TO this date, I think we all agree that living longer is possible. The key factors responsible for this are: increased awareness on how to take better care of ourselves and that science and medicine are now taking better care of people. If this is the case, are we ready to face the coming of years?
We all dream of living longer with no disease nor illness, no maintenance medications and no stressful circumstances to live with. But do you know that even among those who live normally, there are those who undergo the usual aging and those who age successfully?
Usual aging refers to the more common mode of aging, where associated decline in renal, immune, visual and hearing functions are observed. Those who are called to have aged successfully are those who demonstrate very minimal functional decline from aging alone. Successful aging is also known as optimal aging.
According to the MacArthur Foundation Study on Successful Aging, there are three important things to achieve to be able to age successfully. One is, there should be absence of disease, there should be high physical and cognitive functioning and people should be able to maintain engagement in life.
Absence of disease mean no chronic diseases diagnosed at a younger age. They say that even familial diseases can be avoided if one advocates healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced meal with generous amounts of vegetables and regular physical activity.
Physical and cognitive functioning should be intact if one is to choose successful aging. Older persons may not be demented but are able to communicate and make use of their own understanding to take care of themselves and their daily needs. This means flexibility in handling stress and able to cope with its consequences, too. Daily exercise which focuses on endurance and resistance training is
very important.
Maintaining engagement in life means a harmonious relationship with other people and their families. Being with other people means working with or getting along with others. We have to engage in worthwhile activities, perhaps volunteer in some advocacies or perhaps be prime movers of such causes.
When we follow these three early on in life, then perhaps longer years are waiting for us. If we all work it out to achieve optimal aging even while we are young, then, we will be able to face the coming of years successfully.