Getting Old, Explained

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Getting Old, Explained

By Charley Locke | Bloomberg Businessweek | December 18, 2023

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There isn’t a user manual for an aging body. But there should be.  Thirteen answers to burning questions about how to emotionally and financially prepare for the golden years.

1. Get rid of limiting beliefs about yourself—and about who’d be a good match for you at this stage of life. 
2. When it comes to where one should grow old, there are two key things to consider: comfort and belonging. Do you have stairs in your home? Is there accessible public transportation nearby? Do you have friends or family around? Are you living in a caring community? How do you spend your days?
3. When you’re feeling active, healthy and in shape, that is the time to make plans for how you want to be cared for when you’re less independent.
4. Get rid of stuff you don’t use. Start small, and do it today.
5. Sleep well, eat mostly healthy foods, move your body every day, and drink alcohol in moderation (or not at all). Otherwise, much of healthy aging comes down to emotional and social health. Do you regularly see friends? Do you have an active community? Are there people who you rely on, and who rely on you?
6. As you age, one of your most important relationships will be with your primary-care provider, so it’s worth choosing them carefully.   To make the most of the time, come prepared with a written-out agenda of three questions, max, and share them at the beginning of your appointment.
7. None of us can go through life’s big transitions alone. Aging is full of moments when we need to ask for help. We know there shouldn’t be any shame in asking for help, but forming the question still makes us feel vulnerable.
8. Forty years of 40-hour workweeks seems long. But for those staring down an empty retirement, the unknown can seem longer.  All of a sudden, people have to ask, ’What is it that I want?’   Start by writing down your values right now. Do you care about leaving a legacy for your family or in your profession? Do you want to prioritize travel? Are you the caregiver for others, whether a spouse or a grandchild?
9. As we live longer, many people are nearing retirement age and finding they don’t have enough money set aside. It’s still not too late to prepare. You may want to take on a part-time job in retirement, which also provides structure and community. If you’re not bringing in additional funding, you’ll need to carefully manage your cash flow. Many older adults downsize from a family home to an apartment; those on a particularly limited income with equity in their homes can always take out a reverse mortgage.
10. Routine is your friend. Put your wallet, keys, phone and glasses in the same place every time you walk in the door.
11. Age discrimination is pervasive, whether in the workplace or the grocery store or one’s own family. As with any other societal prejudice, the best way to change it is to speak up and challenge others’ assumptions.
12. Think about social health just as you think about physical health. Commit to repeating small actions every day, such as making a short phone call, saying hello to a neighbor or stopping by your local coffee shop or rec center on a daily walk.

2 key takeaways from the article

1. There isn’t a user manual for an aging body. But there should be.  
2. Some answers to burning questions about how to emotionally and financially prepare for the golden years.  When it comes to where one should grow old, there are two key things to consider: comfort and belonging.  Do you regularly see friends? Do you have an active community? Are there people who you rely on, and who rely on you?  As you age, one of your most important relationships will be with your primary-care provider, so it’s worth choosing them carefully.  Routine is your friend. Put your wallet, keys, phone and glasses in the same place every time you walk in the door.  Think about social health just as you think about physical health. Commit to repeating small actions every day, such as making a short phone call, saying hello to a neighbor or stopping by your local coffee shop or rec center on a daily walk.

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Topics:  Ageism,  Longevity, Medical, Health