Making the Most of Your Golden Years

Patricia Glass, Member, Manatee Memorial Board of Governors

Patricia Glass has focused much of her career on changing the way people think about aging. She began her career in gerontology, the study of human aging, in the 1970s, and served as the Chief of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council's Division of Aging and Director of the Area Agency on Aging. She hosted several weekly television programs focusing on gerontology issues. In 1978, Glass was elected to the Manatee County Commission and served numerous terms before retiring in 2006. She currently serves on the Manatee Memorial Hospital Board of Governors.

"We need to view our mature years as a great opportunity to learn new things and share our life experiences with others," Glass says. "Clocks and calendars are not our enemy -- they're just a way of marking time. 'Growing up' is a continuous process, and it requires lifelong nourishment in the form of physical activity, social relationships and constant learning."

Glass offers the following tips for healthy aging:

• Stay active: Do not let age-related aches and pains keep you from regular physical activity, whether it is a daily walk or a regular tennis game. Glass regularly visits her local YMCA to lift weights.
• Keep learning: Take classes at a local community college. "Don't be intimidated if most of your fellow students are younger than you -- remember that you are the example that younger people will follow," she says.
• Have annual checkups: You can catch small problems before they become big ones. Your physician can suggest preventive measures that can help you stay healthy. Glass recommends taking a list of your medications and writing down your questions to make sure you cover everything. Also, if you've been experiencing signs of depression, such as fatigue, a lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed or persistent sadness, tell your physician right away.
• Stay involved with your family and your community: A family support system and friends are essential for mental and physical health.

Take ADVANTAGE of Being 50 or Better!
The Senior Advantage Program at Manatee Memorial Hospital offers community members who are age 50 and older free and discounted services to enhance their health and well-being.

"Members receive informative health literature and physician referrals, as well as invitations to special events, health fairs, seminars, exercise classes and screenings," says Randy Joy Brooks, Senior Advantage Coordinator.

If you're a patient in the hospital, the benefits of the Senior Advantage Program are even greater, including the possible waiver of the Medicare Part A deductible for members 65 and older who are covered by Medicare Insurance Part A. Click here for the application form. For more information on the program, please call 941-745-7548.

206 Second Street East, Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-5111 FAX: 941-745-6862