Call her the "Queen of Television" or call her "Queen of Animal Advocates," but Betty White is one thing above all else -- she's an active senior citizen.

At 78, White has been in broadcasting for 60 years and on television for almost 50. Yet, she's not about to retire.

The four-time Emmy Award winner, known for her roles on landmark programs like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, had another series, Ladies' Man, that ran briefly on CBS last year. She is waiting for another shot on network television.

In the meantime, White, in typical active senior fashion, is working for the Aetna US Healthcare company, touring the country and speaking to groups about the value of a healthy lifestyle and about her own secrets for staying young.

On Oct. 25, White's enduring popularity was on full display at the Franklin Mills mall as hundreds of fans congregated in the Grand Court for a presentation by the woman known as much for her quick, mischievous wit as her approachable appearance and manner.

"I think she's fantastic," said Bucks County resident M.J. Maddox, after waiting in line for an autographed photo of White.

"She's caring and very sincere. I saw her a number of years ago at a book signing, and she was exactly the same."

"I've been watching her and following her career forever," said Joanna Pio, of Modena Park. "I feel like Betty White is a relative, like somebody I've known for many years."

BETTY'S ON THE GO

A mere 13 hours earlier, White was in Los Angeles to make an appearance at a charity event.

"I want to stay active and involved for as long as I possibly can," White said, addressing an attentive mall audience. "That's what builds energy and makes life interesting every day."

And so, White was off on a 15-minute discussion about the actions that we all can take, young and old, to extend and improve the quality of our lives.

"When they no longer let me be on TV, I have lots of interests that I'm ready to (pursue)," White said, citing her ongoing associations with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo and the Morris Animal Foundation.

"I have the zoo," she said. "It could be a church or synagogue. It used to be that women stayed home and could do charity work. But with so many people working today, the need for volunteers is greater than ever.

"Not only does it keep you interested. It makes you more interesting."

The healthy mental outlook supported by such activities is a key element of maintaining physical health, White continued. But so is taking care of yourself physically. Folks must communicate with their physicians and take advantage of available preventive measures.

White cited flu shots, high blood-pressure checks, mammograms, prostate screenings and colorectal screenings as some routine procedures that can help people avoid serious medical problems.

"Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the country, but ninety percent (of cases) are curable if caught early enough," White said.

The actress offered other tips, too, such as taking a notepad to the doctor with you.

"I note the things he tells me so I can go home and take advantage of them," White said, stressing the importance of asking the doctor to explain anything that you may not understand.

Patients must be able to offer feedback to their doctor, too.

"If he puts you on medication that doesn't seem to be working or has negative affects, don't be afraid to let him know about it. It's a simple thing of staying in touch with your doctor," she said.

KICK THOSE CIGARETTES

White also discussed the leading cause of death in the United States -- heart disease.

"As well as a big heart and a warm heart, you want a healthy one," White said. "Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the country . . . and if you smoke, you're seventy times more likely to get heart disease."

White's advice on so-called "cancer sticks?"

"Cut it out," she said. "I know it's hard. Next time you pick up a cigarette, maybe think, 'Oh, Betty's going to be mad.'"

White found no argument from Torresdale resident Rosemarie Atkinson, a former smoker who has had five heart-bypass surgeries and wears a pacemaker.

"I smoked for years. Then after the five bypasses, I stopped," Atkinson said. "It wasn't soon enough."

Atkinson feels that White's advice can have an impact only "if they would listen, if they would take heed."

Other keys to preventing heart disease include getting treatment for high blood pressure, exercise, a good diet and immediate attention in case of medical emergency, White continued.

"If you feel you've had a heart attack or stroke, call 911," she said. "If you treat it early, you can minimize the effects."

White added that health plans, such as the one she endorses, are great resources for knowledge and illness- prevention methods.

The message was not lost on people like Elinore Spiotta, a Croydon resident who works for the Norcom Community Center in the Northeast. Spiotta attended the event as a fan of White's, not knowing that the program was designed to promote healthful lifestyles.

With two dogs and three cats of her own, Spiotta was attracted by White's activities on behalf of animals, not her advocacy for illness prevention. But she viewed White's health-care discussion as an important message.

"It saves everybody so much money to put money into prevention," Spiotta said. "The more informed the public is, the better off we all are in the long run."