September 2026 Newsletter: Healthy Aging Month, A Special Tribute

September 2026 newsletter from Dr. Tina Zofakis.

Healthy Aging Month: a special tribute

This month’s newsletter is especially meaningful to me. I dedicate it to the memory of my father, who recently passed away from an aggressive, rare cancer. He was 91 years old and lived life to the fullest, still working as a civil engineer and building projects until the end. In his honor, I want to focus on September’s observance of Healthy Aging Month.

This observance centers on key pillars that my father truly embodied:

1. Diet

Those who know me have heard me say it many times: food is either your medicine or your poison, you decide. The Mediterranean diet has repeatedly been shown to support cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation through its emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. As we age, our metabolism slows, so the body needs fewer calories overall but a higher concentration of vital nutrients. Prioritize hydration, lean proteins to help preserve muscle, and high-fiber foods to support both heart and digestive health.

2. Physical activity

Aim for 150 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise (such as brisk walking) each week, along with at least two days of strength training to help combat the natural loss of muscle and bone. My father wasn’t a formal exerciser, but he stayed active on construction sites, climbing flights of stairs daily. Any movement is better than none.

3. Cognitive and social engagement

Isolation affects both physical health and cognitive function. Staying socially connected, volunteering, and challenging the brain with new skills, learning an instrument or a foreign language, for example, can significantly lower the risk of dementia. My father continued moving from one building project to the next. He calculated angles without a calculator and kept his mind sharp until the end.

4. Practice positive framing

Catch yourself when you start complaining about aging. Age does not define you. Find meaning and purpose at every stage of life, whether you are 20 or 100.

Research shows that people with a clear sense of purpose tend to live longer and experience less age-related cognitive decline. Meaningful goals also help buffer the body’s stress response, lowering cortisol levels linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Purpose is further associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety.

From the time I was a little girl, my father spoke about a building project on the island of Crete. He completed it at the age of 90. He never gave up, and that project truly was his life’s purpose.

5. Proactive healthcare

Healthy Aging Month is also a reminder to schedule annual physicals, stay current on preventive screenings (including vision and bone-density checks), and review all medications with a clinician to help reduce the risk of dizziness and falls.

One of the most impressive things about my father was how he faced the many obstacles life placed in his path. His story could fill a novel. Through it all he remained positive and practiced forgiveness. His guiding principle was simple: he felt he had to do good for his soul and never allowed anyone or anything to interfere with that. His favorite saying was que será, será, “whatever will be, will be.”

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. We are here to support you on your health journey. Stay tuned for some exciting new services we will be introducing to help us all live well at every age.

To my father: thank you for everything. I will carry your love with me until we meet again.

With gratitude,
Dr. Tina Zofakis