Why do people live so long in Benton County, Ore.?
By Andrew SegalCORVALLIS, Ore. - Corvallis may be known as a college town, but it's the city's older residents who have helped it to a top national ranking. "When I look around, I see a lot of very healthy aging people here in Benton Co.," said Dr. Karen Hooker with the Center for Healthy Aging Research at Oregon State University. The average person born in Benton Co. will live nearly 81 years. That's one of the highest life expectancies in the country. And Money magazine recently ranked the county fifth on its list of "Best Places For A Long Life." "I was not terribly surprised," Dr. Hooker said. "Because I think we have all the factors here that would tend to lead to a good healthy way of life." Dr. Hooker said those factors include a vibrant downtown and outdoor spaces to keep residents mentally and physically active. Another reason Benton Co. does so well? The number one predictor of high life expectancy is advanced education. "We have a very highly educated population here in Benton Co," Hooker said. "It is almost twice the average of Oregon." One way the county helps older residents stay sharp is by offering those 65 and up the opportunity audit classes for free at OSU. Meanwhile, at the Corvallis Senior Center, they have their own secrets to a long and healthy life in the county. "We have all of the activities that I could imagine," said 93-year-old Les Seyb. "Fishing, hunting, hiking, just about everything." The residents also appreciate the opportunities the Center offers to stay engaged with life, which includes trips, cooking lessons and more. "This afternoon, I'll be playing games and I love that," Verdene Williams said. Perhaps Williams, with her 88 years of life experience, sums up Benton Co.'s success better than anyone. "If you didn't have anything to do, you'd be bored to death," she said. "And I certainly am not bored to death." |
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