What Are We Doing to Age Smartly?

As I sit and write this, I am thinking of my past blogs and some of the wonderful comments I have received from so many readers. I have written about topics from car warranty scams and taxes to “phishing e-mails” and credit scores.

However, today my thoughts are on something different. You see, in the past year I have lost two very dear friends unexpectedly, one at the age of 46 and the other at the age of 48. Dealing with their loss made me decide to write about what we are doing to age smartly.

To deal with the loss of two beautiful people is very sad, but to not understand what happened makes it even harder. I spoke with one friend while she was on her way to work, and later found out that she had died. The other friend happened to be at work, passed out and was never able to be revived.

Now we all can speculate, but it makes us think, “What are we doing to age smartly?” Are we taking care of ourselves? Are we going to get our check-ups? Are we taking our medicine? Are we exercising and eating healthfully?

Too many of us are always on the go and we eat whatever we can get our hands on. I know firsthand because at 37, I am that person! I say I am going to eat healthy foods, but oftentimes I find myself in a rush and will grab anything.

Even with my exercise, I often find excuses not to do it. I also forget to take medicine that I should not go without. It was not until the recent loss of my second friend that I started to look at life in a different light. Sure, there is no book that says we should leave this earth at a certain age; however, it only seems right to take care of ourselves while we are here.

“Aging Smart” means much more than avoiding scams and understanding credit scores. It means that, as we age, we should take better steps to educate ourselves about our health. I miss my two friends very much, but I have other loved ones who read this blog. I hope that everyone will take time out, especially as we move into the warmer days, to eat healthy, exercise and relax so that we all can enjoy long lives!

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Past Post

What is A Credit Score? (March 24, 2008)

Phishing or Fishing? Can You Tell the Difference? (March 3, 2008)

All About Taxes! (Feb. 18, 2008)

Labels, Magnets and Notepads, Oh My (Feb. 4, 2008)

For free or not for free? That is the question! (Jan. 21, 2008)

High-Pressure Tactics and Car Warranty Scams — Seniors, You’re It! (Jan. 7, 2008)

Shawne Buckner

Board Member

WENDCO Westside Neighborhood Development Corporation

As an outreach specialist, I am responsible for developing a consumer education program, giving public presentations and mediating consumer complaints against businesses regarding the purchase of goods or services. Many of these complaints involve foreign lottery scams, predatory mortgage lending, unauthorized charges on credit cards, mail order and telephone sales, motor vehicle repairs, Internet scams and prize offers. I am member of the Summit County Foreclosure Prevention Partnership Program and Tuff Stuff Committee and a board member of Westside Neighborhood Development Corporation of Akron, where I help to provide leadership in the area of housing and commercial revitalization.

I began my career in consumer protection and education in November 2006; prior to that I worked in the banking/mortgage industry for over 10 years. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, I graduated from Ellet High School and went on to pursue an education in criminal justice at The University of Akron.

If I had to pick one thing that I love about my job, I would choose the public speaking events that I give to senior citizens. My goal is to educate as many senior citizens as possible about ways to protect themselves from becoming a victim of crime. My speeches to senior groups range from medical health claim scams, free credit reports, work-at-home schemes and home improvement scams, to protecting themselves from purse snatchings, robberies and burglaries.