“One of the universal things I hear from my patients
is that they don’t want to burden anyone.” —Professor of Medicine
Sharon Brangman, MD
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics
Scribbled on the pages of Mae’s
desk
calendar are many keys to the art
of healthy aging: her commitments
to see family and friends,
exercise, watch the Yankees,
attend concerts – and keep
appointments with Dr.
Sharon Brangman, chief
of geriatric medicine
at University Hospital.
The two women
hail from different
generations, but they see
eye-to-eye on aging.
"People who stay engaged with the
world around them do much
better," reports Dr. Brangman,
who has testified before Congress about raising the
“silver ceiling” and keeping our elder population
active. "If we stop and sit, we focus more on our
aches and pains. Rates of depression increase.
We contribute less."
Mae, who is 87 and lives at the Oaks in DeWitt,
has had plenty of excuses to contribute less.
At the age of 80 she was diagnosed with heart
disease. That same year, she lost her beloved
husband, Irvin, and relocated from Florida to
Syracuse, to be near her daughter.
Last year, Mae broke her ribs in a frightening fall
and spent a week at University Hospital. Her ribs
have healed, but the accident has taken a toll. "Now I stretch and bend around
the apartment instead of leading aerobics
classes as I used to,"she says, "But my philosophy
is to live the life you have, not the life you
planned. Life is a series of adjustments, and
I think I’m adjusting well."
Mae credits Dr. Brangman with helping her
find the balance between activity and safety. "Dr. Brangman always takes the
time to sit and talk with me about my medications and my routine."
"As a geriatrician, my focus is not so much on
a specific disease, it’s on the big picture and the
patient’s day-to-day functioning," explains
Dr. Brangman. “I understand the
importance of independence.
One of the universal things I
hear from my patients is that they
don’t want to burden anyone.”
