Aging Well : A lesson from centenarians

A look at centenarians, people who live to be 100 years or older, provides some final food for thought on the subject of aging well. Monika White, a world-renowned expert on the subject of aging and President of the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, California, put together the following summary on some important similarities among centenarians and factors important to aging well.

No definitive findings have resulted from studies of those who live to be 100 years old or older, but similarities have been consistently found, some in health and lifestyle areas but especially in characteristics and attitudes. Diet, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status, education nor genes (although there is a higher chance of longevity if parents or siblings live a long time), have not accounted for advanced age.

Some facts (from the New England Centenarian Study, Harvard, The Minnesota Nun Study, University of Georgia Centenarian Study):

Centenarians are not obese.

Centenarians rarely smoke

Centenarians seem to have delayed or avoided age-related health problems such as stroke, heart attacks, cancer, diabetes although no one knows why (many Centenarians are donating their bodies to science for study after their deaths.)

Centenarians have a stress-reduction mindset - they handle stress better than others

Centenarians have a sense of hope - they look forward to tomorrow with anticipation

Centenarians are engaged - they do something, have an interest, are involved.

Centenarians have an ability to cope with loss (and the longer you live, the more you lose - family, including children, friends, sight, hearing, driving, etc) and still go on with life.

Some important factors that have been found to be important to aging well:

Plan to be old - consider your needs for health, housing, legal, financial and social/personal supports (remember - you could live another 20-40 years after society considers you "old" at 65).

Stay invovled with others - do not get isolated (very risky)

Stay connected through family, church, interest groups, volunteering

Get help early - don't wait for a crisis.

Know where to go for information and resources - have at least one phone number of a family member, friend or organization you can call in the middle of the night.

Don't just hang out with people your own age - they may have more problems than you do if/when you need help.

For more information about how to live well longer - please contact Elderwood Senior Care at (716)633-3900.