“As we age, our bodies change,” AdventHealth Geriatrician, Marianna Benson, DO, explains. “We cannot process medications the way younger bodies do, we cannot build muscles as easily, our senses commonly decrease, and we often cannot recall and process information as quickly. By being proactive with aging, we are giving our future selves the best chance for being independent into old age.”

For those just entering their golden years, it can be hard to know where to start. When Jennifer Alm, 65, and her husband started on their journey toward healthy living, it wasn’t a conscious decision. They took many small steps, with lots of support along the way. 

“I think when we decided to focus on our health, it was more or less just something that happened organically, kind of in the moment,” Jennifer recalls. “We were fortunate to just be in environments where people were taking care of their health and looking forward. I’m not sure I ever could have anticipated how all those little things I was doing across time were going to benefit me so much in the long run.” 

Jennifer and her husband had moved to Hawaii to finish out their careers in the early 2000’s. It was there that they found a community of people that showed them the benefits of clean eating, staying active and the advantages of social interaction on mental and emotional health. 

“Many people don’t think about healthy aging until they are diagnosed with disease,” Dr. Benson says. “We should be thinking about healthy aging as early as possible for preventing chronic disease and having the strength to combat acute illnesses.” 

There are several things people can do to start the process of healthy aging early on. “We should strive for a balance of regularly challenging the body while also engaging in restful recoveries,” Dr. Benson suggests. “We should participate in social, physical, and mental wellness activities; these may include meeting new people, exploring somewhere new, or learning a new hobby.” 

For most of us, healthy aging is not something we often think about. It’s easy to go through life and believe that aging is a concern for the future. But research suggests the earlier we can start incorporating healthy habits and behaviors into our daily life, the easier aging will be for our minds and bodies. Some simple, healthy changes can help us keep active longer,live independently and feel whole well into our golden years.

Jennifer and her husband continue to be diligent about the food they eat, making sure to eat a clean, balanced diet and find ways to work in daily exercise. The pair often take advantage of the active outdoor lifestyle common in our Western North Carolina region. “This area kind of encourages healthy living. I think it’s definitely one reason that we returned to the Asheville area and Western North Carolina,” Jennifer shares. “It’s better than a lot of places as far as a focus on healthy aging with being outdoors, all the access to the mountains and the hiking and biking that we have here. We look around and see people being active well into their 80’s.” 

Jennifer was also thrilled to find AdventHealth and Dr. Benson who specializes in Age-Friendly care. Dr. Benson has provided support and care as Jennifer continues to be proactive in her long-term healthy aging journey. “Dr. Benson takes a sincere interest and a very personal approach with her patients,” Jennifer shares. “She sees you as a whole person. And I love that we were with her at the beginning of her practice, because that means she’s gonna be there for us for a long time to come.” 

As Jennifer reflects on her journey of healthy aging and thinks about how all the small daily decisions add up to a life of health and well-being, she has some advice for others in this stage of life. “I think healthy aging is choosing to be positive. Your attitude is the ultimate choice that you have,” Jennifer shares. “Choose to get up and do something different. Choose happiness. Choose love and joy. The sky's the limit if you choose to make your golden years golden.”