Could you be a SuperAger?

When you think of aging, “super” may not be the first word that comes to mind. Phrases like over the hill, golden years and forgetful conjure images of a slow-paced, perhaps dull and unproductive, life. But some people defy those agist stereotypes and make more of their 80s and 90s than some do of middle age. 

Quality of life is important to everyone, and SuperAging is a relatively new term used by researchers to define people who not only live longer, but who live well longer. The term is used to define individuals over 80 who are cognitively comparable to those in middle age. Their overall mental and physical decline is slower than average.

Scientists and medical researchers want to understand why, given that currently there are around 90,000 people over the age of 100 and that’s predicted to increase six times by 2060. Society will benefit in many ways if those aging Americans are healthy rather than enfeebled.

Several universities such the department of psychiatry at The University of Michigan and the Northwestern University SuperAging Program have begun recruiting seniors for long-range studies to identify those protective factors that contribute to remarkable memory performance in late life. These studies will be assessing genetics, lifestyle and brain factors (such as what’s found in the brain after death).

In the meantime, certain lifestyle habits are starting to emerge in those people who seem to run circles around their peers. Northwestern researchers cite common habits of SuperAgers, which include staying physically active, continuing to learn new skills and maintaining social relationships. This study says there are certain things that can’t be controlled such as heredity and gender, but habits like diet and exercise can influence the quality of aging.

Penny Oldfather, a classic example of a superager, is strong, active and vibrant at 85. A defining characteristic of Oldfather is her visible passion for people. Almost every aspect of her life involves enjoying company and helping others.

“I don’t mind solitude,” she says, “but my social connections are really important to me.”

She has spent her life being politically active in a variety of issues, especially environmental. She also finds volunteering critical to her continued health and vitality. She devotes regular time to Share the Care, which offers support for caregivers.

While volunteering allows Oldfather to serve the community, her social connections also include staying connected with friends. A retired teacher and professor, Oldfather maintains connections with former students. She also has friendships among former colleagues and even stays in touch with people she knows from her high school days in  Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she graduated in 1958.

“Zoom helps a lot,” she says, and credits staying current with technology for keeping her mentally sharp and socially connected. “As an academic, it’s a great skill.”

Because she supports the idea that learning new things throughout life helps people age slower, she has relearned the skill of playing the ukelele and is a member of a ukelele band. She combines her love of poetry and music by writing original songs. See a verse of her latest composition and see her singing it online.

She has included strength training as a part of physical therapy and walks regularly with her dog. She also maintains good eating habits and has never smoked. Oldfather also says her mother, who lived to 91, offered a good role model for aging.

A good night’s sleep seems to be a hallmark of health and Oldfather, agrees. While she says that sleep is important and that she doesn’t feel well if she is not rested, she also finds meditation beneficial to managing stress and enhancing well-being.

Oldfather’s most enthusiastic advice is to stay connected. “I’m sociable. I like to do things with people. That adds the verve and energy to your brain and heart that would otherwise be missing.”

At 86, Jim Stephenson says he believes at least part of his longevity is due to good genes. He cites more than one ancestor, including a grandmother who lived to be over 90. While Stephenson may have a good history to bolster his aging, he practices the habits of superaging, including staying physically active and continuing to learn new things.

“I like to try new things,” says Stephenson who considers himself a “Jack of all trades, master of none.” One of the new things he is trying this summer is building a greenhouse. “I’ve not done a lot of masonry, so I’m going to try that.”

A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Stephenson spent his career as a mechanical engineer with various companies including American Airlines where he worked on jet engines. He moved to the Athens area when his wife began showing signs of Alzheimer’s. Now he lives with his daughter on a homestead in Danielsville.

“I work on all of my vehicles and small engines.” Between yardwork and projects in his garage, he has a good balance of indoor and outdoor activity that keeps him busy, rain or shine.

Stephenson doesn’t exercise per se but he’s a model of physical activity and says, “I get plenty of exercise mowing, gardening and chopping wood.”

Stephenson works to stay technologically savvy but says it’s not easy. “We had a commadore 64. I was into computers, and I took courses, but they move faster than I can keep up with.” Now with Windows 11 on the horizon, Stephenson says he is looking into technical school for a class.

He credits a devoted family and strong support system with helping him deal with loss and enjoy his longevity.

“I had a wonderful wife – good mother, good companion, best friend for 65 years. Losing my wife hit pretty hard. Everybody has to go through that. It’s nothing unusual. I’ve got good family support, and it’s a blessing.”

The thing that concerns him most is when he won’t be able to drive. “When I can’t drive that will be a blow.”

But currently, Stephenson shows no signs of slowing down. He has hopes of living well into his 90s. “Of course, anything can happen. But I think I’ll be good until 90. After that we’ll see.”

Superager, Lue Ellen Sewell, 84, is an active volunteer and community member. She enjoys new experiences and finds many adventures through the adult day trips provided by the senior programming at Christine Howard Park a part of Rocksprings community Park in Athens. Recently she went on a trip to the Greek Festival in Atlanta, which was an exciting first.

She firmly believes that aging well involves taking responsibility for your health. “You have to take care of yourself – no drugs, alcohol, bad food. Listen to your doctors, and take your medicine,” she advises.

Although she claims that she has gotten lazy, she advocates exercise to stay young. Throughout her life she has enjoyed line dancing, stretching for strength training and walking.

An active member of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, Sewell says her faith is a major influence on her life and her ability to enjoy aging. “I ask the Lord to watch over me and wake me up in the morning and so far, he has.”

Sewell says that she hopes never to be a burden and as an active volunteer she is anything but. She oversees the repast ministry at her church which provides meals to families after funerals, on average, as many as 100 meals at each event, Sewell oversees the onsite cooking of all the food. In May there were three funerals within one week.

To keep up the energy for volunteering and involvement in the community, Sewell makes sure that she gets enough sleep. “This has been a habit for a long time – I go to bed around 10 and wake up around 7 and get up at 8. I keep a regular schedule.”

Sewell says the best part of aging is maturing and gaining wisdom, the worst is the aches and pains. But she has a solution for that.

“Talk to your pains and say, ‘You’re not bothering me today. Arthritis, I’m going to walk this pain out!”

Married for 60 years, superager Robert Clements, 87, credits his aging well to his wife and their love. “We loved each other. I guess that’s what I credit it to.”

Bob and Claire, who died in May, shared a similar passion for art, Clements says the couple found happiness in painting together. Both were award-winning artists who contributed to the local art community for more than 50 years.

Clements says that staying creative and learning new skills has contributed to his longevity. Traditionally a painter, he has challenged himself by learning to sculpt. Like most superagers, Clements says exercise including strength training, plus never smoking, getting enough sleep and staying socially active have helped him age well.

Clements also believes there is value in giving back to the community and cites the Athen Plein Air Painters, founded by Claire, as a contribution he has supported over the decades. And, as an educator he says, “It was always a pleasure to bring art awareness to young people.”

Along with painting, making new friends is how Clements deals with loss and grief. “It’s important to keep making new friends. I always felt like that was essential.” Likewise, he says, “The best part of aging is the friends that one makes over the years. That’s very satisfying.”

Harold Rittenberry, 87, is an artist also. In fact, he and Clements have collaborated on several public sculptures. He firmly believes that his art has contributed to his longevity.

“I was an old man in my 50s when I started sculpting,” he says. Thirty years later, he is an award-winning artist whose metal art is displayed around the world. Unlike many superagers, Rittenberry prefers solitude to social activity. “I like to be alone. I like to read. When I’m not reading, I’m drawing, and I paint a little bit.”

But sculpting is what has filled his life and has challenged him as a superager. The skill to sculpt metal has been both his career and his gift to the community. “I always wanted to make sculpture – it was so interesting to me. I had to teach myself everything. There’s nothing else I want to do but this.”

Rittenberry is the son of sharecroppers who moved to Athens before he was born. He has spent all his life in the same area and most of it in the same house.  For most of his life he has enjoyed good health. “All my young life, I never had to take an aspirin,” he says.

Although he says his health is not what it used to be, he considers that he does better than most his age. “Some people I know at my age can’t walk. I’m blessed to be where I am.”

The most challenging thing about growing older, says Rittenberry is losing friends. “The friends you had have gone on, and young people don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Young people may not understand Rittenberry’s tales of a long life, but his art seems to speak to all generations. It is displayed in many locations in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and he was recently awarded the University of Georgia’s President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award, which recognizes people who reflect the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Leaning into his passion surely has contributed to Rittenberry’s longevity and quality of life.

For those who want to get the most out of every minute of life, following the examples of superagers can be a good start. Staying physically active, eating well, continuing to learn new skills, getting good sleep and maintaining social relationships seem to be essential to living long and aging well.

Kelly Capers is a freelance writer who also homesteads in Oglethorpe County.