VIVA! program aim is living healthier, not just longer

By Wendy J. Meyeroff
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“I put a ‘step watch’ on a 72-year-old lady. That’s a device that shows how many steps you are taking. The goal for most people, even older people, is 10,000 steps daily. This lady was amazing— she registered 22,000 steps!”

That is one of Jean Gaines’ favorite stories. Gaines is research associate in geriatric medicine and gerontology for the Erickson Foundation’s VIVA! program, a multi-year study on residents at Charlestown, a community in Maryland built and managed by Erickson. VIVA! is designed to determine what leads to truly successful aging. Whenever Gaines finds a participant who meets (or exceeds) the program’s criteria for successful aging, she loves to talk about them and hopefully inspire others.

“We believe successful aging consists of three components. The first is physical well-being, and regular walking is just one avenue towards that. The second is strong psychological functioning, and the third is being active socially,” says John Parrish Ph.D., executive director of The Erickson Foundation.

It starts with evaluation
The focus of VIVA! is preventive care, the kind that helps delay physical and mental decline as we age. “When most people think of preventive medicine, they think of things like flu shots and mammograms. In VIVA! we go further. We have added elements like screening for depression, because depression leads to other health declines. We look at your leg strength and balance,” says Gaines.

Evaluating leg strength is one of the key components of the initial 2-hour assessment, because without good leg strength, someone is more likely to fall. Falls are one of the leading causes of physical incapacitation and even death among older adults.