2
Jul
2009
Centenarians show it’s never too late to tweet
Celebrities and hip adults aren’t the only people flocking to Twitter, the social-networking site. Even centenarians have learned to tweet.
Three per cent of U.S. centenarians questioned in a new survey said they use the service that allows users to send short text messages, or tweets, of up to 140 characters at least once a week to keep in touch with their friends and family.
Another 10 per cent sent emails to stay connected, 12 per cent shared photos on the Internet and four per cent downloaded music from the Web.
“They are using new technologies, staying abreast of news and current events, and engaging in social networking — all of which help to prevent chronic illnesses and contribute to greater longevity,” said Dr Mark Leenay, the senior medical director and vice president of clinical affairs at Evercare, said in a statement.
The results of the survey of 100 centenarians commissioned by Evercare, one of the nation’s largest care coordination programs, challenge the stereotypes of aging.
Forget passing the day in a rocking chair. Fifty per cent of centenarians keep fit by walking or hiking, eight per cent prefer cycling and three per cent break into a jog or run. One per cent said they have tried Nintendo’s Wii Fit.
More than a quarter said they chatted on a cell phone at least once a week.
To keep their minds as agile as their bodies, 19 per cent played a musical instrument or turned to a musical video game for entertainment or a mental workout.
Nearly 65 per cent would dine with comedian Bill Cosby if given the opportunity to invite a celebrity to dinner.
If stranded on a desert island, two per cent said they would want an iPod with them.
Evercare said the findings support the belief that a person’s longevity is based primarily on a person’s lifestyle rather than genetics.
More than 84,000 centenarians are living in the United States today. The number is expected to increase to 580,000 by 2040, according to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.Canwest News Service
