In a city routinely rated one of the top places to retire, individuals and organizations focused on supporting healthy and active aging deserve celebration. On May 18, 2023, AgeBetter, Inc.’s first Aging Advocacy Award—presented to the community member who advocates for older adults and devotes significant volunteer and professional time to promoting healthy aging and preventing ageism—was presented to Dr. Alexis Eastman, clinical geriatrician and faculty member in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison.
“We recognized Dr. Eastman’s impact in the Madison area community to dispel ageism, provide education to older adults, and promote the profession of geriatrics,” says Ann Albert, executive director of AgeBetter, Inc. “Alexis is a super person who has also been involved with our SAIL (Sharing Active Independent Lives) program for over five years, enthusiastically providing AgeBetter and our SAILing into the future! attendees with educational workshops, clinical expertise, and related recommendations—especially as we navigated the pandemic.” When asked about her involvement with SAIL and her contributions to the lives of older adults throughout the community, Dr. Eastman shared, “I don’t view it as volunteer work; I view it as a necessary part of community care—it’s a part of my job to make sure that the information I have reaches the most people possible.”
As a medical educator, Dr. Eastman provides classroom and clinical instruction to residents and fellows. Her educational efforts include teaching EMS providers and other senior health professionals about DNR/DNI status, dementia diagnosis and evaluation, and dementia care. As a clinical geriatrician, Dr. Eastman provides medical care for older adults in inpatient and outpatient settings, both in primary and memory care. She serves as director of clinical operations for primary and specialty care at the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology and as medical director at Badger Prairie Health Center in Verona.
Aging well is always on the forefront of Dr. Eastman’s mind, and she has spent a lot of time examining the things seniors can do to keep up their physical and psychological well-being. First is exercise, “not only for physical health and to aid in falls prevention and other ailments, but for mental health and to reduce the risk of dementia by up to 50 percent,” says Dr. Eastman. “As we get older, things get stiffer and saggier, but shouldn’t start hurting.
“In terms of memory, it’s normal to take longer to process information or learn something new, but you should still be able to do it and not forget important things. When in doubt, get checked out. It never hurts to ask questions about changes. Safely do aerobic and strength-training exercise for about a half hour most days of the week, keep your medical health under control, don’t smoke, invest in supportive shoes, give the Mediterranean diet a try, get good rest, and find a doctor that is best for you.
“Anyone over 65 can see a geriatrician, but the people who really need us are those with complex health and social situations. Socialization is very beneficial. People think they’re fine alone or they aren’t lonely, but Covid was incredibly isolating; we saw a lot dementia and depression get worse, and some died that didn’t need to. A silver lining was video visits with providers. Get together, play cards with friends, make that call, and if you’re considering a move to a retirement or assisted-living community, eat lunch there first; it’s the most common meal, and you can learn a lot about the environment and people.”
Dr. Eastman also sees a lot of benefits for herself in working in the field of geriatrics. “I love helping people,” she says. “First, the sheer nerdiness of it. Aging physiology is a very unique biochemical process, and it takes you outside the textbook. You have to think creatively, and I find that intriguing. Bigger yet, I’ve always preferred older people—even when I was little, I’d talk to the older people on the city bus. During clinical rotations, I was paired with a particularly cool person in the Senior Partners Program and thought it would be fascinating to work with aging patients. I fall in love with these incredible individuals, their stories, and their wonderfully rich lives. To help be a part of that and use my knowledge and apply it to make their lives better inspires me.”
Aging is something to be celebrated. It’s possibly the most important part of being human. As we grow, we learn, and we age. Thanks to Dr. Eastman and similar geriatricians, older adults can age in the best mental and physical health their lives have afforded them.
Contributed by AgeBetter, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to work collaboratively with older adults, families, caregivers, physicians, payers, educators, and providers to enhance the health, wellness, independence, and quality of life of older persons. Thanks to Samantha Haas, marketing and community outreach specialist at Mad City Dream Homes, for conducting the Dr. Eastman interview.
Photographs provided by Purple Circle Media.
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