The Elderly in Bloomington are finding more active approaches to retirement Don Gross, 63, gets up at 4:30 every morning, goes to work at 5:30 and works full time at a juvenile correction center. He knows staying active is part of being healthy and that's why he enjoys his work. He stays busy at work and doing his daily duties. Gross also keeps busy at home. At home on the weekends or in the summer time, he spends most of his time on the yard work and other odd jobs around the house. Keeping busy and staying active are always on his mind. As health increases and people become interested in staying active and healthy, they make sure they stay busy. Seniors are becoming more active, especially in Bloomington. Active doesn't have to be exercising or working out, but it can also be going back to school, volunteering or just getting out of the house and doing activities you enjoy.
Staying active and enjoying life isn't hard in Bloomington. Bloomington is a community that has activities for people of all ages. With Indiana University right in the center, there is always something happening. It has been attracting people of all ages and with high ranks from many publishing's, it's easy to see why. Money Magazine has ranked Bloomington the sixth best place to settle down, Rand McNally's Retirement Places ranked it eighth best place to retire and Men's Journal ranked Bloomington as one of the best places to live in 2003. Also Psychology Today ranked it the seventh lowest stress city and Forbes magazine ranked it 62nd best smaller places to live in 2000. When you think of retiring, work usually isn't something you think about. But Don Gross, 63, enjoys every day he goes to work. His work is what keeps him busy and he enjoys working with the kids. Everyday he wakes up at 4:30 in the morning to be at work by 5:30. "I'm used to getting up early," said Gross. "I'm afraid I could miss something."
He works full time at a juvenile correction center as a cook in the food service, where he fixes breakfast and lunch. He believes his life is active with working and dealing with juveniles all of the time. "They'll keep you active, always trying to outwit you," he said. They try to outwit him by bribes and doing extra chores, just to get an extra cookie from the kitchen. But he doesn't give into them all of the time. Although he has to wake up at early hours of the morning he says, "I actually enjoy working. I don't think I could ever retire." He feels that if he didn't work, his life would be incomplete.
Retiring hasn't been on Aldea Cloutier-Hartung's agenda either. Working 40 to 45 hours a week as a registered nurse, Aldea goes to school part time at the age of 61. Many seniors have chosen to go back to school, not necessarily to get a better job, but to learn. Aldea wants to learn more about history and right now is taking a class on the history of American Indians. "Once you get older, you become very interested in history," she said. Aldea is proud of returning back to school and being a part of IU. She participates in school activities such as being a season ticket holder to both the football and basketball games. She enjoys going to the games and being around the students saying that is what "keeps me young." Although she doesn't go to parties, she jokes about a conversation she had with her kids. "When we (IU) were voted number one party school, my children called me and said they hoped they didn't see me behind cars smoking pot." Aware of the students around her, she takes the energy from them and applies it to her life. "I know who I am, and I don't have to prove it to anyone." She goes to school, attends school functions and works full time. "I'm grateful for life and freedom to do what I want to do." Nothing will stop her from achieving her goals. Being active is what keeps me alive," she says. As time changes, seniors are becoming more active and changing their lifestyles to feel more alive. When the government saw the growing number of seniors, they knew they had to do something about it, explains Jewel Echelabarger, executive director of Area 10 Agency on Aging. In 1964 the government set up aging agencies that would help seniors with getting food. Now, those aging agencies have turned into senior centers where seniors can also go spend time playing bingo, doing arts, exercising or learning new things on computers. What’s going on in Bloomington
The Endwright Center is one location just outside of Bloomington, in Ellettsville, where seniors can enjoy their free time and participate in a variety of activities. Some activities offered range from health and fitness -with two exercise rooms and a soft half court for basketball, arts and humanities -with painting, drawing, and music lessons and one-on-one computer tutoring -where seniors can learn the basics of computers, email, excel and the Internet. Seniors are doing more and making sure they are doing things in their lives that benefit themselves and others. Seniors are becoming involved in the community around them, rather than just watching everything pass them by. As mentioned in an article in Social Policy magazine, "older people today are viewed as a drain on our resources." This is because the number of people over the age of 65 has doubled since 1960 and will double within the next 30 years. But, seniors are trying to change how they are viewed. Since he retired 10 years ago, Joseph Boyle, AmeriCorps Vista volunteer, spends four days a week volunteering at Area 10 Agency on Aging and enjoys helping out in any way he can. He is in charge of At-risk elderly programs and makes sure that those seniors who can not leave their homes have the proper care. He feels it is his duty to help those seniors who need support. He understands seniors and their needs because he is a senior also.
Proper care is what Marybeth Boyle helps with also. Since retiring from nursing 10 years ago, Marybeth Boyle has become head of the food pantry at Area 10 and has spent the last two years helping those seniors who have no way of getting food or do not have enough money because of the cost of medications. "It's important to stay active, because it cuts down on the amount of medication you need." She explains if you just walk one mile a day, it could help in the long run and eliminate some of the costs of medicines because they are now doing something to stay active. Along with staying active, people have a desire to socialize. No one wants to be alone. "If someone would say to me, I'll give you a bag of money; I'd start a dating service," says Echelabarger. She mentions that the seniors need one of these, not because they may want to date, but just so they may have someone to talk to from their own generation and share stories they have in common. For example, they may want to talk about the times they lived in where they had no money during the Great Depression and how they lived. They could also talk about how times have changed and what things they have done in their lives to adjust.
Adjusting to life after retirement can be difficult or easy. It's what you choose to do with your life that helps in maintain an active and healthy life. According to American Demographics, as the baby boomers will be joining the 55 and up group, there will be 32 elderly persons for every 100 people of working age. Therefore, there will be more people looking for things to do and people willing to volunteer their time and efforts within the community. With more volunteering and unity within the community, everyone will benefit. Even if you do choose to work instead of retire, Gross suggests doing something you love. "The job I got right now is what I would look for when I'm retired," he says. "I'll work till my feet tell me." Seniors,
how are you staying active? Page last updated on December 14, 2003 by Anna Babbitt |
