Timeless tips for successful aging

At the age of 49, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is still in the spring-chicken phase of life. Even so, he did a fine job of summing up the philosophy of The San Diego Union-Tribune Successful Aging Expo and the strategies of the people who seemed to have the success part figured out.

"You are our mentors. You are our volunteers," Faulconer said during the opening address of the event, held Saturday at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center in Mission Valley. "You are out there every day making sure we are a great city."

At the 7th annual expo, which was expected do draw between 7,000 and 8,000 people, more than 140 exhibitors were on on hand to help attendees get on with the business of aging gracefully, comfortably and — based on the number of exercise-related booths — aerobically.

You could get your blood-pressure tested, find out how to make your home fit your aging-in-place needs, and check out financial advisers, estate planners and healthy-cooking options. But for many of San Diego's seniors and the organizations that serve them, the key to successful aging was all about getting out there every day and living a great San Diego life.

"You know, life at this age turned out better then I ever thought it would. I'm healthier than I thought I would be. I find stuff to do every day. I walk and I go to the gym and I don't let the weight pile up," said 74-year-old Marian Alexander of San Carlos, who has attended at least three of the expos. "I like to come here because it's good to be out and see what's going on. And I got to see the mayor. I've never seen the mayor in person before."

At the San Diego County Aging and Independence Services ^[1] booth, the table was piled with literature about its many support services for seniors who are struggling, from Adult Protective Services to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. But it also included pamphlets about programs dedicated to health and thriving, where seniors can tutor children, work as veterans advocates or volunteer at local museums or animal-welfare organizations.

"We offer a lot of programs for people in need, but we also have volunteer and exercise programs for people who are aging well. We have 136 volunteers who are over the age of 85," said Linda Hopkins, who manages several of the Aging and Independence Services' volunteer programs. "Staying engaged in the community helps on so many different levels. Social interaction is so important."

Whether it was Meals-on-Wheels ^[2], ElderHelp ^[3] or the USS Midway Museum ^[4], many of the exhibitors gave seniors the opportunity to help themselves by helping others. And at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute — where the over-50 set can take university-quality courses, attend lectures and join book clubs — successful aging means never letting your brain take it easy. Pump up your mind, and your life will follow.

"I am very passionate about this. It changed my life," said Gretchen Pattengill, 65, an Osher student and ambassador who attends the institute's SDSU branch ^[5]. "Just as you feed your body healthy foods, you have to feed your brain to keep it active. We are not dumplings sitting there in class. We participate and we speak up. For me, it's about staying engaged, be it in your neighborhood or your community or with your grandchildren. As we get older, we need to throw something new on our menu."

karla.peterson@sduniontribune.com