Elderly Organize to Meet Problems of Aging

[13 August 2007 - New York Times] On a bluff overlooking the Potomac River, George and Anne Allen, both 82, struggle to remain in their beloved three-story house and neighborhood, despite the frailty, danger and isolation of old age. Mr. Allen has been hobbled since he fractured his spine in a fall down the stairs, and expects to lose his driver’s license when it comes up for renewal when he turns 85. Mrs. Allen recently broke four ribs getting out of bed. Neither can climb a ladder to change a light bulb, or crouch under the kitchen sink to fix a leak. Stores and public transportation are an uncomfortable hike. So the Allens have banded together with their neighbors, who are equally determined to avoid being forced from their homes by dependence. Along with more than 100 communities nationwide — a dozen of them here in Washington and its suburbs — they are part of a movement to make neighborhoods comfortable places to grow old, both for elderly men and women in need of help but not ready for assisted living, and for baby boomers anticipating the future. “We are totally dependent on ourselves,” Mr. Allen said. “But I want to live in a mixed community, not just with the elderly. And as long as we can do it here, that’s what we want.” More

Top scientist backs workout for the brain: Baroness promotes computer games claimed to curb mental decline

[26 August 2007 - Sunday Times (London, UK)] Baroness Susan Greenfield, the neuroscientist, is to launch an exercise programme for the brain that she claims is proven to reverse the mental decline associated with ageing. Greenfield, who is also director of the Royal Institution, maintains that Britain’s baby-boomers are discovering that concentrating on physical fitness is no longer sufficient preparation for old age. “What concerns me is preserving the brain too,” she said. “There is now good scientific evidence to show that exercising the brain can slow, delay and protect against age-related decline.” Greenfield will launch MindFit, a PC-based software program, at the House of Lords next month, for the “worried but well” - people in their middle years who are healthy and want to stay that way. More

Late-career teachers ready to invigorate classrooms

[26 August 2007 - Orlando Sentinel] Bill Memmoli is living proof that it's never too late to pursue your passion. The 61-year-old Leesburg resident retired last year from a 40-year career in the retail business. But now he has launched a career in teaching. "I've always wanted to teach," Memmoli said. "This is an opportunity to give back. The experiences you have are worthless unless you get to share it with someone else." Memmoli earned his teaching certification through a program at Lake-Sumter Community College. For seven months, he and about 30 other professionals have been taking classes, learning to become teachers. More