If we want to live our best life as we age, prepare and plan now

How we change as we age

Bodies age and change, as they have done throughout our lives. We were probably toddlers when we last sucked our big toes, or in our twenties when we log-rolled down a steep slope without fear of nausea at the bottom. As humans, we want control over our lives, our surroundings, and our choices, as this gives us a sense of who we are and maintains our dignity. Ageing threatens this, as ageing is as unpredictable as it is inevitable.

Ageing well describes a life goal to maintain autonomy and dignity as we age. And this is so important, as more and more research shows that happier people have better mental and physical health, leading to longer lives. Ageing well is about improving our understanding of ageing and the challenges it can bring. Better preparation and planning for the potential consequences of ageing can lead to greater happiness and purpose.

Our ability to grasp the opportunity to age well is impacted by societal factors such as the wealth of our society, (for example, life expectancy in the United States peaked in 2014 and has since fallen) and the level of ageism within it. The World Health Organisation reports 1 in 2 people are ageist towards older people. There is a need for society to recognise that older people are not a homogenous bunch – for example, only 15% of businesses have ageing market strategies that understand that the needs of a 65-year-old can be very different to that of a 95-year-old. The reality is we all must start having conversations early to support us make decisions that can help us plan for the life we want when we are older, and for most of us, this is living safe and well at home in our local community.

How can we age well at home?

As individuals, we need to plan and prepare how to age well despite societal pressures. And the greatest pressure to postpone thinking about ageing often comes from ourselves and our family. However, if we want to live our best lives as we age, the time to prepare and plan is now.  If we want to live in our own home for as long as possible – even if we needed care and support to do so, (which survey after survey suggests we do), the time to make modifications at home (such as installing a wet room downstairs) is now, not during a health crisis when we’re stuck in a hospital. We need to start conversations with our families now, start budgeting for the future, and put our legal affairs in order now.

Ageing well, then, starts with considering what our life goals are. This includes thinking about where we want to live and how we want to live. It involves contingency planning. We need to think about how we achieve goals such as continuing to socialise in the event something happened to us, or we are no longer able to drive a car. And it involves conversations with other people such as family and professionals like solicitors and doctors, whose help we may need to realise our goals.  

We hope that by putting your affairs in order you are in a better position to live as independently as you can. Our hope is that this allows you, to quote the well-known psychologist and author Dr. Maureen Gaffney, to “Stumble on the secret of happiness – that life is precious and sweet and that every moment counts.”