Monday, November 15, 1999
What's the secret to living to 100?
Researchers prepare to find answers
BY SARA J. BENNETT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Velma Rankin, 99, says her guardian angel (on table) will watch over her till July 13, when she turns 100.
(Gary Landers photo)
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Velma Rankin knew about every foreign war, every pivotal national event, and the advent of every major invention the 20th century had to offer.
But it's the intimate times — the late-night dances and the years spent volunteering with the Odd Fellows — that the 99-year-old Anderson Township resident preferred to talk about.
Her advice for living nearly a century: “Just keep a-going, and make a lot of friends.”
Mrs. Rankin and her views are of interest to local researchers working on the Greater Cincinnati Centenarian Project.
Sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Joint Council on Geriatric Care, a group of more than 80 agencies, hospitals and others that work with the elderly, the project seeks to identify and interview Tristate residents who will be 100 or older next year.
Researchers hope to gain insight into ways people can live longer and to encourage younger people to remain active and healthy.
“There are a lot of people that are scared by their 65th birthday, thinking that's when you become old,” said Dr. A. Eugene Smiley, of Cincinnati Area Senior Services. “By identifying active centenarians living in our community — many of whom live independently — we want to say, if these people at this advanced age can be so healthy, then how many people 40 years younger can be active in their community?”
Cincinnati researchers are not the first to study centenarians. In July, the U.S. Bureau of the Census reported the average life expectancy of people in the United States has increased dramatically over the last cen tury.
“More and more individuals are reaching the age of 100 than ever before,” Dr. Smiley said. “We've already discovered that the number of centenarians (nationwide) is about 70,000 in 2000, and that is expected to grow to 834,000 by the year 2050.”
Unlike scientific studies such as one under way at Harvard University, Cincinnati's centenarian project will be more of an oral history project.
Centenarians here will be interviewed about topics from their families and work history to their religious faiths.
Their stories will be presented next fall at a daylong seminar.
Project organizers also would like to raise enough money for an exhibit that would be taken around the region. The entire project is estimated to cost about $80,000 and dona tions are being sought.
The Greater Cincinnati Centenarian Project has identified nearly 50 centenarians so far. Researchers would like to interview about 20, Dr. Smiley said.
Mrs. Rankin hopes to be one of them. She'll turn 100 July 13.
Born in Tobasco — today part of Anderson — Mrs. Rankin lost both parents by age 16 and had to support herself.
She worked a succession of jobs, from assembling cardboard containers at Strietman Biscuit Co. in Fairfax to tending the offices at Robert Taylor Menswear.
Married 40 years without children to her late husband, Raymond, she also was an active volunteer, raising funds for the March of Dimes, and donating blood.
One of her most prized possessions is the Decoration of Chivalry medal she received from the Odd Fellows.
Mrs. Rankin lives in an assisted living apartment complex but she receives housekeeping help just twice a month. Meals on Wheels brings her lunch; she cooks breakfast and supper.
Glaucoma and a hip replace ment keep her from going out much, but Mrs. Rankin never misses church on Sunday.
And she still loves to dance.
“She still goes to parties, and if there's dancing, she'll put the cane down and I'll go behind her so she doesn't fall down,” said Mrs. Rankin's niece, Gloria Greger, 72.
Asked what others can learn from her long life, Mrs. Rankin laughs.
“I can't think of anything special I've done,” she said. “I didn't realize I'd been around so long. I guess it just means I've had a long life of hard work. I've still got work to do, I guess.”
KNOW OF ONE?
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To tell researchers about a
centenarian or to get more in
formation about the Greater
Cincinnati Centenarian Project,
call (513) 345-5512, Ext. 283.
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