Like most people, you’ve probably heard that activity and exercise are good for you. The frailty and decreased energy often associated with aging is largely due to muscle loss.  (Here’s where I can’t resist adding the adage “Use it or lose it”.)  So true.  

Being physically active on a daily basis is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.  As a matter of fact, exercise is THE key to maintaining your mobility and prolonging your INDEPENDENCE!  It is central to daily functioning…think about it.  Your daily activities like getting out of bed, rising out of a chair, standing in the shower, carrying groceries, walking down the hall.  They all require strength and energy, and one of the best ways to keep muscles healthy and strong and to increase the body’s vigor is with mobility-enhancing exercises.  Also called strength training or resistance training, these exercises are among the best ways to fight weakness and frailty that can come with age.  If done regularly they will build bone and muscle and help preserve your INDEPENDENCE.

So, let’s make our founding fathers proud, take back our freedom of movement and refuse to surrender to the tyranny of aging!  We may be born into a life of liberty, but we must not ever remain idle. After all, the key to INDEPENDENCE (and therefore happiness) lies in the pursuit!

Susan S. Covey, Director of Fitness Acts Bayleigh Chase

It is time to spread awareness and understanding of Parkinson’s Disease. This is a chronic condition affecting approximately one million people in the U.S. This is more than the number of people living with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s disease combined. Every year in our country 60,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s. There are 10 million worldwide.

The causes of Parkinson’s are still unknown, but researchers believe it is a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Though only 15-25% of people with Parkinson’s have a relative with the disease, those with first-degree relatives have a slightly elevated risk of developing the disease. Environmental toxins may be a greater risk than any other factor. Rural living, well water, manganese, and pesticides have been associated with an elevated risk of Parkinson’s. Scientists quickly emphasize that although certain neurotoxins may be a risk factor, no single exposure to a particular chemical has been directly pinpointed as a cause.

Treating Parkinson’s disease is more about managing symptoms and slowing the progression than it is about “curing” this disease.

One thing we know for sure is that exercise is medicine for people living with Parkinson’s. Exercise is a physiological tool that protects neurons at risk or compromised, and guides brain health, protection, repair, and adaptation after a neurodegenerative process occurs…otherwise known as neuroplasticity. Once triggered by exercise, these physiological mechanisms have the potential to slow disease progression!

Please join me in raising awareness for Parkinson’s Disease by exercising on National Parkinson’s Day, April 10th. Bike, walk, box, dance, swim—any movement you can do—and think about those who are living with this disease and their caregivers.

Susan Covey is the Acts Bayleigh Chase Fitness Director and Rock Steady Boxing Coach

The Board of Directors at Upper Shore Aging has announced the appointment of Herb Cain as its new executive director. Cain has been a community-minded United Methodist Pastor, leading and serving local congregations on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for the past 14 years. Most recently, he was the pastor of First United Methodist Church and Christ United Methodist Church in Chestertown and a member of the Upper Shore Aging, Inc. Board of Directors, serving on the External Affairs Committee. He has also been a commercial fisherman, operating out of Rock Hall.

Cain holds a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies with a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Wilmington University, an Associate of Arts in General Studies from Cecil Community College, and has completed The United Methodist Church Ministerial Course of Study from Wesley Theological Seminary.

“I have always been committed to providing servant-leadership to organizations that serve their community. Compassion, ethics, and believing in a cause are key personal motivators for me regardless of the vocational setting,” Cain comments. “My goals at Upper Shore Aging are to increase the organization’s financial stability while maximizing outreach to the community to meet the needs of aging seniors in our region.”

Kay Brodie, President of the USA Board of Directors, comments, “The Board of Directors of Upper Shore Aging is pleased to welcome Herb Cain as our new executive director.  We look forward to working with Herb to expand our services to seniors in Caroline, Kent, and Talbot counties so that they may lead happy and productive lives.”

Upper Shore Aging, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is the designated Area Agency on Aging for Talbot, Caroline, and Kent counties, Maryland, serving a potential market of nearly 31,000 persons over the age of sixty years. Our organization develops and manages a coordinated program of services that work together to help elders to remain, and live well, in the community as long as possible. Upper Shore Aging, Inc. works closely with the Maryland Department of Aging to serve the needs of its clients.

We all know we could not survive without replenishing our body with water, BUT, did you know that water comprises 75% of the brain, it makes up 83% of blood, 22% of bones and 75% of muscles?

Water regulates body temperature and helps carry nutrients and oxygen to cells. It flushes bacteria from our bladder, aids in digestion, prevents constipation, normalizes blood pressure, protects, and cushions vital organs and joints and helps convert food into energy.

Drinking water at certain times of the day maximizes its effectiveness on the body in the following ways:

*2 glasses after waking up helps activate internal organs.

*1 glass 30 minutes before a meal helps digestion.

*1 glass before going to bed, helps avoid strokes and heart attacks.

As for the recommended daily dose, WebMD suggests 13 cups for men and 9 cups for women. However, for more accuracy, you must take into consideration your age, body size and activity level.

FACTS ABOUT YOUR BODY IN WATER:

*In the water, a person only weighs 10% of their land body weight. Thus, water exercise puts much less stress on joints.

*In the water, the heart will beat 15 beats slower than on land due to the pressure from the water surrounding your body.

*Water exercise burns 77% fat calories while land exercise burns only 43%

*30 minutes of “water walking” burns as many calories as 2 hours of land walking!

Other than water walking or swimming laps, there are so many other ways to work out in the water. Using noodles, barbells and/or a flotation belt you can enjoy a cardio routine or perform strength and flexibility, even core exercises in the deeper water.

And, how lucky are those of us who live near Chesapeake Bay, specifically Talbot County? We are surrounded by more than 600 miles of shoreline, the most of any county in the United States. Our long history has always been linked to the water and it remains our biggest draw! Whether you prefer kayaking, paddleboarding, or sailing, please use our waterways this summer.

So, get out there—in your pool or on any of the rivers and bays around us—and enjoy the water!

Happy Summer,

Susan Covey, Bayleigh Chase Fitness Director