The Mayflower Navigator Fall 2016

MAYFLOWER inside this issue: INTELLECTUALLY SPEAKING Never Stop Learning HOW TO KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG & PERKY Five Factors for Brain Health CREATING A STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT

A PUBLICATION OF THE MAYFLOWER RETIREMENT COMMUNITY FALL 2016

Intellectually

SPEAKING

Lifelong learning has always been a priority at The Mayflower – and now the former president of Rollins College is finding new ways for her fellow residents to maintain mental vitality.

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ita Bornstein has a simple, yet effective way of stressing the importance of lifelong learning.

“Intellectual stimulation is like physical exercise,” she says. “To stay healthy, you need both.”

Dr. Bornstein, president of Rollins College from 1990 to 2004, is celebrating her first anniversary as a resident of The Mayflower, and she’s already making quite an impact on her new “student” base.

Recently, Dr. Bornstein assembled an expert panel of medical and legal professionals – all from The Mayflower – to explore issues surrounding the Affordable Care Act. The panel was led

by Dick Nathan, Ph.D., a public policy expert and consultant for the Brookings Institution.

In addition, Dr. Bornstein is launching The Mayflower Lecture Series, a topical dinner forum in which residents engage with current and retired Rollins professors. On the menu: interactive discussions on topics like the future of books, legal and ethical issues surrounding new medical equipment, the Presidential 2 | FALL 2016 NAVIGATOR

Dr. Rita Bornstein is pictured at Rollins College near the fountain that bears her name. election and the philosophy of happiness.

“There’s no question that lifelong learning is really a way of keeping seniors vital and feeling alive,” says Dr. Bornstein, emphasizing the power of an optimistic outlook on aging.

“Connecting with others in an academic setting is revitalizing. For a lot of people here, it’s very refreshing to have access to experts in higher education.”

THE ROLLINS CONNECTION

In 2014, The Mayflower and Rollins College launched a pilot intergenerational learning program that laid the foundation for the college’s Center for Lifelong Learning. Today, that alliance is stronger than ever.

Rollins leaders are frequent speakers at The Mayflower. Recently, the college’s new president, Grant Cornwell,

Rollins College student Terri Crowell and Mayf lower resident Anna Neville use the online program Canva to design their own greeting cards and stationery.

Never Stop

LEARNING spoke about how a liberal arts education promotes global citizenship and responsible leadership. In turn, Mayflower residents head over to the Rollins campus for programs at the Annie Russell Theatre, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum and the Bach Festival, as well as classes taught by Rollins professors.

“My husband and I have taken the lifelong learning courses for the last two years,” says Sylvia Reaves, who appreciates how the subject matter is geared toward older adults. “You can take subjects that weren’t really required in college, but are interesting at this point in your life.”

“There’s everything from art to physics,” adds Linda Mariao, who takes classes with her husband, Bob. “We try to take advantage of as many learning opportunities as we can.”

BRIDGING GENERATIONS

Mayflower residents have also paired up with Rollins students for a variety of intergenerational programs. This semester’s class – taught by Rollins professor Jonathan Miller – will task Rollins students with helping Mayflower residents use technology (e.g., Skype,

FaceTime, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, Pinterest, Google search, etc.) more effectively.

Rollins student Terri Crowell is working with resident Anna Neville to help design her own greeting cards and stationery.

“My favorite part about this experience is that I have the opportunity to explore and learn alongside Anna, and I’m having fun along the way,” says Terri. “Although we used the Internet and technology to create it, Anna wanted stationery to physically write on and send out to friends. Her entire focus was to print things out to send to other people – something we don’t do as often anymore because of the ease of email and text messaging. I love the concept, and I plan to do the same.”

Terri’s reaction illustrates how academic experiences like those between Rollins and The Mayflower are both transactional and transformational. “Intergenerational learning enables both older adults and college students to understand and help each other,” says Jana Ricci, Mayflower marketing director. “Ultimately, they learn they have more in common than they ever thought.”

Lawrie Hall, Rae Delfosse and Audrey Pekor (l to r) “bend” light in Physics for NonPhysicists, a class taught at Rollins.

Dick and Mary Nathan moved to The Mayflower last year, but you can’t say they’re really “retired.”

On the contrary, the public policy expert and the lifelong librarian are both committed to staying active, both physically and mentally.

“You need to find something that fascinates you and challenges you intellectually,” says Dick, who earned a joint Ph.D. degree in political economy and government from Harvard and whose distinguished career ran the gamut from working in the Nixon administration to teaching at Princeton University to conducting research at the Brookings Institution, a political think tank.

When Dick retired from government work, he decided to pursue subject matter he knew a little (but not a lot) about: the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). “It was a good choice,” he says. “It’s a complex, difficult subject. I’m working with Brookings again, and we’re conducting a study with colleagues in 40 states, tracking the implementation of the ACA.” Mary has become an expert, too, says Dick.

“I have learned a lot about healthcare,” she acknowledges with a smile. “But I admit, there are days when I’d like to talk about something else.”

To that end, Mary has gotten involved in other lifelong learning activities at The Mayflower – including the Mystery Book Lovers Club. “It’s good for people who like puzzles and analytics,” she adds.

“It’s just one of the many ways you can stay intellectually sharp at The Mayflower.”

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HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG & PERKY?

EXERCISE. Science is establishing a strong link between physical fitness and brain health, especially in older adults.

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ever stop moving. If you’re sedentary, start walking or join a fitness class. If you’re already exercising, keep up the good work.

Your brain will thank you.

That’s the advice from Dr. John Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and internationally recognized expert in neuropsychiatry.

In numerous journal articles and books on the subject – including national bestseller Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain – Dr. Ratey explores how physical fitness is the best way to prevent the onset

of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

“The evidence we have on this is astounding,” he says. “When we move our bodies, it turns on the prefrontal cortex and works brain cells that are important for thinking and remembering. On top of that, all the wonderful side effects greatly contribute to our body’s overall health.”

From young students to older adults, exercise has been shown to improve test scores, alleviate depression and combat memory loss. Regardless of age, fitness can really keep our brains “young and perky,” Ratey says.

One of the world’s foremost authorities on the brain-fitness connection, John Ratey, M.D., spoke recently at The Mayf lower.

TIME TO WORK UP A SWEAT

Don and Ann Paulsen use Nordic poles to enhance their exercise regimen as they walk The Mayf lower’s fitness trail.

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Globally, one new case of dementia is detected every four seconds. But this can be combatted through regular aerobic exercise – the kind that really gets the blood pumping. And, it’s never too late to start.

“You can begin exercising at any age,” adds Dr. Ratey. “Get outside as much as possible – and work out with others when you can. You get more bang for the buck that way.”

According to Dr. Ratey, the payoff is significant.

“The brain is muscle,” he says. “The more we use it, the stronger it gets.

In fact, according to a study conducted

by Mayo Clinic, regular exercise can delay cognitive decline by 10-15 years and cut the risk of Alzheimer’s in half.

It also can delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease.”

FIVE FACTORS for BRAIN HEALTH In order of importance, Dr. John Ratey lists the areas we should focus on to keep our brains healthy:

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The science behind those findings has to do with a protein called BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor), which acts as “fertilizer” that makes brain cells grow.

And it turns out that we can actually make more BDNF. How? Through physical activity – running, walking, yoga, tai chi, dancing, even standing.

Everything helps.

“Challenge yourself with activities and movement,” Dr. Ratey says. “When you move, you stimulate the same nerve cells you think with. It actually increases brain volume and keeps the brain growing.”

HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE

Physically speaking, Mayflower residents keep their bodies – and brains – in ship shape through access to a fully equipped Fitness Center, heated pool, beautifully landscaped walking paths and a full-time wellness coordinator.

Health-related programs and exercise classes, which are offered six days a week, include such activities as water fitness, tai chi, Zumba, line dancing, weight training, Nordic pole walking, Wii sports and others.

Resident Midge Ruff is a shining example of how a commitment to exercise can prolong brain health.

At 105, she still walks one mile around the lake several times a week. “You have to keep the circulation going, you know, so your brain will work,” Midge says.

“I also find it helps to keep busy, read a lot and talk a lot.”

Lawrie Hall, who is in her 70s, says Midge inspires her. “She is part of a whole ‘walking culture’ of people who know each other and greet one another on their daily walks. Her vitality is very encouraging to me. It lets me know that I have a full life ahead for the next number of years.”

EXERCISE: The brain is a muscle, and it benefits greatly from a good workout. Exercise requires more brain cells than any other activity.

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SOCIALIZATION: Connecting with others provides motivation, combats

depression and produces hormones

vital to our mental and cognitive health.

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DIET: Maintain an ideal weight, and stay away from sugar and starch, as they can have a toxic effect on brain cells. Also, try to eat a meal with curry (high in antioxidants) once a week.

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NATURE: Healthy exposure to the sun supplies our brain with Vitamin D, and being outdoors enhances our general well-being.

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SLEEP: Aim for eight hours a night, and put down the phone when going to bed.

DANCING COUNTS, TOO! It doesn’t matter if you’re doing ballroom or the bunny hop, salsa or swing … dancing with a partner is one of the best ways to keep your brain young and healthy.

Because the brain is constantly rewiring itself, a process known as neuroplasticity, it’s vital for seniors to keep making new connections.

The very nature of dancing – which requires multitasking, split-second decision-making, intuition and music-body integration – promotes neuroplasticity and lowers the risk of dementia.

According to Lora Wilson, from the UCLA Arts and Healing Social Emotional Arts program, “Research has shown that exercise, social interaction and novelty each stimulate activity-dependent genes that initiate the process of creating new neurons in our brain. Social dancing integrates all three of these neuron-growing activities in one experience.”

Ardis and Al Post have been partners in life and on the dance floor for many years.

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CREATING A

STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT Attend a lecture on Monet. Debate the Presidential election at a Think Tank session. Get over your fear of public speaking. Color outside (or inside) the lines. At The Mayflower, residents can acquire knowledge and expand their skill sets in all sorts of intellectually stimulating ways.

GETTING INVOLVED

Henry Morrell spends lots of time these days in the editing suite, working on programs for The Mayf lower’s in-house television network.

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ntellectual stimulation doesn’t always have to take place in the classroom. In fact, on any given day at The Mayflower, there’s a lot of brain building going on. Bridge clubs, Bible studies, TED Talks, book clubs, current-event discussion groups, Toastmasters Club, woodworking, sewing, art – even Wii Sports and learning to strum the ukulele – are among the many ways in which residents engage and grow.

TRYING NEW THINGS

Henry Morrell moved to The Mayflower seeking the security of healthcare. But he found much more.

“After my wife passed away, the house got quieter and quieter,” he says.

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“I didn’t want to live alone, so I started looking at retirement communities.”

He chose The Mayflower – and his world is expanding again.

The former engineer and Georgia Tech graduate attends several lectures a month and also participates in the classes at Rollins College.

And, he’s not afraid to try new things.

“I was asked to join The Mayflower Singers, and I learned how to read music,” he says. “I’ve never done anything like that in my life!”

Henry was also recruited to help with the community’s in-house television network and is now the designated program editor. “I’m really having a lot of fun,” he says. “The Mayflower is like a cruise on land.”

When Chuck Gaines moved to The Mayflower two years ago, he discovered many ways to stay intellectually engaged. The retired music professor not only assists as choral conductor and accompanist for The Mayflower Singers, he also plays piano in the rotunda outside the dining room, an event that often elicits spontaneous singalongs.

Earlier this year, Chuck also took on the role of producer – putting together an all-Mayflower talent show that featured comedians, poetry readers, vocalists and musicians. “It was an ambitious undertaking, but a great way for everyone to bond,” says Chuck. “We all worked hard to get our acts together.”

Outside the realm of music, Chuck is now the editor of Compass, the community’s internal newsletter.

“Initially, I volunteered to proofread … then I wrote some articles … and now I’m editing the publication,” he says.

“It’s just another example of the many ways you can get involved here at The Mayflower. There’s a great variety of intellectual opportunities here. It’s stimulating, interesting and fun!”

In addition to being The Mayflower's resident pianist, Chuck Gaines now edits the community's internal newsletter.

COLOR COMMENTARY

S Hal Frederick speaks to members of The Mayf lower Toastmasters Club.

SPEAKING OF WHICH...

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oastmasters International has long been recognized as the top speech and communications organization in the world, with chapters in more than 100 countries. And The Mayflower is home to one of the best!

Chartered in 2003 under the leadership of resident Elizabeth Brothers, The Mayflower chapter recently received – for the eighth time – the highest level of recognition possible: the “President’s Distinguished Club Award” – placing it in the top 20% of Toastmasters Clubs worldwide.

“Our club is very unique,” Elizabeth says.

“It brings people from different generations together. Members range in age from their 30s to their 80s, and you don’t have to be a Mayflower resident to join. It’s a perfect example of how you are never too young or too old to grow and learn.”

heila Behr is a longtime illustrator who published two children’s books in the early 1990s – Soup Should Be Seen, Not Heard: The Kids Etiquette Book and You Can’t Sell Your Brother at a Garage Sale.

One day, she and fellow resident Nancy Koball – a former nurse who has always enjoyed art – thought it would be fun to create a similar book depicting scenes in a retirement community. The result, What Happens at The Mayflower Stays at The Mayflower, is a humorous 20-page, self-published coloring book for seniors.

“We had a lot of fun doing it,” says Sheila, a Winter Park resident for 62 years who moved to The Mayflower in 2015. “It turned out great!”

Actually, Sheila and Nancy are on to something. Coloring for adults has

become quite the rage, with proponents citing myriad benefits. Turns out, what most of us did as children can be good for us as we age. According to a recent study, adults 65 and older who engaged in creative activities had better overall health, made fewer visits to the doctor and used less medication. Coloring can also: Improve mood Relieve stress Reduce agitation Promote socialization and reminiscing Provide an outlet for self-expression Help maintain motor function Improve dexterity (grip control) Improve eye-hand coordination Encourage cooperation Improve concentration and promote mindfulness Provide a sense of accomplishment

Sheila Behr and Nancy Koball collaborated to produce a coloring book geared to older adults.

KEEPING THE MIND SHARP

When asked by others why they should join Toastmasters, Elizabeth can rattle off a litany of reasons: It works the brain. Preparing for speeches takes research, preparation, organization and practice – activities that help to enhance mental acuity.

It helps to improve short-term memory. Extemporaneous speeches

are part of the Toastmasters program.

Having to retrieve memories on the spot and compile your thoughts in an abbreviated time frame can help to shorten those “senior moments.”

It improves listening skills. Members of Toastmasters not only hone their speaking abilities, they also sharpen their listening “IQs” since they are asked to evaluate presentations based on specific criteria such as grammar and vocabulary.

“THERE’S SO MUCH GOING ON AT THE MAYF LOWER IN TERMS OF SOPHISTICATED PROGRAMS THAT

I ACTUALLY FEEL YOUNGER THAN WHEN I CAME IN.” – RESIDENT SHEILA BEHR

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THE MAYFLOWER Winter Park’s Distinctive Retirement Community

1620 MAYFLOWER COURT | WINTER PARK, FL 32792

88141 PRAD FNL 9/2016

You’re Invited to the

Third Annual

An exhibit featuring creative works by older adults THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2016 10 A.M. – 3 P.M.

Original artwork by Dot Cline

O PEN TO THE PU BLIC

AT THE MAYFLOWER RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

1620 MAYFLOWER COURT WINTER PARK, FL 32792 407.672.1620 | THEMAYFLOWER.COM