Instructor Anne Brucker leads a Silver Sneakers chair class at the Healthtrax Fitness and Wellness Center in Bethel Park. Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette
Margaret "Greta" Gourse walks easily without a cane or walker through her apartment at Covenant at South Hills in Mt. Lebanon. She takes no medications except a daily vitamin C tablet and an occasional allergy pill.
With the exception of hearing loss, attributed to an explosion in Austria during World War II, Ms. Gourse is the picture of health -- especially considering she will be 102 next month.
Fern Wolfe is a retired school teacher and voracious reader. "Danielle Steel. That's my favorite author. I read everything she writes," Ms. Wolfe said.
She doesn't feel any older, she said, despite celebrating her 100th birthday June 22. Though Ms. Wolfe wishes she could be more active, she still reads every day at Friendship Village of South Hills in Upper St. Clair.
The two women are examples of what has become the fastest-growing segment of the population -- people age 100 or older.
An estimated 75,000 centenarians live in the United States. Experts predict the number will rise to more than 6 million worldwide by mid-century, leading many to speculate whether social service agencies are prepared to care for them.
Some believe improved health care, diet and exercise are the reasons for the increasing numbers. No matter what the cause, it's changing the way senior centers do business.
Carol Brackett is bureau chief for long-term services at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services' Area Agency on Aging. She agrees that the need for services will likely increase as the senior population grows.
But the types of services are changing.
"People are working longer, and we're seeing seniors who are more active longer," she said.
As a result, many of local senior centers are offering less bingo and more travel options and exercise classes, she said.
"A lot of seniors are also looking for volunteer and employment opportunities. Those are not the same needs we saw years ago," she said.
Patty Wolf, director of membership at Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness in Bethel Park, said she has seen a huge influx of senior memberships since the center joined the Silver Sneakers program sponsored by Highmark Inc.
The wellness program offers those age 65 and older fitness memberships as part of their health insurance premium. "It's free to them," she said.
Ms. Wolf believes seniors are benefiting from more education about the benefits of exercise.
"People are more knowledgeable today. Science has taught us that exercise can be preventative for Alzheimer's [disease], high blood pressure and many other ailments. Seniors see it as a way to delay the inevitable."
"The other side of exercise is that it's very social," Ms. Wolf said. On a recent day, 46 seniors were in the pool for a water fitness class, she said.
Marie Eckert's 100th birthday was June 27. A resident of Friendship Village of South Hills, she lived independently until she was 93. Her health has declined somewhat and arthritis has made life more difficult.
"She's a very strong woman. It's not in her nature to give up," said her daughter, Eileen McElhone, of Mt. Lebanon.
Helen Koonse will be 101 next month.
Her family marvels at the history she has witnessed in her lifetime.
"She saw a man walk on the moon, the first radio, the first TV and the first automobile," said her daughter-in-law, Nancy Spychala, of Baldwin.
Ms. Koonse lives in Paramount Senior Living at South Hills and continues to have a zest for life.
"She was a good hostess and loved her highballs," having two a day in her younger years, Ms. Spychala said.
Looking back, Ms. Gourse is happy with her past. "I had a good life," she said. "We traveled." She credits her longevity to the relaxed lifestyle she has enjoyed in her later years. "In my 30s, I rushed all day long. I got migraines, bursitis and other things. I deserve my rest now. The pressure is gone. I feel excellent."
Even though those ailments are gone, Ms. Gourse said she doesn't plan on taking any exercise classes.
"I'm too lazy," she said.
She said her sense of humor gets her into trouble sometimes. She has outlived two husbands and now looks for companionship elsewhere. "The TV is my best friend."
Ms. Gourse recalled her many years working in the corset department of I. Magnin Department Store in San Francisco.
"It was an elegant store," she recalled. She still enjoys shopping, and she travels via shuttle bus to Macy's at South Hills Village, where she shops independently most Saturdays.
"I feel excellent," she said. [rc]
Freelance writer Jennifer Goga can be reached in care of suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
Copyright ©1997 - 2009 PG Publishing Co., Inc
August 13, 2009
USA: As more people turn 100, needs are changing
.
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / August 13, 2009
By Jennifer Goga
Instructor Anne Brucker leads a Silver Sneakers chair class at the Healthtrax Fitness and Wellness Center in Bethel Park. Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette
Margaret "Greta" Gourse walks easily without a cane or walker through her apartment at Covenant at South Hills in Mt. Lebanon. She takes no medications except a daily vitamin C tablet and an occasional allergy pill.
With the exception of hearing loss, attributed to an explosion in Austria during World War II, Ms. Gourse is the picture of health -- especially considering she will be 102 next month.
Fern Wolfe is a retired school teacher and voracious reader. "Danielle Steel. That's my favorite author. I read everything she writes," Ms. Wolfe said.
She doesn't feel any older, she said, despite celebrating her 100th birthday June 22. Though Ms. Wolfe wishes she could be more active, she still reads every day at Friendship Village of South Hills in Upper St. Clair.
The two women are examples of what has become the fastest-growing segment of the population -- people age 100 or older.
An estimated 75,000 centenarians live in the United States. Experts predict the number will rise to more than 6 million worldwide by mid-century, leading many to speculate whether social service agencies are prepared to care for them.
Some believe improved health care, diet and exercise are the reasons for the increasing numbers. No matter what the cause, it's changing the way senior centers do business.
Carol Brackett is bureau chief for long-term services at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services' Area Agency on Aging. She agrees that the need for services will likely increase as the senior population grows.
But the types of services are changing.
"People are working longer, and we're seeing seniors who are more active longer," she said.
As a result, many of local senior centers are offering less bingo and more travel options and exercise classes, she said.
"A lot of seniors are also looking for volunteer and employment opportunities. Those are not the same needs we saw years ago," she said.
Patty Wolf, director of membership at Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness in Bethel Park, said she has seen a huge influx of senior memberships since the center joined the Silver Sneakers program sponsored by Highmark Inc.
The wellness program offers those age 65 and older fitness memberships as part of their health insurance premium. "It's free to them," she said.
Ms. Wolf believes seniors are benefiting from more education about the benefits of exercise.
"People are more knowledgeable today. Science has taught us that exercise can be preventative for Alzheimer's [disease], high blood pressure and many other ailments. Seniors see it as a way to delay the inevitable."
"The other side of exercise is that it's very social," Ms. Wolf said. On a recent day, 46 seniors were in the pool for a water fitness class, she said.
Marie Eckert's 100th birthday was June 27. A resident of Friendship Village of South Hills, she lived independently until she was 93. Her health has declined somewhat and arthritis has made life more difficult.
"She's a very strong woman. It's not in her nature to give up," said her daughter, Eileen McElhone, of Mt. Lebanon.
Helen Koonse will be 101 next month.
Her family marvels at the history she has witnessed in her lifetime.
"She saw a man walk on the moon, the first radio, the first TV and the first automobile," said her daughter-in-law, Nancy Spychala, of Baldwin.
Ms. Koonse lives in Paramount Senior Living at South Hills and continues to have a zest for life.
"She was a good hostess and loved her highballs," having two a day in her younger years, Ms. Spychala said.
Looking back, Ms. Gourse is happy with her past. "I had a good life," she said. "We traveled." She credits her longevity to the relaxed lifestyle she has enjoyed in her later years. "In my 30s, I rushed all day long. I got migraines, bursitis and other things. I deserve my rest now. The pressure is gone. I feel excellent."
Even though those ailments are gone, Ms. Gourse said she doesn't plan on taking any exercise classes.
"I'm too lazy," she said.
She said her sense of humor gets her into trouble sometimes. She has outlived two husbands and now looks for companionship elsewhere. "The TV is my best friend."
Ms. Gourse recalled her many years working in the corset department of I. Magnin Department Store in San Francisco.
"It was an elegant store," she recalled. She still enjoys shopping, and she travels via shuttle bus to Macy's at South Hills Village, where she shops independently most Saturdays.
"I feel excellent," she said. [rc]
Freelance writer Jennifer Goga can be reached in care of suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
Copyright ©1997 - 2009 PG Publishing Co., Inc
Instructor Anne Brucker leads a Silver Sneakers chair class at the Healthtrax Fitness and Wellness Center in Bethel Park. Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette
Margaret "Greta" Gourse walks easily without a cane or walker through her apartment at Covenant at South Hills in Mt. Lebanon. She takes no medications except a daily vitamin C tablet and an occasional allergy pill.
With the exception of hearing loss, attributed to an explosion in Austria during World War II, Ms. Gourse is the picture of health -- especially considering she will be 102 next month.
Fern Wolfe is a retired school teacher and voracious reader. "Danielle Steel. That's my favorite author. I read everything she writes," Ms. Wolfe said.
She doesn't feel any older, she said, despite celebrating her 100th birthday June 22. Though Ms. Wolfe wishes she could be more active, she still reads every day at Friendship Village of South Hills in Upper St. Clair.
The two women are examples of what has become the fastest-growing segment of the population -- people age 100 or older.
An estimated 75,000 centenarians live in the United States. Experts predict the number will rise to more than 6 million worldwide by mid-century, leading many to speculate whether social service agencies are prepared to care for them.
Some believe improved health care, diet and exercise are the reasons for the increasing numbers. No matter what the cause, it's changing the way senior centers do business.
Carol Brackett is bureau chief for long-term services at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services' Area Agency on Aging. She agrees that the need for services will likely increase as the senior population grows.
But the types of services are changing.
"People are working longer, and we're seeing seniors who are more active longer," she said.
As a result, many of local senior centers are offering less bingo and more travel options and exercise classes, she said.
"A lot of seniors are also looking for volunteer and employment opportunities. Those are not the same needs we saw years ago," she said.
Patty Wolf, director of membership at Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness in Bethel Park, said she has seen a huge influx of senior memberships since the center joined the Silver Sneakers program sponsored by Highmark Inc.
The wellness program offers those age 65 and older fitness memberships as part of their health insurance premium. "It's free to them," she said.
Ms. Wolf believes seniors are benefiting from more education about the benefits of exercise.
"People are more knowledgeable today. Science has taught us that exercise can be preventative for Alzheimer's [disease], high blood pressure and many other ailments. Seniors see it as a way to delay the inevitable."
"The other side of exercise is that it's very social," Ms. Wolf said. On a recent day, 46 seniors were in the pool for a water fitness class, she said.
Marie Eckert's 100th birthday was June 27. A resident of Friendship Village of South Hills, she lived independently until she was 93. Her health has declined somewhat and arthritis has made life more difficult.
"She's a very strong woman. It's not in her nature to give up," said her daughter, Eileen McElhone, of Mt. Lebanon.
Helen Koonse will be 101 next month.
Her family marvels at the history she has witnessed in her lifetime.
"She saw a man walk on the moon, the first radio, the first TV and the first automobile," said her daughter-in-law, Nancy Spychala, of Baldwin.
Ms. Koonse lives in Paramount Senior Living at South Hills and continues to have a zest for life.
"She was a good hostess and loved her highballs," having two a day in her younger years, Ms. Spychala said.
Looking back, Ms. Gourse is happy with her past. "I had a good life," she said. "We traveled." She credits her longevity to the relaxed lifestyle she has enjoyed in her later years. "In my 30s, I rushed all day long. I got migraines, bursitis and other things. I deserve my rest now. The pressure is gone. I feel excellent."
Even though those ailments are gone, Ms. Gourse said she doesn't plan on taking any exercise classes.
"I'm too lazy," she said.
She said her sense of humor gets her into trouble sometimes. She has outlived two husbands and now looks for companionship elsewhere. "The TV is my best friend."
Ms. Gourse recalled her many years working in the corset department of I. Magnin Department Store in San Francisco.
"It was an elegant store," she recalled. She still enjoys shopping, and she travels via shuttle bus to Macy's at South Hills Village, where she shops independently most Saturdays.
"I feel excellent," she said. [rc]
Freelance writer Jennifer Goga can be reached in care of suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
Copyright ©1997 - 2009 PG Publishing Co., Inc
