Successful Aging: There is still time to enjoy an active life at 80
Helen Dennis, Long Beach Press Telegram
Q: I have read your column for many years and notice that you've written about turning 50, 60 and 70 years and rarely, if ever, discuss turning 80. I just celebrated my 80th birthday and am formally retired and continue to work part time as an aerospace engineer. What can one expect from this decade? -  M.B.A: We can expect a lot of people of that age on the planet. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 11.2 million Americans are 80 and older. In 2050, that number is projected to increase to 32.4 million.
We also can expect continued age-related changes over our lifetime, with some becoming more pronounced in later life. In our "younger" years, many of us may have experienced normal changes in vision in our 40s and hearing in our 50s. In later years, some loss of bone density, lung capacity, height, hair and changing sleep patterns may become more evident. Slower metabolism, information processing and a little less energy also are common.Gradual decline is inevitable, which may be the bad news. The good news is that we know we can slow down that process. And it's never too late. Physical and mental exercise is key  -  for cardiovascular efficiency, bone and muscle strength, lung capacity and brain health. We also know that exercise has a positive effect on balance, strength, flexibility and energy. Perhaps the biggest challenge is changes in our immune system increasing vulnerability to disease.The laundry list of changes is not intended to convey doom and gloom. Each person ages differently, depending on genetics and lifestyle, the latter playing a larger role particularly in physical aging.So what's the plus side? The eighth decade can be a time to do what is truly important, a time to reflect, think about legacy, deepen relationships and give back.Here are some notables who have achieved, contributed and flourished in their 80s:
• Actress Jessica Tandy won her first Oscar at 80.• The legendary sports announcer Vin Scully, 86, is in his 65th season with the Los Angeles (formerly Brooklyn) Dodgers.• Michelangelo completed the sculpture Rondanini Pieta, depicting an aged man holding Christ, shortly before he died, at 88.• Henri Matisse, while bedridden at 82, created "The Swimming Pool," using his cutout art method.• At 82, actress Cloris Leachman competed on TV's "Dancing with the Stars."• Author and child psychologist Benjamin Spock was 82 when he was arrested for participating in an anti-nuclear demonstration at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
• Pablo Casals at 84 earned rave reviews for his cello recital at the Kennedy White House.• Architect Frank Lloyd Wright completed the Guggenheim Museum in New York at age 89.• Oscar winner Clint Eastwood, 83, is still making movies; his latest directing effort, "Jersey Boys," adapted from the Tony Award-winning musical, is scheduled to hit theaters June 20.Although most of us may not have the talent of these giants, reaching 80 is a milestone with a gift  -  the gift of time and an awareness of its limits, making everything we do  -  or don't do  -  more significant and even profound.
Yet the 80s can be a time of frustration. William May, USC associate professor emeritus of religion, has always been physically active  -  sailing, playing golf, hiking and jogging. "I'm doing fine but can't do all the things I used to do," he says. "At 75, I had more energy  -  that's the biggest issue for me. Instead of walking 15 miles, I now am walking two miles." At 83, writer Connie Goldman says she knows "This is the last chapter of my life, even if I live to 105."Looking ahead, she intends to write her next book, give speeches and interact with others. "I have an appreciation of each day and am taking the time to indulge in it," she notes.
"No grass grows under my feet," says Mel Goldberg, an active involved businessman. "I don't think about age. I am doing the same thing at 80 as I did at 60  -  working, playing golf and keeping ridiculously early work hours." Thelma Orr, a retired active physical therapist who will turn 80 in November, sees health problems developing in others that remind her of the diminishing years. "I've been blessed with beautiful skin, causing strangers to come up to me and ask what remedies I use," she says. "I reply, 'It's in my genes.' " And when she tells them her age, the response is, "You're not that old ... and you're so active."
These engaged individuals are aging well and aging differently. Despite individual uniqueness, a common theme emerges. That is an awareness of the shortage of time, knowing what they do counts. We all can learn from them. M.B., thank you for your question. Be well, live well and enjoy this special decade.Send email to Helen Dennis at  or go to .
Helen Dennis is nationally recognized leader on issues of aging, employment and retirement with academic, corporate and non profit experience. She has received numerous awards for her university teaching at USC's Andrus Gerontology Center and for her contributions to the field of aging and the community. Editor of two books, author of over 50 articles, frequent speaker and weekly columnist on Successful Aging for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, she has assisted over 10,000 employees to prepare for the non-financial aspects of their retirement. In her volunteer life, she has served as president of five nonprofit organizations. Fully engaged in the field of aging, she was a delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging and is co-author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller, "Project Renewment�: The First Retirement Model for Career Women." Helen has extensive experience with the media including Prime Time, NPR, network news, the Wall Street Journal, Sacramento Bee and Christian Science Monitor. She recently was the recipient of the excellence in literary arts award from the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission. Reach the author at 
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