AGING l

A PLAN FOR Successful Aging

uch has been written about how Baby Boomers are turning notions about aging on its head. Every day we hear about ways they defy stereotypes of what it means to be a certain age. Not only do Boomers refuse to accept that aging brings unavoidable decline and illness, but they also refuse to accept that with aging comes oldness. What’s the difference between aging and oldness, then? Aging can be viewed as a process. We go on aging for years and years. It’s a matter of chronology. Oldness, however, is a state of mind. Oldness connotes frailty, inability, lacking vitality, a bleak outlook. But it’s possible to choose not to have that view of self just because we are a certain age. Indeed, studies have shown that beliefs of one’s self during aging may influence the course of aging: people with strong, positive attitudes toward aging tend to live about 7.5 years longer than those with negative attitudes.

For many Boomers, thinking positively about the aging process is perfectly manifested in how they approach retirement. For many, this transition M from working to not working represents the start of a new life, not the entry into oldness. It’s a time that many look forward to and, not surprisingly, devote a lot of time toward planning. A big part of that planning relates to the financials, ensuring they’ll have enough money to fully enjoy a work-free life. But for some reason, they don’t spend as much time planning how to ensure they can enjoy a work-free life. That means investing in your health as much as you invest in your retirement account. Boomers have many ideas about what that work-free life will look like for them. But much of those aspirations depend on one’s ability to execute. While some aspects of health we can control, there are others we simply can’t. But the health issues that can often accompany chronological aging don’t have to contribute to feeling old if they are planned with intention. Understanding that makes it vital that planning for aging is an integral part of planning for retirement. As Boomers enter the first phase of retirement and consider where and how to live, let’s get them thinking about the later years of retirement, too. They should research their options now to age in place when the time comes. As Boomers perpetuate these positive changes, we will be at the forefront of guiding them to identify physicians, hospitals, rehab facilities, and even in-home care providers. The reality is that today everyone wants to age successfully - without feeling old. And all of us working in this field can be a part of that success. By changing their mindset and their approach to include preparing for their elder years, they will indeed be golden!

LIVE ABOUT 7.5

YEARS LONGER WHEN YOU HAVE A STRONG POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD AGING THAN THOSE WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES