DEPEND®

By Mike Carlson

When Monte Fligsten retired from the Los Angles County District Attorney’s office and moved from the San Fernando Valley to the picturesque coastal town of Santa Barbara, he had one special goal tucked into his larger retirement plans: play some music.

It had been 40 years since Monte had picked up his trombone with any seriousness, back when he played in the ROTC marching band at the University of California, Los Angeles. He discovered that while his brain reacquainted itself to the music quickly, his body was not quite so compatible.

"I found out that I could still read the music, but my sound was terrible and my lip was terrible," says the 67-year old former attorney. "It took me about six months of playing with that group once a week and practicing at home to get my lip back into shape." Monte went on to play in four different groups, and try his hand at jazz, big band and Dixieland. He was fortunate to be able to return to a hobby he did as a young man (football wouldn’t be so easy) and to live in a place that could easily accommodate his pastime. When exploring hobbies, some older adults are not as lucky as Monte. Many can find it difficult to fill the hours of the week that were formerly occupied with a career.

"The big thing some retired people are dealing with is a loss of identity. They used go to work every day and that was their identity. That is why you see over 25 percent of older adults suffering from depression," says Tim Moore, PhD, the former Director of Health and Fitness for the Prince George’s Community College Senior Fitness Program "I would ask them ‘tell me who you are,’ and it was always ‘I am a retired teacher, or ‘I am a retired letter-carrier.’ They always based their identity on what they did for a living."

During his post-graduate work at the University of Maryland, Moore headed up a physical fitness program that serviced 8,000 older adults. In a series of consecutive 15-week continuing education courses, he would pair college students with older adults in any conceivable physical activity of their choice, from walking to swimming, to bowling and even weightlifting. Some participants learned new things to enjoy doing, while others were a little less enthusiastic.

"They would say to me, ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ or ‘I’m past my prime,’" says Moore. "I’d say, ‘Pick something you think you’d like to do, then get out and do it.’"

After that he’d let nature, or physiology rather, take its course. After 15 weeks, moods would be elevated, gait was improved and canes and walkers made fewer appearances. Moore feels it was more than just the stimulus to their muscles. "I think it was the sociability factor. They looked forward to showing up every Saturday and working with these college students as well as their peers."

Of all the activities he has seen older adults participate in, Moore has a lot of respect for Tai Chi, the Asian art of movement and mental focus. He cites the importance of its sociability aspect, its emphasis on personalized attention and its proven benefits of increased strength, stability and longevity. "It’s all about picking the right activity you might like, but Tai Chi is also an activity that will benefit them in the long run."

Benefiting others is also an activity that can pay dividends. Monte has recently cut back on his music playing, which peaked at one point with four to five rehearsals and performances a week. He now spends much of this time on a new adventure: teaching math on a volunteer basis to the local middle school’s sixth grade class.

"I have always loved math and I am fascinated with working with kids and watching them learn, but I never had this kind of an outlet," he says. "It challenges me. It requires me to continue to study and learn and be ready for them. And that has been a lot of fun."

Have you had an experience trying out a new hobby, or rediscovering a hobby from your past? Share it on the Leisure Activities discussion boards!