Succesful Aging TV Special Feb. 15

HI, I’M LEON BIBB. NEWSCHANNEL 5 IS PROUD TO JOIN THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION IN THIS LOOK AT SUCCESSFUL AGING IN CLEVELAND. SIT BACK, RELAX, AND GET READY TO FIND OUT HOW YOU, AND YOUR LOVED ONES, CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A FULFILLING AND POSITIVE AGING EXPERIENCE.

LEON: ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE SANDWICH GENERATION? -- IN YOUR 50S OR 60S, SANDWICHED BETWEEN AGING PARENTS, ADULT CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OR MAYBE YOUNGER WITH AGING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS? THE BABY BOOM POPULATION IS COMING UP ON RETIREMENT AGE, AMERICANS ARE LIVING LONGER, AND WE’RE LOOKING AT A LARGE EMERGING POPULATION OF AGING ADULTS. THE FOLKS WITH THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION’S SUCCESSFUL AGING INITIATIVE SAY, AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO…SO THAT GREATER CLEVELANDERS CAN CALL THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS THE BEST YEARS OF THEIR LIVES!

JOAN BUTLER / WORRIED ABOUT AGING ((I DIDN’T THINK ABOUT RETIRING WHEN I WAS YOUNGER , THEN WHEN YOU GET OLDER I THINK YOU WORRY ABOUT IT EVERY DAY ON WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT.))

LEON TRACK: JOAN ISN’T THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE WORRYING. PEOPLE CAN BE TOO BUSY TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE. THE FOLKS WITH THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION’S SUCCESSFUL AGING INITIATIVE ARE HOPING TO CHANGE THAT OUTLOOK FOR CLEVELANDERS.

STEVEN A. MINTER / PRESIDENT, THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION ((OUR MISSION IS TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF CLEVELAND. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ELDERLY RESIDENTS AND WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AT THE FOUNDATION BY DONORS OVER THE YEARS SINCE 1914 WHO WANTED TO HELP THIS KIND OF POPULATION.))

LEON TRACK: THE SUCCESSFUL AGING INTIATIVE IS AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION TOWARD MAKING THE NECESSARY CHANGES WITHIN THE GREATER CLEVELAND COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT A POSITIVE AGING PROCESS. THE MESSAGE IS HOLISTIC, MOVING BEYOND PHYSICAL HEALTH – TO INCLUDE THE EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL COMPONENTS OF BEING SUCCESSFUL. WHY THE EXPANDED FOCUS?

STEVE MINTER AGAIN: ((THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FRAIL, WHO ARE NOT IN ILL HEALTH, WHO JUST HAPPEN TO BE ELDERLY. BUT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND IT’S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN REALLY DO AND CONTRIBUTE TO A GREAT MANY THINGS THAT GO ON IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND PERSONS WHO IN FACT WHO ARE QUITE SUCCESSFUL AND CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.))

LEON TRACK: PROFESSIONALS SAY IT BEGINS WITH AN ATTITUDE OF ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION.

RONALD HILL / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE WESTERN RESERVE AGENCY ON AGING ((SO THERE JUST NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE IN THE MINDSET OF PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, OUR SOCIETY AND OUR COMMUNITY. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TREMENDOUS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT OLDER PEOPLE HAVE TO OFFER))

LEON TRACK: AND WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE THIS MASSIVE ATTITUDE CHANGE? THE KEY TO EVERYTHING, OF COURSE: EDUCATION. WHICH LEADS TO AWARENESS, THEN ACCEPTANCE, AND FINALLY ---- ACTION.

TASK-FORCE / RESEARCH LEON STAND-UP: IT TAKES A TASK-FORCE TO GET THINGS DONE, SO THE TASK FORCE FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING WAS FORMED. THIS COMMITTEE OF COMMUNITY LEADERS HAD THE TASK OF DEFINING SUCCESSFUL AGING, FINDING OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO AGE SUCCESSFULLY, AND DISCOVERING HOW COMMUNITIES CAN LEARN TO GET INVOLVED IN THE INITIATIVE – ALL IN AN EFFORT TO SHED A POSITIVE LIGHT ON AGING IN GREATER CLEVELAND.

DR. STEPHANIE FALLCREEK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FAIRHILL CENTER / TASK FORCE FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING ((REALLY THE DEFINITION OF SUCCESSFUL AGING AS THE TASK FORCE ENVISIONED IT HAS TO DO WITH LIVING WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND JOY - RECOGNIZING THAT THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN, WHETHER THAT'S 60 YEARS OR 110 YEARS -- HAVING A SENSE OF MEANING, A SENSE OF PURPOSE, AND SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TAKE JOY IN AND A DAY-TO-DAY PURPOSE REALLY IS THE GOAL.))

LEON TRACKS A PURPOSE FOR EACH DAY. FINDING JOY IN EACH DAY. THE TASK FORCE TELLS US THE ANSWERS ARE ALL AROUND US. BUT IT TAKES A WILLINGNESS TO WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL… GRAPHIC AND V/O: -LIVING IN AN ELDER-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY -PHYSICAL ACTIVITY -SOCIAL INTERACTION -VOLUNTEERISM/EMPLOYMENT -LIFELONG LEARNING -AND IT ALL CULMINNATES IN LIFE PURPOSE IN OTHER WORDS, STAY ACTIVE – EXPAND OUR HORIZONS-- AND WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A WONDERFUL TIME IN OUR LIVES.

DR. FALLCREEK AGAIN ((I THINK ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS ABOUT INCREASINGLY HEALTHY LONGEVITY -- AND THAT'S REALLY A BIG CHANGE IN THIS CENTURY -- IS THAT WE CAN ADD YEARS TO LIFE BUT ARE THOSE LIVES REALLY FULLY LIVED? ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SWITCH GEARS AND CHANGE CAREERS IF YOU WANT TO. AND I LIKE TO THINK OF PEOPLE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN PLANNING FOR THEIR CAREERS IN SUCCESSFUL AGING IN MIDLIFE OR EVEN MAYBE IN YOUNG ADULTHOOD. ))

LEON TRACK: …SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ADD LIFE TO YOUR YEARS, NOT JUST YEARS TO YOUR LIFE.

LEON TRACK: THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO AGING. TIME WITH FAMILY. FREE TIME. TRAVEL AND INTERESTS, AND WISDOM. (I NEED TO CONFIRM EXACT WORDING)

THE ELDER-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

LEON STAND-UP: WE’RE GOING TO GO BACK AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO AGE SUCCESSFULLY, BEGINNING WITH THE ELDER-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY. ALSO KNOWN AS “A COMMUNITY FOR LIFE”. IT’S A COMMUNITY THAT COMES TOGETHER TO DETERMINE WHAT IT IS THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN PROVIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT OLDER ADULTS HAVE FULL, ACTIVE, QUALITY LIVES – NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

DON KOGGE / ROCKY RIVER RESIDENT ((THEY’VE ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF LIVING IN ROCKY RIVER AND I WOULD NEVER CONSIDER LEAVING HERE – IT’S A WONDERFUL TOWN – MOST INTERESTED IN BRINGING SENIORS INTO THE TOWN.))

LEON TRACK: DON KOGGE KNOWS A GOOD THING WHEN HE FINDS IT. HIS COMMUNITY IS WORKING TO BECOME ELDER-FRIENDLY -- AND IT SHOWS. THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR A COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE ITS ELDER-FRIENDLINESS.

MAYOR WILLIAM F. KNOBLE, ROCKY RIVER ((WE’RE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING DEVELOPERS AND WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS TO HAVE HOUSING THAT WILL FIT EVERYONE FROM THE NEWLY MARRIEDS WHO WANT AN APARTMENT OR A SMALL CONDO TO THE FAMILY HOME, TO THE CLUSTER HOUSING AND THEN TO ASSISTED LIVING. SO, WE’RE TRYING TO KEEP ‘EM HERE.))

LEON TRACK: THE CITY OF CLEVELAND DEPARTMENT OF AGING OFFERS ANOTHER ELDER-FRIENDLY EXAMPLE – IN ITS EFFORT TO KEEP ITS OLDER RESIDENTS FEELING SAFE AND SECURE.

JANE FUMICH / DIRECTOR, CITY OF CLEVELAND, DEPT. OF AGING ((WE JUST INTRODUCED A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE’LL BE HAVING IN THE SPRING, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT WE’LL GIVE A TELEPHONE REASSURANCE CALL TO OLDER PERSONS, TO BE SURE, TO CHECK ON THEM, TO BE SURE THAT THEY’RE OKAY.))

LEON TRACK: ALTHOUGH WE’RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS IN GREATER CLEVELAND IN TERMS OF BECOMING A COMMUNITY FOR LIFE, THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SUCCESSFUL AGING INITIATIVE WANT US TO LOOK SOUTH…

JANE FUMICH / DIRECTOR, CITY OF CLEVELAND, DEPT. OF AGING ((MANY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING TO FLORIDA WHO HAS MADE A BIG STEP BY FORMING A WHOLE ELDER FRIENDLY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE))

LEON TRACK: YES, THERE ARE PALM TREES, GOLF COURSES, SUNSET STROLLS, AND PLENTY OF WILDLIFE – BUT THERE’S SOMETHING MORE THAN THE BEAUTY AND WARM CLIMATE THAT KEEPS OLDER ADULTS THERE..THEIR VOLUNTEER AND WORK EFFORTS BOOST THE ECONOMY. FLORIDA VALUES ITS OLDER ADULTS. AND TO ACCOMMODATE THIS VALUABLE POPULATION, SOME COMMUNITIES ARE MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES -- LARGER STREET SIGNS AND TRAFFIC SIGNS, WIDER SIDEWALKS AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT CAN BE PEDESTRIAN CONTROLLED. AND FLORIDA COMMUNITIES OFFER OLDER ADULTS OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK… AND SO CAN WE – RIGHT HERE IN GREATER CLEVELAND.…WE CAN BEGIN BY BECOMING AN ELDER-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY, AND ONE WAY OF DOING THAT IS BY OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE.

DON KOGGE AGAIN: ((I HAVE SOME SPECIALTY KNOWLEDGE AREAS SO TO SPEAK)) ((THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES FISHING THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST, FOR EXAMPLE, AND MY TRAVELS OUT THAT WAY.))

LEON TRACK: THERE YOU HAVE IT…THERE’S A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE OUT THERE JUST WAITING TO BE SHARED – AND THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE LEARNED.

VOLUNTEERISM/WORK

STAND-UP/LEON: VOLUNTEERISM AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CAN HELP ONE TO FIND MEANING AND PURPOSE IN LIFE. IT TAKES OPEN MINDS TO OPEN THE DOORS TO OPPORTUNITY. THAT CAN MEAN STARTING SMALL…SMALL PEOPLE, THAT IS. SO…NEXT WE'LL VISIT AN INNOVATIVE INDEPENDENT CLEVELAND SCHOOL WITH A UNIQUE MISSION – AND WE’LL MEET A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS FOUND A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND JOY THROUGH HIS VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL …

TATIANNA / THE INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL ((THE INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL FOSTERS AN EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY OF EXCELLENCE THAT PROVIDES EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING, A SPIRIT IF CITIZENSHIP, AND LEARNERS OF ALL AGES.))

GENE GOODMAN / VOLUNTEER MENTOR ((I JUST THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM. IT'S JUST A FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY AND EVERYTHING I'M SAYING NOW ABOUT THEM -- IT ALL REFLECTS ON HOW MUCH JOY THAT I HAVE BEING PART OF IT.))

LEON TRACKS GENE GOODMAN IS TALKING ABOUT HIS STUDENTS. AND HE'S HUMBLE. HE PLAYS A VERY BIG PART IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS AT WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN ORDINARY SCHOOL -- BUT IS ACTUALLY ON THE LEADING EDGE OF SUCCESSFUL AGING ISSUE – BY FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ITS YOUNGSTERS AND ITS OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEER MENTORS.

DR. CATHERINE WHITEHOUSE/ FOUNDER,THE INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL ((AT THE INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS IS OUR READING MENTOR PROGRAM. THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE ADULTS AND OLDER ADULTS VOLUNTEER USUALLY 2 HOURS A WEEK, EVERY WEEK, AND THEY READ 1-ON-1 WITH CHILDREN AND THROUGH DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP AROUND BOOKS THEY JUST SHARE THEIR LOVE OF LITERATURE AND THEIR LOVE OF WORKING WITH CHILDREN.))

LEON TRACKS THE EFFECTS OF THIS VOLUNTEER EFFORT ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL -- THE MENTORS REMAIN ACTIVE AND FULFILLED – BUT THE STUDENTS GET A LOT OF NEEDED EXTRA ATTENTION, EVERYONE SOCIALIZES -- AND THE SCHOOL BENEFITS GREATLY FROM THE EXPERIENCE AND TIME THAT RETIRED INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO OFFER. AND THERE’S MORE…

DR. WHITEHOUSE AGAIN ((WE TRY TO KEEP IN MIND THAT SUCCESSFUL AGING DOESN'T START WHEN YOU GET OLD. SUCCESSFUL AGING STARTS WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG. SO, WE'RE TRYING TO,EVEN WITH A 5-YEAR-OLD,START THEM ON A PATH NOW THAT WILL LEAD TO THEM AGING SUCCESSFULLY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN TO CONSTANTLY PROVIDE THEM WITH MODELS OF SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE JUST WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ACTIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE LIVES OF THESE CHILDREN.))

MR. GOODMAN AGAIN ((THE REWARDS HAVE TO BE THE INNER FEELINGS WHEN YOU SEE THESE CHILDREN, THE PROGRESS THEY MAKE, THE PROGRESS THEY WILL MAKE, THE FUTURE FOR THESE KIDS WHO WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A FUTURE BECAUSE OF THESE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE OF THIS SYSTEM.))

LEON TRACK AND BECAUSE OF YOU, MR. GOODMAN…YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE…AND IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS…JUST LISTEN…

ANDREW “I LIKE TO READ NOW” – TRANSPARENT OVER VIDEO ((I FEEL LUCKY BECAUSE I DIDN’T USED TO – I DIDN’T HAVE A READING MENTOR THAT COMES AND READS WITH ME. NOW I DO AND NOW I GET TO READ AND I LIKE TO READ NOW))

LEON TRACK: AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE REWARDS TO VOLUNTEERING—AND FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIALIZATION AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE. WHAT ABOUT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT? FACT OR MYTH? OLDER WORKERS CANNOT WORK AS EFFECTIVELY AS YOUNGER WORKERS. GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT AND I’LL BE BACK WITH THE ANSWER.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SOCIALIZATION

LEON / STAND UP: WE ALL KNOW THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS GOOD FOR US. BUT IT GOES A STEP FURTHER WHEN IT COMES TO AGING SUCCESSFULLY.

KEN FRISCH – PHYSICALLY FIT ((I'VE JUST FINISHED A CLASS HERE, THAT'S WHY I'M PERSPIRING A LITTLE BIT. WE HAD A GOOD WORKOUT TODAY – WE DO IT TWICE A WEEK. TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM QUARTER TO 9 TO QUARTER TO 10))

LEON TRACK: TAKE IT FROM KEN FRISCH, GROWING OLDER DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN THE END OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. EXERCISE, A WORKOUT AT THE LOCAL HEALTH CLUB, A TAI CHI CLASS, A PILATES (NOTE: PRONOUNCED PI-LOT’-EEZ) CLASS, OR A LEISURELY WALK THROUGH TOWN, CAN HELP PREVENT OR DELAY MANY DISEASES OR DISABILITIES THAT CAN OCCUR IN NATURAL AGING. IT CAN IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF FRAIL INDIVIDUALS AND ADD STRUCTURE TO ONE’S DAY.

KEN FRISCH AGAIN ((IT’S GOOD FOR THE BODY, IT’S GOOD FOR THE MIND AND IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO…AND I ENJOY IT. TO ME EXERCISE ISN’T A LOT OF FUN TO DO BY YOURSELF. )) ((IT’S MORE FUN WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE))

LEON TRACK: THE BENEFIT OF HAVING OTHER PEOPLE AROUND? NATURAL SOCIALIZATION. IT LEADS TO MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND ENRICHING ONE’S LIFE.

RONALD HILL / WESTERN RESERVE AGENCY ON AGING ((A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT ARE REAL CRITICAL TO SUCCESSFUL AGING ARE WHAT I WOULD CALL ENGAGEMENT IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, OR ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT TIE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO OTHER PEOPLE WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT)). ((IF THEY WANT TO REALLY GUARANTEE A SUCCESSFUL LONG LIFE THEY SHOULD BE CULTIVATING THEIR SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT LIFE.))

LEON TRACKING: WHY? BECAUSE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WILL KEEP ONE MOVING, THINKING, PLANNING, ACTIVE, AND SMILING. AS YOU CAN SEE…IT WORKS.

LEON TRACK: SUPER: WWW.NEWSNET5.COM LOG ONTO WWW.NEWSNET5.COM FOR PAST NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL AGING INITIATIVE -- AND MORE!

LIFELONG LEARNING

LEON STAND-UP FACT OR MYTH? OLDER WORKERS CANNOT WORK AS EFFECTIVELY AS YOUNGER WORKERS. IT’S A MYTH. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME DECLINES IN PERCEPTION AND REACTION RATES, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT OLDER ADULTS PERFORM AS WELL IF NOT BETTER THAN YOUNGER PEOPLE. CONSISTENCY APPEARS TO INCREASE WITH AGE – AND OLDER WORKERS TEND TO HAVE LESS ABSENTEEISM, LESS JOB TURNOVER AND FEWER ACCIDENTS THAN THEIR YOUNGER COUNTERPARTS. THAT GOES FOR LEARNING, TOO. OLDER ADULTS ARE FOUND TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS AND EAGER STUDENTS.

VIVIAN HAMMETT / COMPUTER STUDENT ((I LIKE COMPUTERS, FOR ONE THING, I USED TO WORK ON COMPUTERS WHEN I WORKED, BUT THEY WERE NOTHING LIKE THESE, THESE THINGS, OH, MUCH MORE UP TO DATE, THERE’S SO MUCH TO LEARN AND I ENJOY LEARNING IT -- ALTHOUGH I DON’T KNOW ENOUGH YET.))

LEON TRACK: VIVIAN HAMMETT IS LUCKY. HER COMPUTER CLASS IS OFFERED IN HER CLEVELAND COMMUNITY AT THE FAIRHILL CENTER. HER CLASS IS TAUGHT BY AN OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEER AND ATTENDED BY ACTIVE ADULTS WHO ARE ALL EAGER TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES. SHE IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LIFELONG LEARNING. SHE KEEPS HER MIND ACTIVE, SOCIALIZES AND CONTINUES TO LEARN. ANOTHER APPROACH TO LIFELONG LEARNING IS THE INTERGENERATIONAL CONCEPT, AS IN CASE WESTERN RESERVE’S OFF-CAMPUS STUDIES PROGRAM. THIS LITERATURE CLASS, LOCATED IN SHAKER SQUARE AT JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS IS A MIXTURE OF AGES AND OPINIONS.

EDITH KAPLAN / CWRU OFF-CAMPUS STUDIES COORDINATOR ((THE OLDER GENERATION ARE THE READERS. SO THEY ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT COMING AND READING AND SHARING THEIR IDEAS ABOUT THEIR LIFE, ABOUT THEIR TRAVELS. THESE ARE VERY SOPHISTOCATED PEOPLE AND ARE VERY ACTIVE PHYSICALLY , MENTALLY--THEY DO A GREAT ( DEAL OF TRAVELING AND THEY ARE EAGER TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS WITH EVERYONE.))

LEON TRACK: HOW DO THE GENERATIONS BENEFIT FROM ONE ANOTHER?

HILARY KING / CWRU OFF-CAMPUS STUDENT ((WHAT’S REALLY EXCITING TO ME ABOUT IT IS THAT EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT PESPECTIVE AND ALSO REALLY RICH KNOWLEDGE OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE TOPICS.))

JULIE HARSTON / CWRU OFF-CAMPUS STUDENT ((THE CLASS IS NOT ONLY TO DISCUSS LITERATURE BUT TO MEET PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND THEY CAN BRING THEIR SENSIBILITY TO INTERPRETING THE BOOKS THAT WE’RE READING OR THE TOPICS WE’RE DISCUSSING.))

HILARY KING AGAIN: ((I’VE BEEN JUST FLOORED REALLY BY WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO SHARE AND HOW IT MAKES THE READING OF EACH BOOK A LOT RICHER.))

LEON TRACK: THESE COURSES ARE JUST 2 EXAMPLES OF LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THE BENEFITS BEING SOCIALIZATION, MIND STIMULATION, A GOAL FOR THE DAY, STAYING ACTIVE PHYSICALLY – AS WELL AS LEADING TO OTHER MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES. …OH, AND REMEMBER VIVIAN? WELL, SHE’S FOUND ANOTHER BENEFIT TO HER COMPUTER COURSE…

VIVIANHAMMETT AGAIN: (I DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING… BUT MAYBE I CAN HELP SOMEONE ELSE…)) (I NEED TO CONFIRM EXACT WORDING)

LIFE PURPOSE

LEON STAND-UP: WE’VE GIVEN YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND LEARN ABOUT “WHAT IT TAKES” TO AGE SUCCESSFULLY: LIVING IN AN ELDER-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY,PHYSICAL ACTIVITY,SOCIALIZING,TAKING ADVANTAGE OF VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,AND LIFELONG LEARNING. WEAVING TOGETHER AND CREATING A PROCESS OF AGING THAT ASSURES A SENSE OF PURPOSE. AND WHERE THERE IS A SENSE OF PURPOSE, THERE WILL BE FULFILLMENT. AND WHERE THERE IS FULFILLMENT, THERE WILL BE JOY.

DOROTHY LYNCH/ FULFILLED RETIREE ((I JUST HAVE A HAPPY LIFE AND I WANT TO KEEP GOING AS LONG AS I CAN))

LEON TRACK: DOROTHY LYNCH IS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER AT THE CLEVELAND FOOD BANK – AND SHE BENEFITS GREATLY FROM HAVING A SENSE OF PURPOSE. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, IT STARTS WITH ENGAGING IN A SUCCESSFUL AGING CAREER. BUT THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES.

DR. STEPHANIE FALLCREEK ((I THINK WE’RE ALL AWARE THAT THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY IS REALLY CHALLENGED BY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY. AND FOR MANY PEOPLE, CREATING A SECOND OR THIRD CAREER IN SUCCESSFUL AGING MEANS FINDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO REWEAVING OR STRENGTHENING THAT FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERING IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR OR THE PRIVATE OR NON-PROFIT SECTOR CREATES WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES WITH THEIR TIME AND THEIR TALENT AND NOT JUST THE ANNUAL FIND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF IN OUR SOCIETY IS CREATING VEHICLES FOR PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR BEST STUFF…))

LEON TRACK: THROUGH CREATING VEHICLES TO UTILIZE THAT “BEST STUFF”, WE CREATE ELDER-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES -- WHERE THERE’S PLENTY OF PURPOSEFUL SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, LEARNING, VOLUNTEERISM & WORK. BUT TO DOROTHY LYNCH, THERE’S MORE…

DOROTHY AGAIN: ((YOU KNOW, YOU DO GET ACHES AND PAINS AS YOU GET OLDER, BUT IF YOU KEEP MOBILE, YOU KNOW, YOU FORGET ABOUT THOSE THINGS.))

LEON TRACK: AND DOROTHY’S LIFE PURPOSE -- THE FOODBANK – KEEPS HER MOBILE…

LEON TRACK: RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE STRONGEST FACTOR IN SUCCESSFUL AGING IS: A. PHYSICAL HEALTH B. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE C. FINANCIAL SECURITY I’M LEON BIBB AND I’LL HAVE THE ANSWER FOR YOU AFTER THIS BREAK.

LEON TRACK: GRAPHIC (SAME W/HIGHLIGHTED B./POSITIVE ATTITUDE) WELCOME BACK TO NEWSCHANNEL 5’S LOOK AT SUCCESSFUL AGING. I’M LEON BIBB.

RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE STRONGEST FACTOR IN SUCCESSFUL AGING IS: A. PHYSICAL HEALTH B. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE C. FINANCIAL SECURITY THE ANSWER? A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. AND THAT GOES EVERYONE.

LEON STAND-UP: 20 19 28 – AGING AFFECTS US ALL – ONE GENERATION AS MUCH AS THE NEXT. IT IS UP TO US ALL TO BE SUPPORTIVE – INDIVIDUALLY-- AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE FOLKS WITH THE SUCCESSFUL AGING INITIATIVE WANT US TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO CHANGE //// OUR MINDS TO LOCAL RESOURCES AND -- TO OPEN OUR ARMS – TO RESPECTFULLY ACCEPT THE WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE THAT SURROUNDS US, AND WILL SURROUND US, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. I AM CHALLENGING YOU TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TOMORROW. IF YOU ARE OLDER, CONSIDER A NEW VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY OR LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU ARE YOUNGER, SUGGEST A NEW PHYSICAL OR SOCIAL ACTIVITY TO A LOVED ONE. OR BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN FUTURE. STOP -- AND TURN A STEREOTYICAL NEGATIVE THOUGHT INTO ONE OF ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT. WE NOW KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, SO LET’S TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND DO IT.

REMEMBER – AGING IS INEVITABLE. AGING SUCCESSFULLY IS A CHOICE. WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE GOING TO BE? I’M LEON BIBB. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME FOR THIS LOOK AT SUCCESSFUL AGING.

CHECK TCs I’D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME LOCAL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ON AGING…LISTEN AND LEARN…