<p>favorite food: mayonaise on everything
avoided: nothing</p>
<p>Hobby:
Enjoyed gardening, tennis and social climbing</p>
<p>Religion:</p>
<p>Born Catholic: hates all things Catholic, Jewish (that would be me) and all those who aren"t WASPs with lots of money.</p>
<p>…you asked</p>
<p>My Uncle(92)</p>
<p>favorite food: almost everything, especially pate, rack of lamb, and grand marnier cake
foods to avoid: I think that he is watching his fats now</p>
<p>Hobbies: Classical music (but he is pretty much deaf now, so the music has to be exceptionally loud) reading (has read everything)</p>
<p>Hmmm. Interesting life stories. From now on I think I will do as a please and not worry about being healthy so much anymore. If I’m healthy into old age I will enjoy my time, if I get sick before then, I’ll just be on my way.</p>
<p>In-laws are 85 and 90; they have a drink (Scotch) every night before dinner. MIL smoked most of her life and had lung cancer surgery last year, after 4 months of problems, she has recovered nicely. They keep their minds active by reading, playing bridge, puzzles, educational TV programs. Big coffee drinkers. Both in-laws had long-lived parents.</p>
<p>My dad died at 85, he had been on high blood pressure medicine for over 40 years. He had a quadruple bypass at age 68. His only exercise was golf. Mom is still alive and kicking at 89. She was always big on nutrition - took vitamins, no soda for us as kids, made her own bread. Drinks lots of tea, attends Mass every day. My grandparents were not long-lived, but poor farmers with poor medical care. I do think a lot of it is genes - there is no cancer history in my family at all, just blood pressure/heart issues. And knee replacements - I really need to lose some weight to cut down on the wear and tear on my joints!</p>
<p>“Did any of your “elderlies” 80 and over take any particular vitamins, Scott emulsion, Geritol…”</p>
<p>Nope. They also tended to look younger than they were. I think genetics, not diet/lifestyle is the key.</p>
<p>Having the good sense to have regular medical check-ups, too, I think is important. My brother 57, smokes heavily, and has had a stroke. He hadn’t been to the doctor in 30 years when he had a stroke 2 years ago. He hasn’t been to the dentist in years. He also had ignored a variety of signs that he had medical problems. He’s a year younger than me, but seems much older.</p>
<p>^^^Northstarmom, that’s too bad about your brother. My oldest friend in the world has a similar brother who never ever ever saw a doctor. Unfortunately he’s had several small strokes, which have had a real impact on his mentation. He’s only 65 or so but is somewhat handicapped.</p>
<p>Yes, how my brother takes care of his life is very sad. He had signs of a stroke --paralysis on one side of his body-- for days before he agreed to go to the hospital, then he refused to stay at the hospital, leaving against medical advice… He now has to walk with a cane.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, my older son takes after my brother in refusing to get regular health exams. At 26, and living more than 1,000 miles away from me, he’s not in a position for me to force him…</p>
<p>Usually “Men” in general don’t like to go to the hospital…it has changed a little bit with more consciousness about health…but still a big problem!</p>
<p>Father had 9 siblings. All smoked heavily and all died at either 69 or 70 of either stroke or lung cancer. The one exception? One sibling. She was sick her whole life with asthma, on various medications, never went near a cigarette…she’s nearing 83 now and still going strong.</p>
<p>Is it really how long you live or how well you live?</p>
<p>I had a grandmother who lived to be 91 and an aunt who lived to be 90. Both were in poor health and had a low quality of life for at least 15 years before they died. On the other hand, my father (their son/brother) died suddenly at 83 – while he was still completely independent. He lived on his own, still drove, had an active social life, and until 5 months before his death, looked after his older sister (the 90-year-old). </p>
<p>I would rather have my father’s fate than those of his mother or sister.</p>
<p>My dad is 87. Favorite foods: dark chocolate, sardines, and cheese, which he eats by the block like a candy bar. Plus: two martinis and a pack of cigarettes every day. It would not be unusual to find him at the kitchen table enjoying all these things at the same time. He can’t stand green vegetables and I never saw him exercise a day in his life. He’s a practicing Catholic, avid reader, devoted family man and liberal thinker. Apparently, it’s a magic combination, but one I can’t recreate because I don’t smoke and loathe sardines. Let’s hope my love of dark chocolate sees me into my 80s.</p>
<p>Mom is in her late 70s, exercises daily, attends catholic church weekly with dad (in his 80s). They are fairly happily married and have good longevity genes. Dad eats pretty much everything he likes and is in excellent health. He goes to work M-F because he enjoys it & already golfs, travels, reads and watches TV as much as he wants to. Mom likes veggies and fruits, also eats quite a bit of yogurt and oatmeal and things she considers healthy (low on red meat and higher on chicken and fish). They are pretty close to all of the extended family–us kids and the grandkids, all of whom live on Oahu.</p>
<p>They see the family doc annually and he considers them in excellent health. Mom takes a daily calcium supplement. Dad only takes one medication (also has mild intermittent asthma). Both are still driving and have a good circle of family and friends. They have all their original parts (tho mom has had catarac surgery). Mom used to have sharper hearing than she currently does, but otherwise, they’re pretty amazing and will probably be around for several more decades in great health.</p>
<p>Dad has an older sister who has numerous chronic health issues and a handicapped placard (tho she still drives, gets around, lives alone & travels); mom is the last of her generation. Dad has to keep making younger and younger friends because the others can’t keep up with them, as they develop increasing health ailments. He currently has many friends who are about the age of us, his kids & slightly older. He’s an avid sports fan, with season basketball & football tickets. They also have season tickets to the theater & opera, which they regularly attend. They both golf several times/week.</p>
<p>Neither of them has smoked, tho dad was exposed to significant second hand smoke in his career, as well as some noxious chemicals when he was in the military for a few years. Dad will have a glass of wine or beer several times/year, socially. Mom is a teetotaler.</p>
<p>Just curious, Greenery, as I see you’ve posted another thread about why family members died young. What’s spurring on your interest? Research project? Loss of a family member? Midlife fears of death?</p>
<p>This discussion is rather interesting, and I think these things are a bit of a cultural obsession. As my mom is still doing fairly well at 87, despite a recent car accident, thought I’d comment. </p>
<p>She is a classic ‘health food nut’ with numerous expensive supplements and trips to the chiropractor making up her health regime. She still gardens, goes on several mile walks, if slowly, teaches music to private students. Longevity is in the family, her mom died at 92, sans one lung that she’d lost to TB 50 years earlier. My aunts are 89 and 86. Seeing the three together, my mom looks the oldest, perhaps due to the Arizona sun, and osteoporotic posture. But she’s also avoided the cataract surgery that her sisters have needed, and only recently needed reading glasses. She goes to church these days, has been divorced for most of her adult life, and has battled depression rather successfully. </p>
<p>As I work with the elderly, what I tend to notice among very aged women is a certain feisty quality-no hesitation in speaking their minds. </p>
<p>Grandmother on the other side died at 96, and certainly had that feisty thing going. Opinionated, irreverent, took her halibut liver oil daily, and thought it kept her healthy, despite or perhaps due to a traditional Scottish diet, lots of boiled vegetables as well as butter, fish and meat.</p>
<p>“Is it really how long you live or how well you live?”</p>
<p>I’d rather live well than long. To me living well means having friends and pursuing activities that bring one joy.</p>
<p>Some of my family members who lived to advanced ages were waiting to die even though they were mobile, had their full mental faculties, and were living reasonably comfortably. I would rather die relatively young than to live to the kind of old age that they endured.</p>
<p>I’m curious, too, Greenery about what inspired you to post this thread and the thread about relatives who died young.</p>
<p>Longevity is prominent on my grandmothers side. My aunt is in her 80’s looks like she is 50. No plastic surgery. No smoking. Teaches Tai Chi, wears skinny jeans and strappy heels. Seriously, a lot of younger men look at her twice. No kidding. Back in the early 60’s she became enlightened to organic food and was a member of a co-op that you can get organic grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. She walked, jogged and swam back in the day religiously. She meditates. Was a firm believer in vitamins and supplements and enemas, colonics, macrobiotic cooking. Also very in to what the “earth” could provide for healing like elderberry wine, etc. We used to think she was crazy because of all of this, but looks who laughing now. She has no health issues. Gorgeous figure, no jowls or arm wings, no thick ankles. Its incredible. On the other hand my dear mother was healthy and suddenly developed a brain tumor and died 8 weeks after she was diagnosed.</p>
<p>Lunitari: “Just curious, Greenery, as I see you’ve posted another thread about why family members died young. What’s spurring on your interest? Research project? Loss of a family member? Midlife fears of death?”</p>
<p>Oh Lunitari…I have heard of many people dying of cancer recently… including two uncles… so it concern me. </p>
<p>Also have a kid wanted to pursue a degree in science…just want it to know about incidence in different professions life style, food… thanks for your concern and posting.</p>