Time was, you would hear about someone’s elderly aunt, “She’s still got her marbles,” or “She’s still all there.”
The implication was that, despite some great age of, perhaps, 80 or 85, this ancient adult was still able to get around on her own and hold a rational conversation.
Today’s elderly population, however, is a very different species. Today’s older adults are not just living longer, they are living better.
So what makes today’s “Super Seniors” so super?
Beth Draper, volunteer coordinator for the Jewish Home and Care Center, Chai Point and the Sarah Chudnow Community, works with volunteers of all ages.
Her oldest volunteer was 106. Many are in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. They drive to their assignments and look forward to making their contributions, serve on boards and provide vital services that help ease the burden of paid employees.
According to Draper, a Super Senior is “someone who stays active, and subconsciously knows that things are different for them physically, but they go with the flow anyway. They go above and beyond the aches and pains. They find life worthwhile and find something to do that gives life meaning.”
Della Bornstein is a prime example of a Super Senior volunteer. At 92, she is extremely active.
Besides being a volunteer with NAAMAT, she is the manager of the Jewish Home and Care Center’s gift shop. She does the buying and merchandising for the store, making all the choices about what to carry.
She also manages the store’s volunteer employees and enforces the policies and procedures of the shop. Della also sits on the board of Hand in Hand, which oversees the volunteers.
“My motto,” Della said, “is to find something to do for other people. That will take your mind off your own aches and pains.”
Draper agrees. “Stay physically and socially active,” she said.
But it’s not just “doing” that keeps a person healthy. Mona Cohen, director of adult programming and community services at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, emphasizes the importance of a person’s attitude toward life.
“The biggest thing is attitude,” she said, “and if they are lucky enough to have their health. Enthusiasm, curiosity and wanting to stay connected are all a part of it. Trying new things, going to the theater, and not just focusing on the next doctor’s appointment.”
Cohen added that “there are healthy people who are just lucky but they aren’t enjoying their lives because they don’t have the right attitude.”
Bonnie Jeglum, director of social work at the Jewish Home and Care Center, added, “Super Seniors are friendly, vibrant, they have a positive attitude. They’re inspirational to others, and they’re involved. They also have a great sense of self-worth. And they are appreciative and take nothing for granted.”
Paul J. Schultz, administrator of the Sarah Chudnow Community in Mequon, said seniors need to pay attention to mind, body and spirit.
“They keep engaged in their community and keep learning new things; keep challenging themselves intellectually. Keeping a healthy spirit,” he said, “is defined as anything that keeps them emotionally high, whether it’s religion, volunteerism, or family and friend contacts.”
But it’s not only those people who are healthy and outgoing who are Super Seniors. Marina Sharansky, program manager at Jewish Family Services, looks at it from another angle.
“A Super Senior is also somebody who is willing to accept some help,” Sharansky said. “I give a lot of credit to those seniors who do ask for help, so they can go out into the world and they go to activities.”
Sharansky refers to those seniors who, with the aid of a caregiver or visiting care manager, can still take part in community activities.
Talking about an elderly gentleman who still snowboards, but at a much slower pace, she said, “Why take the fun away if you can still have fun?”
Marlene Heller is director of marketing and communications at the Jewish Home and Care Center, Chai Point and the Sarah Chudnow Community.
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