Marcio Soares, M.D., Chief of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at UHealth, the University of Miami Health System. For more information on geriatric medicine treatments and services, click here or visit the UHealth Collective:
MEET MIMI SUTHERLAND:
Marilyn “Mimi” Sutherland has traveled to 97 countries! And at age 85, she’s not about to slow down.
“Trekking to see the silverback gorillas. Cage diving to see the great white sharks in New Zealand. I truly do love adventure,” Mimi says.
Mimi’s mission is to stay healthy as she ages. So, she went to see Marcio Soares, M.D., Chief of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at UHealth, part of the University of Miami Health System.
“There’s currently 55.8 million people in the United States that are 65 and older. That population not only wants to address their aging and the process of aging, but they want to address it in a way that makes sure that they are cared for and their quality of life is maintained,” says Dr. Soares.
When Dr. Soares meets a patient, he wants to know what’s important to them as they grow older. Those include what he calls the four pillars of healthy aging.
“Making sure that you’re addressing all of the preventative care and managing all your chronic medical conditions. Doing activities to maintain physical activity, maintaining yourself socially engaged and participating in social activities. And the last one is doing intellectual activities and maintaining yourself intellectually engaged,” Dr. Soares says.
UHealth is at the forefront of Alzheimer’s and dementia research – aimed at early diagnosis, treatment, and eventually eradicating brain diseases altogether.
“There are a lot of clinical trials here at the University of Miami specifically to try to identify not only from a clinical standpoint, but also some very interesting computer-based and AI-based tools to try to have those early evaluations and early treatments of dementia. This is probably going to be one of the biggest revolutions that are going to happen in medicine in the next ten to 20 years,” says Dr. Soares.
“I exercise, I walk four to six miles a day. I stretch, I swim,” Mimi says.
Mimi says keeping a positive attitude as you age makes you happier and more motivated.
“It’s a mindset. Mindset is very important. Your attitude, it’s extremely important. I intend to spend what time I have left living, not waiting to die,” says Mimi.
She is planning her next adventure! Her advice for healthy aging?
“Find somebody like Dr. Soares who will help you navigate the changes in your life. I’ve got some more miles yet, I’ve got things to do and places to go,” Mimi says.
FOCUSING ON YOU
Focusing on You: Innovations in Modern Medicine is a series of healthcare-related stories airing regularly on WPLG Local 10. For more stories like this one, visit YouTube channels for UHealth, the University of Miami Health System.
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