by Duncan Rinehart, Ph.D.
The common worries of growing old[i]
First the bad news though this does not come as a surprise. Loss of independence tops many lists of concerns about growing old. And there are many other concerns that contribute to loss of independence such as:
Rising health care costs
Chronic diseases
Loss of cognitive functioning including dementia and Alzheimer’s
Loss of energy/slowing down
Aches and pains including arthritis
Loss of balance, falling
Insufficient savings for retirement
Loss of mobility including loss of driving privileges
Additional concerns about growing old include:
Becoming a victim of scams aimed at seniors
Being alone – socially isolated
Loss of a sense of purpose
Not being valued by society
Loss of loved ones
Are any of the above concerns ones that you have as you retire and grow older?
What you can do about these worries
Now for the good news. You can prevent, reduce or better manage many of the concerns that we have as we age. One study noted that many people want good health as a condition for older age and are willing to trade good health and a shorter life for poor health and a longer life. We fear prolonged suffering. Many of the problems that come with aging are a result of how we live our lives. Changes in lifestyle (listed below), have been shown to reduce many of the illnesses of age that threaten our independence and financial security.
Reduce alcohol consumption - Click here for more information
Stop smoking
Eat better – follow the Harvard Healthy Eating Plate diet
Get regular exercise – follow the CDC recommendations for older adults which includes doing exercises for balance
Reduce stress – see this National Council on Aging article
Get good sleep – follow the Get a Good Night’s Sleep practices here
Where to start?
Making these changes can improve the quality of your senior years. If you are already doing any of the above, great! If you want to start or add any changes, start with one or two and start with small steps such as eating only plant-based foods for a few meals each week. An aging coach can help you build healthy changes into your life. Also, local senior centers, state and county/city aging programs, YMCA’s and other community centers may have support programs to help you make lasting changes (such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program).
If you would like to know more about how you can reduce your concerns about growing older, contact me at seniorwellnesscoaching.org .
[i] If not individually linked, sources used in this article include the following: