I recently attended the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Manager’s Regional meeting in Denver, Colorado with fellow Care Managers Linda Fodrini-Johnson, Nancy Hickman and Nancy Chaknova. One of the speakers was Janet Benavente, MHR, who presented a fascinating session titled, “Centenarians: Anticipating the Boom”. The following excerpts are from her talk:
Individuals living to age 100 and beyond are the fastest growing demographic in the world. Currently there are clinical and population studies in France, Hungary, Japan, Italy, Finland, Denmark, the United States and China taking place to determine the reason for this.
Researchers are looking specifically at trends, characteristics of centenarians, what centenarians have in common, what this means for society and what are the implications for professionals.
There are some characteristics that researchers are already finding such as:
- Few centenarians are obese.
- Substantial smoking is rare.
- They are better able to manage stress than their peers.
- Women who have a child after age 40 are four times more likely, than women who do not, to live past 100.
- 50% of centenarians have first-degree relatives or grandparents who achieve very old age.
- Exceptional longevity runs strongly in families. (Brothers have 17 times greater chance of living to 100 and sisters have 8 times greater chance.)
Dan Buettner launched a study in 2005 to study and research small geographic pockets inhabited by the longest-living humans and found them in: Okinawa, the Nocoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, the Barbagia region of Sardinia, the Northern belt from Minnesota to Nova Scotia and in Loma Linda, California.
At present, the implications for professionals are to develop a better understanding of intergenerational communication since more generations are living simultaneously and to promote and advocate for access to health care across the life span including mental and dental health.
Since the rate of centenarians is growing faster than the birth rate, aging experts are promoting healthy lifestyle patterns for all.
Polprav says
October 16, 2009 at 8:18 pmHello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
Polprav says
October 16, 2009 at 8:18 pmHello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
eldercare says
October 27, 2009 at 4:00 pmHello from Walnut Creek, California! We appreciate your interest in our blog! Where would you like to place the quote and link? We are flettered and would like to know where we can find it.
Please let me know when you get a chance.
Thank you!
– Beryl
eldercare says
October 27, 2009 at 4:00 pmHello from Walnut Creek, California! We appreciate your interest in our blog! Where would you like to place the quote and link? We are flettered and would like to know where we can find it.
Please let me know when you get a chance.
Thank you!
– Beryl
Francine says
December 8, 2009 at 8:05 amI am definitely bookmarking this page and sharing it with my friends.
🙂
Francine says
December 8, 2009 at 8:05 amI am definitely bookmarking this page and sharing it with my friends.
🙂
Rhonda Hall says
December 18, 2009 at 2:07 amThis is one of the pleasant surprises of browsing/surfing or whatever you want to call it. You can easily find something an answer to just about any question. I want you to know that I appreciate the geriatric expertise that you share!
Rhonda Hall says
December 18, 2009 at 2:07 amThis is one of the pleasant surprises of browsing/surfing or whatever you want to call it. You can easily find something an answer to just about any question. I want you to know that I appreciate the geriatric expertise that you share!