By Connor Harbit

With the Centers for Disease Control announcing that the life expectancy rate in the United States has dropped over the past few years, some experts are advising older residents of Door County to take caution against living a sedentary or lonely lifestyle. A person concerned about his or her lifespan can take several steps to ensure they help swing the number back in the right direction. Christine Webb-Miller, the Active Older Adult Coordinator at the Door County YMCA, says it’s not just about getting vigorous exercise, but simply about getting out and doing some kind of moving around.

Webb-Miller also noted it is relatively easy to slip into a lonely lifestyle after losing regular contact with kids or a spouse, alongside changes in how Americans live and shop. To remedy this, Webb-Miller suggested finding a group of people in the community to keep tabs with and to hold oneself accountable for their day to day actions.