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Over the Back Fence By HANK HENRY Pitfalls are just part of growing old S ome television ads are funny, some are run-of-the-mill, and some make no sense at all -- especially if they focus on something you know about. Take the ad for the Oregon Lottery. Half a dozen elderly people are sitting on the floor and playing the kid's game "spin the bottle." I could argue with the premise that playing the bottle game can lead to gambling (which is what the ad seems to be saying) but what really caught my attention was that all of the old-timers apparently had no problem getting down on the floor. Anybody in their 70s (and lots of people who are younger) knows that getting down on the floor isn't easy anymore. I'm sure there was a chorus of moans and groans when they got down there for the cameras, and when they got up, too. One of the first signs of age comes when you realize that it takes some effort to rise from a soft, low chair. By the time they reach their 70s, many people acquire a sudden interest in those overstuffed chairs that gently lift them to a standing position. Many people in their 70s and 80s are actually in pretty good shape, and have learned how to work around some of the physical limitations of aging. Looking at all the nursing homes in Southern Oregon, you might think a large number of elderly live in them. But here in Jackson County, relatively few of our seniors (only 2.8 percent of people over 65) live in nursing homes. That's remarkably low, compared to many other places. In Kansas, for example, 7 percent of all seniors live in nursing homes. Oregon has pioneered alternatives such as in-home care to provide the necessities of living -- housekeeping, shopping, and personal care -- to avoid or delay nursing home visits. Exercise is one of the keys to postponing mobility problems. My wife, Nora, and I exercise for at least an hour a day, and it does keep us in better shape than if we never exercised at all. But if we live long enough, we will eventually start to run out of steam. I've known men who lifted weights for years and slowly began to have problems getting to their feet. They generally fare better than the folks who never exercised, but they still have their problems. By the time a person turns 80, problems with balance often appear. The leading accident for people in this age range is the fall that results in a broken hip. Many give up on tub baths simply because it gets so hard to get out of the tub. They can no longer sit up in the tub and then lift themselves to a standing position. Many turn to a hands-and-knees solution to get in and out of the tub. But even this process becomes too hard to do. Some folks find the easiest solution is to forget about tub baths and use the shower. It is easier to do -- just step in, bathe, and step out -- but just a momentary loss of balance can lead to a nasty fall that can put a person in bed for weeks. A bathtub or shower is the most dangerous place in the home for people over 80. But balance problems can occur anywhere. There are three steps on our small front porch. A few months ago a visiting friend lost her balance and fell down. Her injuries were minor, but her accident made us realize that we needed to put a railing on the steps. Our friend Charlie, who lives across the street, made one for us, and now I find myself using it, even though I'm not yet 80. Thirty-five years ago I ascended all three steps in one bound. Time takes its toll. Life is still pretty good for a majority of folks over 70. We know a number of couples over 70 who still ski, play tennis or ride bicycles. And a few people remain mobile into their 90s. Almost no one anticipates spending months or years in a care facility, and it's a blow to their self-confidence if it happens. Their greatest loss happens when friends and relatives gradually drift away and stop visiting them. The greatest gift you can give is yourself. (Hank Henry is a retired Jackson County commissioner and a former radio and television announcer. Call him at 772-9055.) Prime Times front page Mail Tribune front page Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA