Centenarians: Keys to Longevity
2.0 Contact Hours
Living to be 100 years old was once considered a rare occurrence, but with advancements in medicine and lifestyle changes, living to be 100 is not so improbable today. As a group, there are more centenarians worldwide than ever before, with the largest concentration found in America. Five places have been identified worldwide where people live the longest, healthiest lives. These Blue Zones where people reach 100 years of age at significantly higher rates include the Barbagia region of Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, the Adventist community of Loma Linda in California, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and the island of Ikaria in Greece. The people living in these places have achieved longevity through different paths and different cultures.
Intimacy, Sexuality, and Healthy Aging
1.5 Contact Hours
Loving and being loved are essential to maintaining a positive, healthy attitude. Quality of life is often related to affection and tenderness shared with loved ones. With a healthy self-esteem and a willingness to communicate with a partner, older adults can enjoy intimate relationships throughout their lives.
Nutrition and Healthy Aging
2.0 Contact Hours
Increasing scientific, clinical, and social interest helps us understand the relationship between nutrition and aging. Eating well is essential in all stages of life but is especially important for maintaining good health and slowing the aging process in older adults. Nutrition influences the risk of contracting acute and chronic diseases and affects the physiological and biological processes of aging. Making healthy food choices also has social impacts, since healthy adults are more productive members of society and utilize fewer resources on multiple levels than unhealthy adults.
Physical Activity and Healthy Aging
2.5 Contact Hours
Physical activity is essential for healthy aging and well-being. Throughout life, engaging in enjoyable movement, such as walking, dancing, golfing, swimming, and cycling can increase the chances for health and vitality in later years.
The Healthy Aging Brain
2.0 Contact Hours
The brain is the most complex part of the human body. People once believed that progressive mental decline was inevitable, but now we know that the brains ability to age well varies from person to person and is affected by genetic predisposition, genes, life experiences, lifestyle, exposure to toxins and chemicals, accidents, trauma, and disease. Cognitive abilities do not automatically decline with age. The majority of older adults are happy. They live an active, optimistic life with many friends and they engage in leisure-time activities that increase not only their quality of life but also their longevity and the health of their brains.