Research on healthy aging shows that exercise for aging adults is not only safe but beneficial. People can safely begin to exercise in their 70s, 80s, and beyond. It’s never too late to get started, and it does not matter if you’ve never exercised before.

No matter what your current age or fitness level, your body benefits from exercise. In fact, exercise is such an important part of healthy aging that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 150-300 minutes of physical activity each week for all ages, stretching its former recommendation of 150 minutes per week. However, any amount of exercise is beneficial, from formal exercise to “exercise snacks”—just moving around a little whenever you can.

Source: Psychology Today 5/20/21

Obesity in Older Adults: Alarming Statistics and Health Risks

April 18, 2025

Health Policy Institute’s Grim Report On Aging and Obesity

” Some 15 million older adults — people over the age of 51 — are obese. This represents nearly one in four older adults. While obesity itself is not a chronic condition, it is a risk factor for many chronic conditions, including four of the ten leading causes of death in the U.S. — coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke and several forms of cancer.”

Did You Know That

  • Disability rates are higher among adults who are obese.
  • Obese older adults are more likely to be severely disabled than those who are not obese.
  • Older adults who are obese are more likely to suffer from persistent and chronic symptoms of illness.
  • 22 percent of obese adults age 51 to 69 say they frequently feel severely fatigued or exhausted.
  • Older obese adults are more likely than older non-obese adults to have difficulty or be unable to participate in activities such as walking any distance, going shopping, or attending movies, parties, or other social events.

Source: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute

Read the full report here: Obesity Among Older Americans

Understanding the Burden of Alzheimer’s Caregivers

April 10, 2025

The Institute On Aging featured a recent article about the emotional and physical challenges facing Alzheimer’s caregivers. Click the link below to read the article.

Gene Hackman’s passing sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles of caregivers, who dedicate themselves to the relentless demands of supporting loved ones with dementia.

Caregiving

The article covers the Emotional and Physical Toll of Caregiving, Raising Awareness: The Role of Public Figures, and Finding Support: The Importance of Resources.

Read the full article here: The Hidden Toll of Caregiving

108-Year-Old Japanese Woman Is Crowned The Oldest Barber In The World

March 18, 2025

“At the astonishing age of 108, Shitsui Hakoishi has been certified as the world’s oldest female barber. Shitsui’s salon is around a three-hour drive from Tokyo, located on the fringe of Tochigi Prefecture surrounded by mountains. In her compact workspace, one will find vintage items such as a pair of scissors that she has been using since the pre-war period”.

Shitsui was officially recognized as the oldest barber in the world by Guinness World Records. She has no plans to retire.