Better With Age. Robin Porter

      Research shows that those who maintain their vitality well into their advanced years are those who continue to have an appetite for life. They understand that we are never too old to stop moving forward, making improvements, and living with purpose—and never too young to start! Getting older brings changes, but you can prepare for those changes and make the most of your senior years, no matter what phase of life you’re in. We can start by looking at how aging has changed, what it means to age well, and why it requires some planning.

       Like Agnes, Nola (Hill) Ochs always loved learning and wanted to attend college, but young women were not encouraged to continue their education in her day. Instead, she got married, raised a family, and worked on the farm, but she never lost her yearning for knowledge. So, in 1972, at the age of 60, she started taking correspondence courses in hopes of obtaining her bachelor’s degree. Thirty-five years later, at the age of 95, Ochs graduated alongside her granddaughter, earning a general studies degree with an emphasis in history. In 2010, at the age of 98, she received her master’s degree. Of her accomplishment, she said simply, “It was something I wanted to do. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction.” After graduation, Ochs planned on applying for a job as a graduate teaching assistant.

      Truth and Consequences

      Aging is a natural and unavoidable part of life. We begin the process at birth and continue to age with each passing day. Thankfully, both the quantity and quality of those days are likely to be greater than ever before, as people are living longer and generally healthier lives. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy (from birth) for someone living in the United States is currently 78.7 years. If you reach the age of 65, you have a good chance of extending your life span to 83 years. Of course, these are only averages. Nowadays, we are seeing more and more people live well into their 90s and even celebrate a century or more of living. Indeed, though still a small percentage, centenarians are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.

      Over the past century, life expectancy has increased by nearly 30 years. A man born in 1900 could expect to live, on average, to the age of 48, while a woman might reach 51. This seems young by today’s standards, but it’s a vast improvement over earlier civilizations, such as the Roman Empire, which had an approximate life expectancy of just 22 to 25 years old! Nowhere are the advantages of modern-day living more apparent than in our improved longevity.

      The lives of our ancestors were shortened by a long list of factors, including poor hygiene, unclean water, inadequate nutrition, and lack of medical care, which often led to infectious diseases. In fact, infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and gastrointestinal infections were the leading causes of death in 1900. Today, only two of those illnesses, influenza and pneumonia, even make the list of leading causes of death in the United States, tying for ninth place. Instead, chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, non-infectious respiratory problems (e.g., fibrosis), and stroke have taken the top spots. Thanks to improvements in public health, nutrition, and medicine, particularly antibiotics and vaccines, we have reduced childhood mortality rates and wiped out many of the maladies faced by earlier generations—and we continue to learn.

      Consider, for example, that in the not-so-distant past, the medical community believed life-shortening ailments such as heart disease, hypertension, and strokes were unavoidable side effects of the aging process. We now know these problems are, to a large extent, preventable and, if they do occur, can often be treated successfully. As Agnes pointed out, her brother’s heart condition may not have been fatal if he had been born a few decades later. And, it’s not just longevity that has improved: Better education, enhanced nutrition, and advanced medical treatments are helping people age with fewer disabilities and chronic health issues overall. Modern medicine offers a long list of life-enhancing and life-extending procedures—from replacing worn-out knees and broken hips to implanting pacemakers and transplanting organs. All of which is good news.

       The Vulnerable Years

      Though longevity rates have improved dramatically during the twentieth century, American longevity has actually dropped since 1979, compared to some other nations, according to the National Academy of Sciences. On average, Australian, Japanese, Italian, and French men and women are outliving Americans by four to six years. Researchers also noted that Americans seem to be at their most vulnerable between the ages of 55 and 75. These are the years when the cumulative effects of poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and skipped health screenings take their toll, resulting in a large number of deaths due to heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and cancer that has gone undetected. However, if Americans reach the age of 75 and beyond, they have a good chance of living well into their 90s and even 100s. The trend emphasizes the importance of healthy lifestyle choices at every life stage.

      Greater longevity does, however, have some consequences. According to “The State of Aging and Health in America,” a 2013 special report from the CDC, the population of older Americans may be expanding faster than our healthcare system can handle. Approximately 80 million baby boomers—who began turning 65 in 2011 and can expect to live longer lives—are creating a massive shift in demographics. By 2030, it’s estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will be a senior citizen, nearly double the 12 percent we had in 2000.

      Despite our medical advancements, the human body will still wear out over time. So, the longer you live, the more susceptible you become to disabilities and frailties, which necessitate more specialized and long-term care. At current growth rates, the demand for these services will outpace supply. There is already a shortage of physicians and nurses who specialize in elder care and the need continues to increase. The American Geriatric Society tells us there are currently only 7,500 geriatric specialists in the United States, and growth in this area of expertise is sluggish. Meanwhile, the need for geriatricians will expand to approximately 30,000 by 2030. It’s clear that, as a society, we will be challenged to find innovative ways to treat and support an aging population—and to pay for this care.

      Financial resources play an important part in the longevity issue. Living longer after retirement means you need to stash away more savings, not only to maintain an acceptable standard of living, but to provide for additional care and services as you age. Unfortunately, reports indicate that baby boomers are not preparing for their retirement years as well as they should be. This lack of planning contradicts survey results in which those 65 and older rank “maintaining independence” as their top priority.

       When Jeanne Louise Calment (1875–1997) celebrated her 110th birthday, she became the oldest known living human (as verified by modern documentation). But, it wasn’t her age that people found the most amazing; it was her upbeat attitude toward aging and life that captivated audiences around the world. Active and clear-minded, she quipped to the press, “I had to wait 110 years to become famous. I want to enjoy it as long as possible.” She went on to reach the amazing age of 122!

      Still, when asked, most people say they would like to live a long life, with this caveat: as long as they can age well.

      What Is Aging Well?

      Vibrant centenarians such as Ms. Calment are certainly