Helping to Dispell Myths About Aging

At 82, Louise Gooche is fulfilling a childhood dream every time she puts on a pleated skirt, grabs her pom poms and begins a cheer routine for an adoring crowd.

The founder of the Durham-based “Divas and Dude Cheerleaders” squad has amazed even herself by learning to do splits at age 62, though she only does them occasionally now because of a hip problem.

Gooche can still dance, support another cheerleader in a pyramid and shout like nobody’s business.

“Age is a number, and it is left up to you what you will do with the number,” says Gooche, an AARP member who retired in 2000 as the director of nursing education at Durham Technical Community College. “We really shake and shimmy.”

Gooche is showing one way that older adults can defy the stereotypes and expectations that come with aging. AARP North Carolina is working on multiple fronts to help the state’s older adults “flip the script” on growing older—with virtual exercise and healthy cooking classes, organized walks and bike rides, and a biweekly podcast that explores the challenges and opportunities that come with aging.

“There’s no real set playbook for aging in America,” says Michael Olender, AARP North Carolina’s state director and host of the podcast AARP Without Limits. “Our focus is to make sure that life gets better for people as they age here in North Carolina.”

Slim down, speed up

Life definitely got better for Pastor Odell Cleveland of Greensboro as he aged.

In 2022, he found himself looking in the mirror at his 5X-sized body. He felt embarrassed and wondered what had happened to the fit college basketball champion he once was.

“You’re going to die,” he said to himself.

So he and his wife started waking up at 5 a.m. to walk 4.5 miles three to five times a week. He was a guest on Olender’s podcast last February, and he talked about his health journey.

“I eat more salads than Bugs Bunny,” says Cleveland, 64, who now wears a size 1X or 2X shirt.

Not only does he feel physically better, but his exercise ritual has helped him clarify his goals—which include traveling abroad with his wife and being active in his grandchildren’s lives. He also wants to write a book about his family’s journey from enslavement to now.

Engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week is associated with lower risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Attitude matters

Becca R. Levy, a Yale University professor of public health and psychology, has found that a person’s attitude toward aging can also affect health outcomes.

Her research shows that people who have taken in negative beliefs from society about aging are more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, chronic stress, and walking and balance problems, as well as depression and anxiety.

The good news? You can change your beliefs at any age.

According to Levy, people who are exposed to positive descriptions of older adults improve their memory, walking speed, balance and overall health.

A 2023 study by Levy and Yale School of Medicine lecturer Martin Slade found that people with mild cognitive impairment were significantly more likely to experience cognitive recovery if they had a positive outlook on aging.

Olender embraces that change message on his podcast, which delves into everything from artificial intelligence to self-care. In the episode set for Friday, May 16, his guest will be Brad Allen, executive director of the North Carolina Senior Games. You can listen to that show and others at wptf.com/aarp-without-limits, or download it wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

As for Gooche, she says cheerleading makes her feel alive. She couldn’t try out when she was young because her family couldn’t afford extracurricular activities. Her cheer team—made up of several older women and one older man—has performed at college basketball tournaments and grand openings for local theaters, among other events. They also competed in the North Carolina Senior Games.

“It makes me feel vibrant,” Gooche, who is also a colon cancer survivor, says of the performances. “It makes me feel as though I am encouraging others that there is life after 50.”

Cristina Rouvalis, a writer based in Pennsylvania, covers business, health care and other issues. She has written for the Bulletin for more than a decade.

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Healthy living on tap

AARP North Carolina is encouraging the state’s older adults to help dispel the myths about aging. Among its offerings:

• A weekly virtual exercise class called Zumba Gold for Fitness and Brain Health, taught by Elizabeth Moakler. Find details at aarp.org/ZumbaGold.
• Monthly Walk with a Doc events in the Winston-Salem area. The volunteer doctors talk about a health topic—from diabetes to the effect of anesthesia on older adults—and then go for a walk with the group. Learn more at aarp.org/WWAD.
• A cooking and nutrition program, offered four times a year and hosted by dietician Cindy Silver. Silver discusses the nutritional properties of her recipe ingredients and how they support heart and brain health. Learn more at aarp.org/leftovers.

Michael Olender’s weekly podcast is available at wptf.com/aarp-without-limits.

Find more from AARP at aarp.org/healthyliving.

Also of interest:

• AARP's Guide to Pickleball
• 25 Great Ways to Turboboost Your Energy
• 10 Exercises to Do Today For a Healthier, Happier Tomorrow