The increasing number of older adults will be staggering over the next two decades. In order to have positive well-being, it is paramount that “baby-boomers,” as well as future generations, consider the consequences of their lifestyle on mental and physical health.
This means having a healthy dose of positive emotions, the absence of physical disability, and general life-satisfaction as the people reach the second half of their life.
What can people do then to support their positive aging?
There are large individual differences in physical and cognitive functioning of older adults. Negative stereotypes about aging may lead older adults to negatively interpret the natural changes that accompany aging and develop limiting expectations.
Though, older adults who engage in regular physical and mental activity, as well as having a positive attitude, improve the odds of successful aging. They tend to be healthier and live longer than adults who are sedentary and don’t stimulate themselves intellectually.
Research has also revealed seven factors that predict positive aging.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines. The comments below begin with the oldest comments first. Click on the last comments page to jump to the most recent comments.
Well, let’s see….I am 64 and I smoke, don’t work out much..need to lose weight……divorced after 36 years of abuse.
Except for 3 years in the army, I have lived in an abusive situation (first as a child)….
People ask me my “secret” to looking so young…including doctors…….it is genetics!
So, my “positive aging” has nothing much to do with ME, but my genetics!
A great attitude, also……also a freshman at a University….i don’t feel any older than I did at 18….I doubt I ever will.
No physical problems, no lines or wrinkles, thick, curly hair down to my waist, etc….
Hi Alicia,
Glad to hear from you and that your are doing well. You touch on an important notion, that being the genetic variations between people. There are some people who are healthy until the end no matter what type of lifestyle they lead, and of course there are others who have the misfortune to become ill despite a serious focus on health. I think one important piece you mention is your “attitude.” This may be the most valuable aspect of all. There has been research that shows an optimistic outlook leads to a longer lifespan. So, a very important point to add to the list! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks Joe, I’m off to play super senior tennis this morning if the wind stops blowing. Never played before–it’s supportive and fun. And helps with health, future orientation, and social support. Good blog. Take care.
Hi,
Nice to hear from you again, and thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Helen Fowler
12:18 am on
April 21st, 2011I agree that attitude is the most important factor for a longer lifespan. My Mom had breast cancer and recovered from it with a positive attitude. Then 3 years later my brother committed suicide. My Mom’s cancer came back within 1 month and she died 6 months later. She no longer had a positive attitude. I think she gave up the will to live all together.
And losing my brother and my Mom didn’t do much for my attitude, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. It’s been 15 years now and I am just now starting to have some positive thoughts. I don’t doubt that the 15 yrs of major depression I suffered will inevitably shorten my life.
I sense a general attitude in the media and among those I talk with that the best one can do after 65 or so is ameliorate the loss, as if that period of life is ipso facto a bad time of life. Not so. The crises and angst of youth, and the life-and-death struggles of adulthood, offer as many if not more reason to think of those periods as “well done with.” When life is not dominated by the primary needs, driven by hormones or desperation, so much more can be accomplished. After 65, the worst possible thing is to “retire” in the usual sense of the word. This is, instead, the time for great accomplishments. This is the time for wisdom to grow. Post-65 is the time to really flower; all life has been leading up to this time. Our medicine has given us the ability to be productive in the last 20 or 25 years of our life, after we have usually departed our day job. This great gift of medicine is unprecedented. No one should squander it.
I really appreciate this article and hope to see many more.
Best
Trent Batson, Ph.D.
Hi Trent,
Thanks for leaving your thoughts! Your response makes me realize the many benefits and positive aspects that can come with aging. People don’t often talk of the wisdom and virtue that develops through life experience. I see these as of great value and using these to make our life and the life of others better is an opportunity that may not be apparent at a younger and more naive age. Personal growth is a life-long process, and we always have value to offer.
Athena
2:44 pm on
April 22nd, 2011Like “Alicia”, I too have “good genes”. My 83-year-old mom looks around 70 or less. I, too, never looked or felt my age (now 58) until recently, after a series of illnesses and new conditions (arthritis, asthma) severely impacted my life. I try to stay upbeat, but having good health care was a huge issue. Now that I have it, the effort of dealing with various problems is daunting. My point: it’s easy to say how young you feel when you’re healthy and it can change overnight!
Athena,
Thanks for sharing this wisdom. It’s important to be proactive and do what we can to be healthy and vibrant in later life, but life catches up with everyone at some point. Sometimes we just have to do the best we can with what we have, and keep focused on the value within every situation. I truly admired everyone who is dealing with a life changing illness and how they are able to stay resilient through the experience.
Joe, great article! Aging is an exciting topic for me and more research is being conducted on it because of the rapid growth of the boomers. Oldest of old fastest growing population in the world. Now more than ever people are interested in staying healthy and acually working on it! I liked what you said about personal growth being a contiuned life style. Personality does change as we age and the other important thing here is “engagement vs disengagement”. Some folks age and loss interest in things, most likely depressive sxs, If the aging stay engaged and active this has a postive outlook and increased interest in life. Age cohorts are important but being around the young add enrichment. Most aging people dont see themselves as old or aging until their 70′s. Attitude, attitude,attitude!
All the best, Jon Gergeceff
Jon,
Thanks for your response. Staying engaged is the very crucial part of older age. Taking an active and optimistic approach to life can never hurt, particularly when we are running into some challenging changes.
I am sure I will always be “engaged” in life…being a freshman at age 64……..I have a lot of work to do!
Smiles, Alicia
I danced at my son’s wedding last night…..from 6:30 until midnight; I think I only missed 2 dances, and they were mostly fast dances.
I love to dance, sing, read and have written a book of poetry and my memoir….my poetry: Sanctuary of the Soul (referring to my home state of Maine) is endorsed by Elie Wiesel, Wayne Dyer, Nikki Giovanni, Drs. Alice Miller, Larry Dossey, et al…..I will always be humbled and amazed by that.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines.
Post a Comment:
Copyright © 1992-2012 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 24 May 2012
|
