My Elderly Space

103 year old appointed to the Order of Canada

2011-07-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

103-year-old Edra Ferguson was appointed to the Order of Canada after she was nominated by Tara Muzumdar, who works at her nursing home.

Her accomplishments include earning a law degree in the 1920s when the law school was mostly male, being elected the first female alderman in St. Thomas, becoming a judge, and fronting women’s groups fighting for equal rights.

Read the full story here.

Generation Alzheimer's

2011-03-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

Here at My Elderly Space, we usually like to feature the secrets of successful aging. Did you know that the first wave of baby boomers are turning 65 this year?
The reality is, Alzheimer's disease is more common with aging.

The Alzheimer's Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

To learn more, visit www.alz.org

Happy 90th Birthday, Hazel!

2011-02-13T19:57:00.000-08:00

Canada's oldest mayor, Hazel McCallion turns 90. She has been the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario since 1978 and is well loved by her city.

Elderly folks are hurtful (but honest!)

2010-09-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

We all know that grandparents are a source of good, honest advice. As it turns out, this is not only the result of years of experience, but possibly because of their decline in executive function. So next time you ask your grandma how you look in that dress, be prepared for the honest truth...

Read about this at Scientific American

Hazel is running for mayor again! Go, Hazel!!

2010-09-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

In announcing her 12th, and apparently final, run for mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, Hazel McCallion (age 89) showed she had one more political fight left in her with a remarkable plea to voters to support candidates who would work with her, putting the interests of the city before themselves. Go, Hazel, go!

How to live to 100

2010-04-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

National Geographic writer and explorer Dan Buettner studies the world's longest-lived peoples, distilling their secrets into a single plan for health and long life. To find the path to long life and health, he and his team study the world's "Blue Zones," communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age. He shares the 9 common diet and lifestyle habits that keep them spry past age 100 here.

Only six medical residents in Canada choose a career in Geriatrics

2010-02-20T17:18:00.000-08:00

When Joanne Clarke graduated from medical school, she was 179,000 dollars in debt. In that way, she was like most of her fellow students. But in almost every other, she was different.

She was a student in southern Ontario, Canada, who wanted to move north to practice. She yearned to swap the big city for a smaller community. And most unusual of all - her passion was geriatric medicine. In her graduating year, Joanne Clarke was one of only six medical residents in Canada who chose that field. Six!
Dr. Clark is now the sole geriatrician serving Sudbury and all of north eastern Ontario, an area that covers 400,000 km and is home to more than 80,000 people over the age of 65. She says her new job - being with patients, coordinating a team of medical caregivers, creating policy and consulting with local health facilities - is a dream come true.

We congratulate Dr. Clark on her new endeavours and hope she inspires others to follow in her footsteps!

Here her on a CBC Radio interview here: (Scroll to the bottom. Her segment starts at 41:28 in Hour Three)

Poppy donations are for veterans and widows!

2009-11-13T09:39:00.000-08:00

John Dietsch, 84 year old veteran, wasn't scared – then or now. He served in World War II and now is any active volunteer with the Royal Canadian Legion in Scarborough. Dietsch took a lead role in poppy collection. His branch raised about $35,000.

Yesterday, gunman stormed into a Royal Canadian Legion, demanding thousands in poppy donations. When the gunman lunged for the cash, Dietsch grabbed his arm, pushing away the gun. They struggled and Dietsch fell to the floor. The startled attacker ran to the door empty-handed.

Go Mr. Dietsch, go!

Read more of the story here.

95-year-old Track Star

2009-08-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

Frank Levine ran his first marathon at the age of 65. He’s run seventeen marathons since then. At 95, he still runs 2 miles every other day, and recently competed in the 95-99 category and set a world record at 50 minutes and 10 seconds.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

"A hundred is nothing anymore..."

2009-08-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

"A hundred is nothing anymore... 110 is just a little bit better," says Bernice Madigan, who turned 110 last month. Watch the video below and find out her secret to longevity.

Article from Boston.com

Centenarian does the tango

2009-07-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

Carmencita Calderón, a dancer in Buenos Aires, continued to dance well into her old age. Here's a video of her rocking the tango on her 100th birthday.

Happy 106th birthday, Ada!

2009-07-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Ada Johnson turns 106 today. She has lived in Ontario, Canada her entire life. While she no longer gets out much, she is still full of smiles and her eyes are full of zest. She was never one to complain, even when times are tough.

See her featured in this video.

This is why we, Yada and Yoda, keep blogging about the elderly. It's their positive and peaceful outlook on life that inspires us to appreciate all the simple and little things. Happy Birthday, Ada!

World's Oldest Man dies at 113

2009-06-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember Mr. Tanabe, we featured him a while ago when he turned 112 nearly 2 years ago. Mr. Tanabe pass away yesterday at the ripe old age of 113. The World's Oldest Man title has been passed to 113 year old WWI vet Henry Allingham of England.

Hazel Does it Again!

2009-05-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Our favourite mayor is showing us why she's re-elected again and again. This affable and dynamic mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, practises what she preaches. Hazel McCallion, 88, was seen patrolling the roadside with parks staff to tout LitterNot, the city's volunteer program that recruits corporate and community groups to adopt a park or street and keep it clean. "I always stop and pick up litter like this when I'm out for a walk," she says. Let's follow her lead and make our communities more beautiful!

Having a blast on the piano

2009-05-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

A fun video of Fran & Marlo Cowan playing the piano, they are just having a blast! The couple has been married for 62 years, so you can say they've had lots of practice.

"You're never too old"

2009-04-23T13:11:00.001-07:00

"You're never too old ..." says Bette Calman, 83. This octogenarian lives by her words. Still teaching up to 11 yoga classes a week, Ms. Calman says she can do more yoga maneuvers than she could 50 years ago.

She also authored three yoga books and made regular TV appearances in the 70s.

Her advice? "Forget age."

Has her story inspired you to 'stretch' beyond your limits? Read more about this remarkable lady here.

Centenarian has no plans to quit the legislature

2009-03-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

100-year-old Sally Gordon has no plans to quit her job, as hundreds of people came to wish her a "Happy Birthday" at the Nebraska Legislature. Sally is an assistant sergeant-at-arms, maintaining order at the legislature.

"When I don't work, I just go crazy," she says, "I'm a desperate housewife, and I'm allergic to housework."

93-year-old survived two atomic blasts

2009-03-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

On 6 August 1945, Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima, on a business trip when the American bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb on the city. 140,000 people died that morning, but he survived.

After spending the night in a bomb shelter, he returned home which happened to be Nagasaki, just before it was destroyed by a second atomic bomb on August 9.

Now more than 60 years later, the 93-year-old became the first and only known survivor of both attacks yesterday to win official recognition from Japanese authorities. Despite his exposure to radiation, he's in relatively good health. His only complaint is his legs are "growing weak."

"The only thing you won't like about life is that it'll seem too short"

2009-03-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

102-year-old Josep Mascaro is featured in this short video. I promise it will bring a tear to your eye. Just try to ignore the fact that it was made for Coca-Cola in Spain.

Cooking during the Great Depression

2009-02-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

91 93-year old Claire shows everyone how she prepared the "Poor Man's Meal" during the Great Depression. If you enjoy it, make sure you drop by her YouTube channel DepressionCooking for more.

73-year-old sidelined from college basketball

2009-02-23T15:32:00.000-08:00

Remember Ken Mink, our septuagenarian college hoops player? He has been declared ineligible because of insufficient academic credit. He was having trouble with his Spanish course. "I told coach early on that I was having trouble in Spanish," Mink said.

He then enrolled in sociology, but was apparently too late to have that credited towards his semester. "This is not an academic issue, it's an administrative issue," he later writes. Mink and his coach are appealing the ruling.

Ninety one and still smacking the skins

2009-02-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

I'd like to share this great new music video by Allee Willis, featuring Jerrie Thill. Jerrie does a fantastic job on the drums on this track. She also regularly performs at the LA eatery El Cid on Sundays. Oh, did I mention Jerrie is 91 years old, breaths from an oxygen tank and has led an all girls band for over 60 years!

Don't miss the video, and go to the YouTube page to watch in HD.

Visit Allee Willis' website

Gertrude Baines is now world's oldest person

2009-01-20T17:02:00.000-08:00

The recent death of 115-year-old Maria de Jesus in Portugal set everyone looking for the new title holder.

The honour now goes to 114-year-old Gertrude Baines of Los Angeles, one of only 82 super-centenarians (those above 110 years of age) in the US. Born to former slaves in a small town south of Atlanta, Georgia in 1894 -- she now lives in a Los Angeles nursing home. On her first day as the oldest person on Earth, she spent resting under the covers in her pajamas.

When asked why she thinks she has lived so long, she said "God. Ask him. I took good care of myself, the way he wanted me to."

She made headlines recently as the oldest African American to cast a ballot in the U.S. election. For the record, she voted for Barack Obama.

Appreciation for nature grows with age

2009-01-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

Mr. Chikabo Kumada spent his life capturing the beauty of nature in his drawings. At 97 years old, he continues with his busy career as a botanical illustrator. PingMag has an interesting and insightful discussion with Mr. Kumada about his life and his work.

Having been an illustrator his whole life, Mr. Kumada's career peaked when he was in his 80s.

"My 80s were really like the bloom of youth for me. But when you reach such an age, you could really die at any moment. So I felt that it was important that I didn’t miss anything [...] I realized I was able to see things in flowers and leaves that I hadn’t been able to see before...."

Photo and interview from PingMag.

Centenarians Love Santa Too

2008-12-21T17:49:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Clarke is approaching her 104th Christmas, but nevertheless, still enjoys the festive Christmas cheers and the joys that Santa brings.

So what does she want for Christmas this year? How about reaching 104? "It certainly would be a nice present," she says from her wheelchair. "As long as I can get around."

Read her story here.