Today’s inspiration: Active aging at its finest

We all need a feel-good story every now and then to keep us motivated. So, here’s a healthy dose of inspiration!

One of my favorite parts about being in the health care industry is the never-ending stream of incredible personal stories I hear – whether it’s a hopeful story of someone who has overcome adversity or the story of a centenarian who has truly lived life to the fullest and experienced more of this world than most of us can ever imagine. ?

More than 11,500 inspiring older adults will descend upon Pittsburgh in mid-July to compete in the 2023 National Senior Games presented by Humana – and show us all that aging doesn’t mean settling down. For these Humana members, it definitely means leveling up.

Willie Spruill is a perfect example. This 64-year-old retired U.S. Army veteran says he was struggling with PTSD, sciatica, migraines and thoughts of suicide when he decided to make a life change. Willie joined the running community where he found inspiration and camaraderie. He says he hopes to run in all 50 states to raise awareness about mental health and inspire others to get active and find social connections. He sure inspires me!

You can learn more about Willie's story in this recent news piece.

Another senior athlete whose story is awe-inspiring is DeEtte Sauer , an 82-year-old swimmer from Houston. DeEtte joined a swim team when she was 58 years old – even though she couldn’t swim! She lost 100 pounds on her health journey, and since 2001, she has won 11 gold medals at the National Senior Games. If that isn’t enough to remind us all that we can start new things later in life, I don’t know what is.

While she swims 3,000 meters nearly every morning, swimming isn’t DeEtte’s only focus. She dedicates her time to teaching and reading to dual-language elementary school children and is also helping to bridge generational gaps as a member of the Humana Senior Council.

Check out her recent interview with Humana’s own inspiring athlete, Theresa Andrews, who earned two gold medals for swimming in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

If Willie and DeEtte alone didn’t give you enough inspiration to last the rest of the year, the Smith family will. This multi-generation crew of athletes from Baton Rouge is so special. Dwight, Terry and Christi are all heading to the National Senior Games together. At 94 years young, Dwight is playing basketball in his 15th National Senior Games. Despite losing an eye to the sport when he was 76, this great-grandfather is still a pivotal leader on his team, the LARKS. His drive and leadership on the court inspired his son, Terry, 74, and granddaughter, Christi, 51, to get involved in the Games, too – they will be playing together in the pickleball mixed doubles competition in Pittsburgh.

These stories are just a few of our “Humana Game Changers ” being recognized at this year’s National Senior Games for setting the example for others to have an active lifestyle. At Humana, we focus heavily on prevention to keep our members healthy as long as possible, and physical activity can play a huge role in health and well-being.

Physical activity can be enjoyable and offer social connectivity, but it is not just about having fun. As we get older, it can help prevent or delay many common health problems, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and arthritis pain, and helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and several types of cancer.

I know we’d all like to keep up with our children and grandchildren for as long as possible. I hope these inspiring person stories motivate you to get active, take on those life adventures on your bucket list, and live a longer, healthier life!