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Column will focus on health, well-being By Sharon Johnson I always have thought that a newspaper column that profiled people who were aging successfully � people in good health or creatively managing health challenges � would be a column that I would like to read. Writing such a column myself did not occur to me until recently. The editors of the Mail Tribune agreed, and after a few weeks of discussion and planning, we are launching "Healthy Aging." Aging is "in." In less than 20 years, one in four Southern Oregon residents are expected to be over the age of 65. Several areas of Jackson and Josephine counties already have reached this ratio. The number of people over 85 is trending straight up. This column will be dedicated to people who are working on their health and well-being and who are in the later decades of their lives. I will profile these individuals, and in the process, I hope to educate the reader about a particular aspect of aging. Dr. Isadore Rosenfield, who wrote "Live Now, Age Later," is one of the increasing numbers of authors who speak to us about how we can delay, prevent and treat the signs of aging. This column will do that, too, with an accent on enjoying the aging process and maximizing the new opportunities it presents. As Dr. Rosenfield suggests, there are countless disorders that will affect us as we age: hearing loss, vision loss, cancer, stroke, heart trouble. And, every one of those diseases can be prevented, treated or their progress slowed. Since I arrived in the Rogue Valley a year ago, I have come to know hundreds of strong, wise, aging people who have embraced the aging process. They have discovered interesting and often innovative ways to prevent or delay their inevitable aging. Many of them stand up to this business of old age with a wry smile and an energetic step. I have listened to more than one aging person say, "I am always surprised at that wrinkly little person who winks at me when I look in the mirror." These are people who take long bike rides on gravely country roads (wearing bike helmets), prepare luscious, but healthy, gourmet cuisine (for lunch!) or accommodate sensory losses with nontraditional visual or hearing aids. Their approaches range from unexpected treatment interventions to a positive attitude. I intend to introduce you to these people and incorporate information that makes the health and lifestyle challenges they may face � we all face as we age � more understandable. As this is my first column, I am simply introducing my intentions and myself. I am told that I will hear from many of you and you will suggest people to be profiled and health conditions to be discussed. That is good. I welcome your ideas. This initial column, however, is intended to salute the man who wrote a column on aging issues in this newspaper for many years: Hank Henry. I met him recently. I frequently read his column and had been impressed with his authentic writing style and his ability to reminisce in such a direct and heartfelt manner. Hank�s last column was particularly moving to me. He took a variety of issues that sneak up on us as we age and discussed them head-on. He shared his own tendencies toward depression unhesitatingly. In doing so, he surely made it easier for some of his readers to talk about their own depressive illness. Depressive illness is almost an epidemic, you know, with one in five people in the United States and worldwide having a diagnosis of depression. For men over the age of 65, it can be a significant (but highly treatable) condition. I intend to profile and talk more about depression in a column later in the spring. Hank also introduced the challenges of medication management in his last column. More words about medication management in later life will also be in a future column. It is not unusual for an older person to be taking five or more medications, perhaps several times a day, for different health problems. (Over-the-counter medications and herbal remedies need to be included in that count.) The possibility for drug-drug or drug-food interaction when you take eight medications is 100 percent. In the words of his last column, Hank indicated how easy it is to run into problems with medications and how unsettling such problems can be. Hank exhibited great candor about the challenges of aging. And, in saying his simple goodbye to his readers in the manner he did, Hank created a bridge for me. I thank him for that and I wish him well. I am honored to follow a man of such thoughtful honesty, someone who models healthy aging. Sharon Johnson is an assistant professor in family and community development at OSU Extension and a member of the Senior Advisory Council. Reach her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.