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Four
Secrets to Successful Aging
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Why
do we grow old? What physical, emotional and intellectual changes
can we expect? Which aspects of aging can we influence, and
which must we simply learn to accept? From the beginning of
history, people have asked these questions, searching for ways
to approach the later years with grace—productively, creatively
and with satisfaction.
The goal of this talk is to create a more realistic and helpful
portrait of aging and old age by sharing four secrets to successful
aging. We will confront directly the mistaken belief that all
old people are the same and that they are falling apart. ("You
are looking so young for your age"). Old people themselves have
bought into the myth that they shouldn't be well treated; this
causes social, economic and health care tragedy. But in providing
a more realistic and generally more positive view, we will not
foster an oversimplified homogenous vision of continued youthful
vigor, relative affluence and excellent health. We will not
advocate or support a certain type of old age, and we will not
propose a new social norm of old age that may make less fortunate
elderly people feel the problem is with them rather than society.
We propose to observe the variety and diversity that comes with
age and to respect old people for their intrinsic value as human
beings.
Our basic message, that everyone has the potential for continued
growth, has fundamental meaning. The central conflict of aging
is between ourselves now and ourselves in the future. How will
we look? What will we be able to do physically and mentally?
What projects will we pursue? How will we handle crises? And
the end of life? Each of us has considerable influence over
the answers to these questions through the choices we make in
youth and middle age. In fact our quality of life may actually
improve in a favorable environment. But ultimately we are obliged
to live in old age whether we develop a satisfactory image of
ourselves or not. We have a choice in the attitude we take about
our own aging that will be very important in affecting the success
with which we age. |
 LECTURE
Friday, February 7, 2003
7:00 - 9:00pm
at the Virginia
Beach Central Library
4100 Virginia Beach Boulevard
"FOOD
FOR THOUGHT"
breakfast with Dr. Williams and continue the discussion
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Sign up at the Friday Evening Lecture
event only
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Dr. Williams is The Ward K. Ensminger Distinguished Professor
of Geriatric Medicine and Chief of the Division of General
Medicine and Geriatrics in the Department of Internal Medicine
at The University of Virginia.
Dr. Williams attended the University of North Carolina as
a John Motley Morehead Scholar, earned his medical degree
from the UNC School of Medicine in 1976, and completed his
residency in internal medicine at North Carolina Memorial
Hospital. After two years as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical
Scholar, he received formal geriatric fellowship training
under the auspices of T. Franklin Williams, M.D. at the
University of Rochester School of Medicine.
Dr. Williams is particularly interested in promoting the
health and independence of elderly people. He has authored
numerous scholarly works on various aspects of geriatric
medicine including the approach to the elderly patient,
interdisciplinary team models of care, geriatric assessment
strategies, and uses of advanced communications technology
to help address unmet needs for care.
Outside the University, Dr. Williams serves as a consultant
to numerous scientific journals, private foundations, and
the federal government. In 1995, Harmony Books, New York,
published Dr. Williams' book, The American Geriatrics
Society's Complete Guide to Aging & Health. This book,
sometimes called "The Dr. Spock for Older People" is addressed
to the general public with a goal of empowering individuals
by being better informed and by taking a more active role
in health decisions.
More recently Dr. Williams was listed in American Health
as one of the best doctors in America.
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Download
the list of resources
for Dr. Williams' lecture in pdf format. You need Adobe
Acrobat reader to view this document.
Professor
Williams' books include:
The American Geriatric Society's Complete Guide to Aging
and Health. New York: Harmony Books. 1995
Recent News and Quotes
Dr. Williams was featured in a November 15, 2002 article on
UVa Top News Daily headlined: Williams
Leads Interdisciplinary Approach to Aging.
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Ward K. Ensminger Distinguished Professor
of Geriatric Medicine