Researched Blue Zone Link is Evident at Charlestown

Scientific research conducted in 2004 by National Geographic and Dan Buettner identified pockets around the world where people live measurably better.  In these Blue Zones – in locales such as Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece -- researchers found that people who improve their lifestyle can look and feel better at every age and add 12 years to their life expectancy.

The Blue Zone is being played out daily at Charlestown retirement community in Catonsville, MD,  where 2,300 residents are exercising, socializing and eating smartly in order to maximize their health and wellness. Executive Director Clara Parker sees first-hand the way Charlestown residents are improving their quality of life in a Blue Zone mode.

Socialization, according to Parker, is a key component of the Blue Zone at  Charlestown.  “It is both intergenerational and intra-generational,” she said. “Two or more people socializing implies a value, a worth the members of the group have for each other.  This empowers people and strengthens their self-worth. “

Parker points to the more than 300 resident-run clubs and the daily interaction between students and residents as a supportive of the Blue Zone.  “Many of our servers are high school and college students who relate how much they learn from serving our residents. They cherish the experience and our residents certainly enjoy them,” she said.

In addition, good nutritional programs under the auspices of Dining Services is key, she said. Lowering daily calories to a healthy level so as to maintain optimal weight is understood as a good thing and it is being practiced by residents. “Charlestown allows those residents who do not want a loaded plate to have a smaller meal.  Getting a healthy mix of nutrients such as trace minerals and omega-3 fatty acids is easy in diets rich in vegetables and seafood, as is available on any menu,” she said.  

In some cases people are not eating enough before they move into Charlestown  and when they start dining with their new friends they soon reach a healthy weight, she said.

A wide array of fitness programs – everything from Zumba dance classes to walking groups to water aerobics to treadmills -- complement the Blue Zone found at Charlestown. “There is a lot of evidence Alzheimer's and heart disease can be delayed with exercise,” said Parker.