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THE BENEFITS OF SCALING BACK Gradually NO ONE WANTS to give up their independence or forgo the activities they enjoy, and Matthew Tomcik, MD, family medicine physician at Prevea Chippewa Falls Health Center, doesn't believe that you necessarily have to. "Activities lie on a continuum," Dr. Tomcik says. "If you have a garden, you can still enjoy it, but consider doing it on a smaller scale." There is no exact age at which people need to begin scaling back, but it is important to pay attention to your abilities and assess them honestly. "Some people find certain activities become more difficult in their fifties," Dr. Tomcik says. "Others stay very active until they're well into their nineties or beyond. It's dependent on the person—and on common sense—about what's safe and what isn't." SAFELY SCALING BACK The process of understanding your limits involves keeping an eye out for warning signs. Falling, for instance, is a signal that you should curtail yard work or other strenuous projects. Waning hand-eye coordination, response time, and memory are also indications you should seek the help of family, friends, community services, and physicians to make life more convenient. Sometimes minor adjustments— such as finding a lower-impact sport, or moving the household items you use most onto the same floor— will be all that's needed. "It's important not to scale back too quickly," Dr. Tomcik says. "If you look at the people who are aging well, they're enjoying the things that they're still able to do instead of focusing on what they can't do." CESA'S FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM BENEFITS EVERYONE INVOLVED. SPONSORED BY THE Corporation for National & Community Service, the Foster Grandparent Program enables qualifying seniors to assist teachers and provide students with more one-on-one interaction than they might otherwise receive. "Our volunteers work with children who have special education needs or those who are part of the regular education program but are falling significantly behind their peers," says Mary Jo Hanson, Administrator of the Foster Grandparent Program with CESA 10 in Chippewa Falls. For students, the consistent presence of an older adult builds a sense of trust and helps them develop positive character traits. In addition to the satisfaction they receive from helping others, seniors who participate are provided with a yearly health screening, as well as a small stipend and a meal. FOSTERING NEW BONDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY If you are a senior and would like to volunteer with the Foster Grandparent Program, contact Mary Jo Hanson at mhanson@cesa10.k12.wi.us. To learn about Geriatric Medicine at Prevea Health, visit prevea.com, click on "Medical Services," and then on "Geriatric Medicine." AGING WELL INVOLVES FINDING WAYS TO SAFELY CONTINUE DOING THE THINGS YOU LOVE. Studies have shown that seniors who volunteer are less likely to experience depression. "Older adults have more limited social networks, so volunteering helps them get out and talk to more people," says Sarah Bodeau, LPC, CSAC, Behavioral Care Therapist with Prevea Behavioral Care in Eau Claire. "It's important they find something enjoyable, so it doesn't start feeling like an obligation, but the benefits overall are just so great." 3 S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G