Redefining Health

In late 2021 National Geographic and AARP discussed how Americans viewed aging after the COVID pandemic. To make the study as useful as possible the same questions were asked of 2,500 people ages 18 into their 90’s, to see how the answers varied over the adulthood arc. The answers led to “seniors redefining health.”

“Age is just a number assigned to me”, replied one 56-year-old participant, “I want to live as long as I possibly can and enjoy it, but I do not want to be old and cannot function, I want to be healthy.”

Below are the questions and responses by age group:

#1 – If you could take a pill that would extend your life by 10-years, how likely would you be to    take it?

                        AGES             %

18-39               72%

                        40-49               78%

                        50-59               80%

                        60-69               80%

                        70-79               78%

                        80 +                 70%

#2 – How many of you would rate your heath as very good or excellent?

                        18-39               42%

                        40-49               37%

                        50-59               39%    

                        60-69               44%

                        70-79               49%

                        80 +                 49%

#3 – How many of you get restful sleep?

                        18-39               62%

                        49-49               65%

                        50-59               65%

                        60-69               75%

                        70-79               78%

                        80 +                 75%

#4 – How many of you maintain a healthy heart?

                        18-39               57%

                        40-49               60%

                        50-59               64%

                        60-69               77%

                        70-79               85%

                        80 +                 86%

#5 – How many of you maintain a healthy weight?

                        18-39               66%

                        40-49               60%

                        50-59               61%

                        60-69               66%

                        70-79               70%

                        80 +                 74%

#6 – How many maintain physical stamina?

                        19-39               55%

                        40-49               54%

                        50-59               58%

                        60-69               64%

                        70-79               67%

                        80 +                 74%

Another fact found in the study is that 44% of seniors 80 or older do strength training – making them serious about maintaining muscular strength and its benefits to quality of life.

The responses of this study reveal that older people are often better models of healthy living than the younger generations. Maybe, in an effort to delay the day when they face mental and/or mobility declines, they should emulate the senior citizens of America.