Optimizing the Later Years of Life

Optimizing the Later Years of Life

Elements of Successful Aging

One might say that it is impossible to define successful aging in one word. This is because there are numerous components to an enhanced quality of life that leads to successful aging. Individuals who age successfully are healthy, energetic people who lead active lives. More specifically, by staying healthy, fit, and engaged with life, these people grow old to contribute to society, which enables them to remain socially involved with other people creating a life filled with utmost satisfaction. Unfortunately, when one nears the age of 30, their physical and mental capabilities begin to decline. However, luckily, this process can be detained. In the book “Successful Aging,” John Rowe, M.D. and Robert Kahn describe how to optimize our life to avoid hitting this “breaking point” in our life, and stay as healthy as possible. They emphasize that if one avoids diseases and disabilities, participates in physical and mental exercise, and social interaction, then they will see noticeable positive results in their later years of life (1998).

Avoiding Diseases

The risk of disease and sicknesses increases with age. However, some of these life-threatening situations can be prevented or detected at any early stage and thereupon, can be more easily cured. For instance, fruit and vegetable consumption can reduce the risk of a number of different cancers. Furthermore, there are many conditions that can contribute to heart disease such as high levels of cholesterol, which can be reduced by replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet, smoking, in which the person is recommended to quit as soon as possible, and hypertension and obesity, which can be treated with exercise a...

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...when as he approaches the age of 30, the individual will be more prone to see health and wellness in his proceeding years of life by adopting to a healthier lifestyle that includes these components.

Works Cited

Diener E. & Chan M.Y. (2011). Happy people live longer: Subjective well‐being contributes to health and longevity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Vol 3(1). 32-41.

Maltby J., Wood A.M., Vlaev I., Taylor M.J., & Brown G.D. (2012). Contextual effects on the perceived health benefits of exercise: The exercise rank hypothesis. Journal of Sport Psychology, Vol 34(6), 828-831.

Mukerjee S. (2013). An empirical analysis of the association between social interaction and self-rated health. American Journal of Health Promotion, Vol 27(4). 231-237.

Rowe, J.W., & Khan R.L. (1998). Successful aging: the macarthur foundation study. New York: Dell Publishing.