Doctors share tips at 'Senior Day'

IRONWOOD — Aspirus Grand View Hospital held Senior Day on Thursday, serving a light lunch and providing education on pertinent health topics. Seventeen people attended.

AGVH corporate operations officer Paula Chasermside greeted the guests, telling them, “It is your loyalty that allows us to continue to grow, advance, and provide services.” AGVH was founded in 1923 as a tuberculosis sanitorium, and in the 1950s it began to offer surgical services. Currently, AGVH is a fully accredited critical access hospital.

Dr. David Wood, podiatrist, advised the seniors to regularly examine their feet, especially if they are diabetic. Keeping feet clean and dry is important, as is not using moisturizer between toes, Wood said. For cracked heels, he advised applying moisturizer and saran wrap at night.

Dr. Ken Wiencek, orthopedic surgeon, said men, especially, should do weight training beginning in their 60s to keep their muscles strong. A healthy, active lifestyle helps maintain joint health, Wiencek said.

Dr. Christopher Pogliano, family medicine and geriatrics, said it is important to get both mental and physical exercise. The mental exercise, such as talking to people and doing word puzzles, can help delay the onset of dementia, while physical exercise can decrease some types of cancer, keeps bones stronger and is beneficial to mental health.

Retiring to something is ideal, said Pogliano, be it volunteering or another way of staying active, because people who retire “to the couch” die five years sooner. Volunteers have less dementia and depression, are more active, and have better relationships with family and friends, Pogliano said.

Eating right, getting immunizations, and regular health exams are the best chance of maintaining a high functioning life, Pogliano said.