All Life is Learning - November 2026

Events Update: A Successful Orchard Visit and What's Next

Twenty-three OLLI members and friends enjoyed a sun-filled September afternoon at Schultz Fruitridge Farms, partaking of cider and donuts, fellowship with new and old friends, and all the produce in the farm market.  It was such a success that we will do it again next year.

Following our Annual Meeting, you will receive a spanking NEW EVENTS SURVEY in your inbox.  We hope it will generate more specific responses while addressing events you want to attend in the future.  

More information about the Annual Meeting on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11th appears under Events and SIGS, so sign into your OLLI account and register SIGs and Events 

Without your registration, we may run short of refreshments. Register by November 4th. 

Written by Tyler Norman, Ph.D.,
ACSM Exercise Physiologist, NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist, and Manager of Corporate Outreach at West Hills Athletic Club, WMU

Cascade of Dependency

I had not heard this term until my wife sent me an Instagram video. I get a talking to if I don’t watch the videos she sends me, so I did what I was told, and in this case was stunned at what I heard. Have you ever known someone in their 60’s or 70’s that seems healthy and active, until they get sidelined by some sort of medical event like a broken hip, or herniated disc, or coronary event, and never fully recover to their previous levels of vitality? This phenomenon is known as “Cascade of Dependency” which refers to the ripple effect of adverse health conditions that stem from being 65 and older and being forced to bedrest or temporarily restricted from physical activity. The aging process is accelerated, which leads to a rapid decline of physical, emotional, and cognitive function. The data available is startling. Back in the July newsletter, I discussed being on bedrest after suffering a herniated disc. I’m 56 years old, and after 2 days every other part of my body was aching, I felt lethargic and completely unmotivated to do anything because of the pain associated. I can’t help but think how much harder it would have been if I was 65 or 75. Included is a graphic that elaborates on the cascade, but the most startling to me were these three things;

65 and up on bedrest or restricted physical activity...

· Loses as much as 5% of total muscle mass PER DAY

· Bone mass disintegrates at 50 TIMES normal rate

· 1 week of bedrest is equivalent to 10 years of aging

I’m feeling a little nausea just typing that information. Obviously, the cascade of dependency is a bad deal all around. After a week of bedrest, we’ve lost as much as a third of our total muscle mass, which means we’ve lost a third of our metabolic motor, a third of our calorie burning capacity, a third of our physical independence, and a third of the exoskeleton that protects us from fractures and other things, a third of our vitality, and a third of our motivation to recover quickly.

The important takeaway is this, START LIFTING WEIGHTS NOW AND KEEP MOVING. If we build strength through weightlifting, we will not only be less likely to suffer a fracture or coronary event but have a better chance at recovery because we have muscular health in the event that we are forced to rest and not exert ourselves. My 81-year-old mother was walking within 6 hours of having her hip replaced, and within 48 hours she was in O'Malley's bar having a vodka gimlet and a bowl of French onion soup.

https://www.ovid.com/jnls/ajnonline/fulltext/00000446-200601000-00032~functional-decline-in-hospitalized-older-adults-its-often-a

https://nexushomehealthcare.com/cascade-of-dependency-can-happen-quickly/