Baltimore County, MD Time of Your LIfe, 6 Jan 2023

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From YouTube: Starting the New Year on a Positive Note

Description

Jordan McGill, LCSW-C,
Insights in Aging Program at the BYKOTA Senior Center

Hosted By
Ethel Rasmussen, MA,
Manager, Office of Communications,
Baltimore County Department of Aging

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Welcome to the time of your life with the Baltimore County Department of Aging I'm, your host Ethel Rasmussen. As always, the time of your life is about sharing resources for living your best life and dedicated to keeping you well informed about the programs and services that are exclusively designed for you. You can also connect with bcda through the agency's multimedia platforms that include the agency's website. Facebook, the time of your life digest Flickr and map, as well as an abundance of printed resources for professionals.

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Please consider viewing posts on LinkedIn for current programs and services to share with clients, residents or patients as well as bcda's professional educational opportunities connections to BCD are stronger than ever. So please take advantage of the many options we offer. I would like to take this opportunity to wish our viewers a happy and healthy New Year, which connects to the theme of our show.

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Our show's Focus shares information about sharing the new year on a positive note and strategies that support the best you both mentally and physically Laura Riley, director of the Baltimore County Department of Aging, is featured sharing information about bcda's, evidence-based programs. Evidence-Based programs have been tested and proven to benefit its participants, stay tuned to learn more and how these programs can support your health and well-being. We continue with Carolyn cook Wellness specialists at the Baltimore County Department of Aging Carolyn shares information about the many health and fitness options.

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Bca offers tune in to be positively inspired. Let's start the show by welcoming Georgian McGill LCSW, who shares information about creating the most positive you in the new year. Jordan welcome to the show thank.

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You for having me Ethel glad to be.

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Here, when we consider starting the new year on a positive note, it is so important since mental and physical health are intertwined. Can you talk about the importance of establishing goals and plans to create the lifestyle you envision? Absolutely.

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Mental health is just as important as physical health as we begin to identify resolutions and changes we intend to make in the coming year, I often hear oh I'm, going to start going to the gym or traveling or giving up that bad habit being intentional about our goals and creating objectives allows us to materialize what it is that we want keep track of progress and hold ourselves accountable.

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Jordan, our social connections, important to create a positive outlook and how does it help at.

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Our core we're social beings being able to relate to others and Foster. That intimacy is essential to our interpersonal development and mental health. Everyone wants to be seen heard and validated and meaningful connections with others allows the space for that to occur.

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Why is it critical to keep your mind active and can you share your recommendations?

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Mind is the control center of the rest of our body. It allows us to process and contextualize information rapidly so that we can respond to our environment.

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Keeping the Mind active is equally, if not more important, as going to the gym to build tone and strengthen muscle, maintaining a healthy diet and participating in brain exercises such as crossword puzzles, word, searches and other activities can help. I also recommend remaining active through interactions with others and maintaining supports in the community to stay engaged.

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Jordan any other suggestions you would like to provide for sustaining a positive outlook. Even when you encounter challenges.

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I'm, a big believer that we all encounter challenges and tough times some days are better than others. However, even flowers can't grow without a little rain.

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So the by Cota senior center in Towson and several other senior centers throughout Baltimore County offer a program called insights on Aging. Can you talk about the program yeah.

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Insights and aging, also known as adventures in aging, is a group that provides psycho-education and addresses various topics related to aging, including physical changes, life planning, retirement, mental health and emotional well-being. There is no registration required and is free to all Senior Center participants at bikota. It has facilitated every first and third Friday of the month from 10 to 10 45, however, class times durations and dates vary depending on the center. Through open discussion and psycho-education, we explore different aspects of life that are relevant and important to you.

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Previous group topics have included forgiveness time management, coping with depression and anxiety, life planning, technology and social media and techniques to strengthen memory.

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Jordan? Why is this program and others like it important.

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It's important because it emphasizes some of the experiences that we're all going through. It also provides a safe space to connect with others who have similar experiences and receive education and resources to manage life and different aspects and stages that we're going through Jordan.

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Change is inevitable as people age, how can this Insight in aging coursework help individuals.

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Insights in aging provides a great opportunity to connect with others. This group is able to provide a safe space to share and process what you're experiencing resistance to life changes, the retirement losing a spouse moving or what may be a new normal is not uncommon.

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Change for anyone can be hard and it can be particularly challenging when someone has spent the majority of their life, creating an identity that they can no longer sustainably. Support.

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Acceptance to these changes proves to be even more of a strenuous task, whereas I often see folks struggling with conceptualizing new potentials and opportunities to look forward to when a decline or A disruption of a normal level of functioning occurs, it could materialize in depression, anxiety and a host of other negative thoughts, feelings, behaviors and consequences.

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This group provides not only the social outlet to connect and meet with others, but to gain the support of others who have experienced similar circumstances and to be able to obtain skills and resources to overcome some of these challenges.

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In closing, do you have any final remarks to share with our viewing audience yeah.

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Ethel I think we're all doing the best that we can I encourage each and every one of you to be kind to yourself. Extend yourself, Grace and remember to prioritize your mental health, because it is just as important as physical health.

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Jordan, thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to showcase the important topic and share information about the insights in aging programs. I.

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Appreciate you for having me Ethel and allowing me to share this important information.

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We're going to take a short break, but first join approximately 8 000 mature adults who subscribe to bcda's newspaper the time of your life digest subscriptions are reasonable at five dollars annually for Baltimore County residents over 60 years of age and seven dollars for under 60 who are Baltimore County residents or those residing in other counties for information about becoming a prescriber. Please call 410-887-3050.