WHAT IS HAPPENING AS I LIVE LONGER?
Living longer is a very complex process but the scientific knowledge is now that the normal biological process of ageing is not the main cause of major problems till the late 90s, although you need a bit of luck to avoid the diseases such as Parkinson’s that we cannot prevent or delay. There is now much clearer understanding of the relationship between an individual’s genetic inheritance and their social and physical environment with the latter being much more important than the former so don’t worry about the age your parents or grandparents died or what they died of
There are three processes other than ageing that are much more important causes of the problems that occur more frequently as people live longer,
*Loss of fitness, both physical and mental
*Disease, much of which is preventable being caused not by genetics but by risks such as the modern diet and inactivity, and the disability that results from disease is usually complicated by accelerated loss of fitness
*Social factors which affect wellbeing, notably not having enough money for heating and housing and negative beliefs about what older people can do and pessimistic attitudes towards older people - ageism
So we now know that ‘ageing’, namely the normal biological process is not the main cause of the major problems that occur as we live longer and therefore that many of these problems can be delayed, prevented or reversed
WHAT CAN I DO?
Obviously the NHS is there for support you and so too are the Local Authorities which provide social, housing, library and other services. So too are local businesses like gyms and pubs but what is now increasingly recognised is that ‘the community’, organisations of people in your Neighbourhood, or of people facing the same challenge in an group on the Internet, which play a vitally important part in enabling you to live longer better. In every part of the country churches, mosques and other faith organisations play a very important part and AgeUK local branches have a wide range of support services many provided by volunteers. What is also clear now is that playing an active part in a support organisation not only helps other people but is beneficial for the volunteer, giving them a sense of wellbeing and reducing the risk of dementia
REGAIN LOST FITNESS AND GET EVEN FITTER, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY
Although the term fitness has images of young people in gyms or playing sport it is now recognised that fitness becomes even more important the longer you live . There are two aspects of fitness. The first your maximum level of ability for example to climb two flights of stairs without stopping, the other is your resilience, your ability to respond to a challenge such as a trip or stumble or indeed a period of inactivity such as a week in hospital. There are four dimensions of physical fitness
Mental fitness can also be increased. Some mental functions do deteriorate with age , notably quick decision making and short term memory but forgetting the names of people or books is no an early sign of dementia Interestingly some types of mental fitness, notably the ability to cope with complex challenges get better the longer you live because you have more experience and Oscar Wilde said that experience is the name we give our mistakes. Mental fitness, or Brainability as it is sometimes called can be increased at any age, ideally by getting more involved with others and being challenged more and of course isolation resulting from disability or from hearing and vision problems does not make this easy.
FEEL BETTER AND MORE POSITIVE
Since 1948 it has been accepted that health is more than the absence of disease and the WHO definition emphasises also requires ‘physical, mental and social wellbeing’ and the NHS sometimes responds inappropriately for example by prescribing anti-depressants for people whose wellbeing could be improved in other ways
It is now recognised that many people have been taking their wellbeing problems , feeling depressed or anxious or alone, to the NHS which does not have the resources to alleviate the problem and that other options need to be offered either an activity that a person can start, preferably in a group with other people
Feeling positive is a benefit that results from starting a new physical activity, such as aiming to walk briskly 30 minutes a day, or joining a Pilates class but an even more positive feeling results from volunteering to contribute even more to your community, for example helping raise funds for the local boys or girls football club
REDUCE YOUR RISK OF SERIOUS DISEASE
The NHS offers immunisation against infectious diseases for people over 75 and there are many steps the individual can take notably
IF DISEASE DOES DEVELOP BE AN ACTIVE PARTNER WITH THE NHS
Most people in their 70s have at least one long term condition and the NHS is responsible for offering support but it is now clear that the most important person in living well with a long term condition is not the GP but you yourself/ it is what you do that is more important. Obviously taking any prescribed drugs regularly is important but so too is becoming more active physically and getting engaged with the relevant charity
GET EVEN MORE INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING OTHERS
It is now clear that helping others even more is one of the best things you can do for your own health
Living longer is a very complex process but the scientific knowledge is now that the normal biological process of ageing is not the main cause of major problems till the late 90s, although you need a bit of luck to avoid the diseases such as Parkinson’s that we cannot prevent or delay. There is now much clearer understanding of the relationship between an individual’s genetic inheritance and their social and physical environment with the latter being much more important than the former so don’t worry about the age your parents or grandparents died or what they died of
There are three processes other than ageing that are much more important causes of the problems that occur more frequently as people live longer,
*Loss of fitness, both physical and mental
*Disease, much of which is preventable being caused not by genetics but by risks such as the modern diet and inactivity, and the disability that results from disease is usually complicated by accelerated loss of fitness
*Social factors which affect wellbeing, notably not having enough money for heating and housing and negative beliefs about what older people can do and pessimistic attitudes towards older people - ageism
So we now know that ‘ageing’, namely the normal biological process is not the main cause of the major problems that occur as we live longer and therefore that many of these problems can be delayed, prevented or reversed
WHAT CAN I DO?
Obviously the NHS is there for support you and so too are the Local Authorities which provide social, housing, library and other services. So too are local businesses like gyms and pubs but what is now increasingly recognised is that ‘the community’, organisations of people in your Neighbourhood, or of people facing the same challenge in an group on the Internet, which play a vitally important part in enabling you to live longer better. In every part of the country churches, mosques and other faith organisations play a very important part and AgeUK local branches have a wide range of support services many provided by volunteers. What is also clear now is that playing an active part in a support organisation not only helps other people but is beneficial for the volunteer, giving them a sense of wellbeing and reducing the risk of dementia
REGAIN LOST FITNESS AND GET EVEN FITTER, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY
Although the term fitness has images of young people in gyms or playing sport it is now recognised that fitness becomes even more important the longer you live . There are two aspects of fitness. The first your maximum level of ability for example to climb two flights of stairs without stopping, the other is your resilience, your ability to respond to a challenge such as a trip or stumble or indeed a period of inactivity such as a week in hospital. There are four dimensions of physical fitness
- Strength
- Stamina
- Suppleness
- Skill
Mental fitness can also be increased. Some mental functions do deteriorate with age , notably quick decision making and short term memory but forgetting the names of people or books is no an early sign of dementia Interestingly some types of mental fitness, notably the ability to cope with complex challenges get better the longer you live because you have more experience and Oscar Wilde said that experience is the name we give our mistakes. Mental fitness, or Brainability as it is sometimes called can be increased at any age, ideally by getting more involved with others and being challenged more and of course isolation resulting from disability or from hearing and vision problems does not make this easy.
FEEL BETTER AND MORE POSITIVE
Since 1948 it has been accepted that health is more than the absence of disease and the WHO definition emphasises also requires ‘physical, mental and social wellbeing’ and the NHS sometimes responds inappropriately for example by prescribing anti-depressants for people whose wellbeing could be improved in other ways
It is now recognised that many people have been taking their wellbeing problems , feeling depressed or anxious or alone, to the NHS which does not have the resources to alleviate the problem and that other options need to be offered either an activity that a person can start, preferably in a group with other people
Feeling positive is a benefit that results from starting a new physical activity, such as aiming to walk briskly 30 minutes a day, or joining a Pilates class but an even more positive feeling results from volunteering to contribute even more to your community, for example helping raise funds for the local boys or girls football club
REDUCE YOUR RISK OF SERIOUS DISEASE
The NHS offers immunisation against infectious diseases for people over 75 and there are many steps the individual can take notably
- Get more active and regain and increase physical and mental fitness
- Eat a diet low in ultra-processed chemicals and high in fruit and vegetables, the Mediterranean diet is a good step
- Reduce weight if you need to
- Improve sleep
- Avoid isolation and keep involved with the community in which you live
IF DISEASE DOES DEVELOP BE AN ACTIVE PARTNER WITH THE NHS
Most people in their 70s have at least one long term condition and the NHS is responsible for offering support but it is now clear that the most important person in living well with a long term condition is not the GP but you yourself/ it is what you do that is more important. Obviously taking any prescribed drugs regularly is important but so too is becoming more active physically and getting engaged with the relevant charity
GET EVEN MORE INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING OTHERS
It is now clear that helping others even more is one of the best things you can do for your own health