In this week’s Wednesday 5, we share a collection of some of this week’s best features on Aging.
1.
How the World’s Oldest People Live So Long
It seems that just about every day we see another headline touting the secrets of long, healthy life. Vlad Chituc of The Daily Beast explores the “forever young” centenarians or supercentenarians in his latest post. He writes of these women:
“…it’s still hard not to feel the pull of charming old women imparting wisdom for a long life. With the science so fuzzy, it’s tempting to think they know something that we don’t, and maybe they do. At the very least, they embody something empowering—all women need to live a long life is some exercise, warm food, and the right genes. No men needed.”
And, yes, women do top the list of the world’s oldest humans. Chituc reminds us of their secrets, which at first glance might seem quite elementary. But the proof is in the pudding.
Jessie Gallan—”A nice warm bowl of porridge, and staying away from men.” Age: 109
Gertrude Weaver—”“Trusting in the Lord, hard work, and loving everybody.” Age: 116
Misao Okawa—“Eat and sleep and you will live a long time. You have to learn to relax.” Age: 118
For the more scientific reasons and the data sets on aging, read more at The Daily Beast.
2.
Hollywood Is Finally Changing Its Script on Aging
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Fox)
Paul Irving of The Wall Street Journal is asking:
Can entertainment be the industry that’s changing aging culture for the better?
He thinks so. He cites this year Grammys and the platform the show gave to Annie Lenox, Tony Bennett, Paul McCartney, and Tom Jones. He cites the film industry’s producing blockbusters like The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as Hollywood finding “an opportunity for new thinking about purposefully engaging older adults.”
Read more at The Wall Street Journal.
3.
Seniors Star in Super-Cool, Stereotype-Defying Photo Shoot
Alex de Mora
This brilliant photography project in VICE features seniors wearing trendy items like chains, hoop earrings, bandanas. and teeth grills. Why would photographer Alex De Mora do that? He tells The Huffington Post:
“The models were all so happy to be there. They were all very keen to be involved as they saw their age and retirement as a way of discovering new things,” he said. “There was a real unbridled enthusiasm to them. I think that as people get older, they can be less afraid of what people think and want to make the most of life.”
4.
Apple Targets Aging’s Chronic Diseases in New Tech Launch
With the introduction of the shiny new Apple MacBooks (in Gold), the company also announced its initiatives to use the iPhone to collect personal health data and create individualized diagnostics on ailments of aging such as heart disease and diabetes. Jason Oliva writes in Senior Housing News: “When granted permission by the user, apps can access data from the Health app such as weight, blood pressure, glucose levels and asthma inhaler use, which are measured by other third-party devices and apps.”
Read more at Senior Housing News.
5.
Dose of Comedy—The Golden Sisters
In this week’s dose of pure comedy, we share with you the Golden Sisters, the spokespersons for Volkswagen of America. They recently released four videos featuring the three real-life senior siblings who found fame and fortune after a YouTube video of them watching the Kim Kardashian sex tape went viral in 2012. Don’t worry, it’s all clean fun.
The Wednesday 5 never lets me down. THANKS!