Active aging

Many people assume the older you are, the less you're capable of doing. But, that isn...  More »

Many people assume the older you are, the less you're capable of doing. But, that isn't always the case. Reporter Kate Schell takes us to one retirement community that proves you can be active at any age. Ask residents at the Waterford Retirement Community, and they will tell you....age is just a number. As they grow older...they're also growing stronger and wiser. (Autumn Edwards/Life Enrichment Director) andamp;quot;Everybody thinks of active aging as physical activity and that's a very important part of it, but then there is also the mental part of it. So keeping your mind active, keeping your body active, keeping your faith activeit makes a well rounded person and it also it keeps you going.andamp;quot; And, it gets residents at Waterford out of bed in the morning. (Freda /Waterford Resident)andamp;quot;I go to breakfast, I go for a walk, then I go down to the pool.andamp;quot; (Bertha Louis Von Eschen/Waterford Resident) andamp;quot;Just makes me feel better I think. A better outlook on life.andamp;quot; (Tollie Schaumberg/Waterford Resident) andamp;quot;I enjoy doing things. So I guess its just important that I keep moving around.andamp;quot; The retirement community offers their residents classes for both the mind and body. Residents can work on their flexibility and balance, swim and take aerobics classes . (Bertha Louis Von Eschen/Waterford Resident) andamp;quot;I needed to get balanced and I think its helped me a lot. I couldn't walk a straight line before. And so you can now? I think I could.andamp;quot; (Lindsey Peterson/Health and Fitness Club Director) andamp;quot;It's been proven time and time again, on everything, that exercising will prolong your life....andamp;quot; Lindsey also says-you don't have to be a certain age to start moving around. (Lindsey Peterson/Health and Fitness Club Director) andamp;quot;Everyone should be exercising, actually one of the residents told me the other day that he is too old to start exercising and your've never too old to start exercising, you can start anytime and still see the benefits that you would if you started when you were ten years old.andamp;quot; Many residents participate in the activities that are offered, for more than just the physical benefits. (Autumn Edwards/Life Enrichment Director) andamp;quot;It keeps them interested in things, so your not holled up in your apartment or house watching tv all day. Its keeping them interested in the things they use to love and still love.andamp;quot; (Tollie Schaumberg/Waterford Resident) andamp;quot;It keeps my interest in everything that is going on and friends. I meet new friends. Ive met a lot of new friends since I came here.andamp;quot; The Waterford doesn't just offer classes to their residents, their facilities are open to the public. With KX News, Im Kate Schell. The Waterford will soon pair up with the andamp;lt;a href=andamp;quot;http://www.kxnet.com/t/university-of-maryandamp;quot; class=andamp;quot;kxInlineLinkandamp;quot;andamp;gt;University of Maryandamp;lt;/aandamp;gt;. They are planning to incorporate the Wii-Fit gaming system into the physical activities they offer at the center.  « Less