Local Doctor to Open Aging Center
By Paul Swiech, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
May 7–BLOOMINGTON — Aging is a complex process that some people try to reverse by “fixing” one or two things, said a Bloomington doctor of internal medicine and geriatric specialist.
You can’t turn back the clock. But, for most people, aging is gradual and modifiable, said Dr. Uday Deoskar. So, beginning in their 40s, people should work to improve their physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and occupational health so they can age well, he said.
Deoskar, his wife Anita and their son Anand are opening a business that they hope will help Central Illinoisans to live an active and independent life right up to death.
Successful Aging Center, 2103 E. Washington St., Suite 2B, Bloomington, should open May 14, with all operations in place by June 1, Deoskar said.
Deoskar, 66, has been a medical doctor for 40 years, has been practicing medicine in Bloomington-Normal for 15 years, and has spent much of that time focusing on older adults. Anita Deoskar is a nutritionist and fitness professional.
The center will offer individual consultation and classes on nutrition, exercise, relaxation techniques, meditation and other ways to age well, Anita Deoskar said.
Among services will be a 90-day membership that begins with an assessment of a person’s physical, mental and emotional health.
Dr. Deoskar expects guest speakers and employees to be added if demand for the services increase. His medical practice, Senior Health & Geriatrics of Central Illinois, will relocate from Normal to 2103 E. Washington St. but will be separate from the Successful Aging Center.
“At Successful Aging, I won’t take over their (client’s) medical care,” he said.
“Aging is a complex biological, psychological and sociological process that is influenced by economics,” Deoskar said. “If you don’t take a multidimensional approach, you could improve a few things and yet be out of balance.”
The health care system focuses on treating specific ailments and injuries rather than the whole person, he said.
Unless Americans focus more on taking care of their whole person, the health care system will become even more strained as baby boomers retire, he said.
“The community is ripe for receiving this information,” Deoskar said.
He said the center will be unique to the area.
“I’m taking a sort of adventurous leap here. This is a passion of mine.”
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
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