When I started out as a young physical therapist, I thought I would always work with middle aged people who were physically active in sports. Someone like me.. :) But as my years continue as a physical therapist, I have come to find out how much I enjoy working with the geriatric population. Watching them stroll around their home with their unique walking styles, listening to their stories, making them laugh with my cheesy jokes and just providing them company, brings me happiness and joy.

While I have met a wide spectrum of clients ranging from 50 to 101 years old, I am in awe of the people in the later stages of their lives still living for the most part independently and still sharp as a nails. One of my patients, Lenny, who is 101 years old, has been one of those people. She used to own a business but now enjoys her days with her singing-loving caregiver, Lenny. (I know that makes it easy to remember ;) Every time I saw her she was always looking so well put together with her freshly painted fingernails, make-up and smile, which brighten her face and her hair styled to the “nines.” But what made me enjoy visiting her the most was her feisty attitude and humor. While she was not big on exercise and movement, she complied with my requests albeit it doing it on hyperspeed. I loved conversing and hearing her story as well as her caregiver’s journey. So what is her secret to her longevity and her awesome persona? She stated emphatically,