'Blue Zone' Link Between Lifestyle and Life Expectancy is Found Daily at Charlestown

CATONSVILLE, MD (February 6, 2015) – Scientific research conducted by National Geographic and Dan Buettner identified pockets around the world where people live measurably better. In these ‘Blue Zones’ – in locales such as Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece -- researchers found that people who improve their lifestyle can look and feel better at every age and add 12 years to their life expectancy.

The Blue Zone is found daily at Charlestown retirement community in Catonsville, MD, where more than 2,000 residents are exercising, socializing and eating smartly in order to maximize their health and wellness. Dr. Myla Carpenter, the community’s medical director, sees first-hand the way residents are improving their quality of life in a Blue Zone mode.

Socialization, according to Dr. Carpenter, is a key component of the Blue Zone at Charlestown. “It is both intergenerational and intra-generational,” she said. “Two or more people socializing imply a value, a worth the members of the group have for each other. This empowers people and strengthens their self-worth. “

Dr. Carpenter points to the 200 resident-run clubs and the daily interaction between students and residents as being supportive of the Blue Zone. “Our servers are high school students who relate how much they learn from serving our residents,” she said. “They cherish the experience and our residents certainly enjoy them. Family visits are also encouraged with use of the Charlestown swimming pool by grandchildren.”

In addition, good nutritional programs under the auspices of Dining Services is key, she said. Lowering daily calories to a healthy level so as to maintain optimal weight is understood as a good thing and it is being practiced by residents.

“Charlestown allows those residents who do not want a loaded plate to have a smaller meal,” she said. “Getting a healthy mix of nutrients such as trace minerals and omega-3 fatty acids is easy in diets rich in vegetables and seafood, and is available on any menu.”

In some cases people are not eating enough before they move into Charlestown and when they start dining with their new friends they soon reach a healthy weight, she said. Also, Charlestown has a gardening club that brings in local produce every harvest.

A wide array of fitness programs – everything from walking groups to water aerobics to treadmills -- complement the Blue Zone found at Charlestown. “There is a lot of evidence Alzheimer’s and heart disease can be stopped with exercise,” said Dr. Carpenter.

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Caption for photo: Angela Davis, a former middle school teacher, works out at Charlestown retirement community, where the ’Blue Zone’ is found daily (photo by Mel Tansill).

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