World of Adults. How to Live In It Now?

As stated in the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), every fifth person on earth (22%) will be over 60 years of age by the year 2050. According to the calculations of sociologists, by 2050, each third resident of Europe’s most developed countries will be elderly.

Trading in Quantity for Quality

The tendency will not change: all in all, people live longer and have fewer children. The share of aged individuals is increasing each year, and this changes our world. We get a huge number of experienced, wise people who represent a significant part of the population. Extending the lifespan, we are not extending the youthfulness at ll. We expan the active period of life of the adult, mature people who will live another 30-40 years while not being young. And it crucial that this period remains an enjoyable one, associated with satisfaction from life, and stopped to be just living through the time. It should become the main period for enjoying life when the race of getting an education, building a career, upbringing children, and everything else is over, and finally, there is a time to oneself.

Now the main priority for humanity is not to increase longevity but to keep those over 60 years of age active. This should allow them to take care of themselves, be independent, and contribute to their own lives as long as possible (preferably until the last days). In other words, it’s the time to trade in quantity for quality and make people in their 60s not feeling elderly, both medically and socially.

Did you know that the WHO has announced the decade of  2020-2030 as a Decade of Healthy Ageing? Of course, nobody assumes that all age-related diseases disappear. The point is that they will, to a large extent, stop influencing the quality of life and level of activity. Anti-aging healthcare in many countries becomes a separate sphere going beyond cosmetics and plastic surgery. Looking young is not as important as feeling well. For this purpose, everyone should stay physically and mentally active as well as keep social connections. Meanwhile, governments and society shall create optimal conditions for this effect.

Whole One Third Part of Life

What are those optimal conditions? The international non-governmental organization HelpAge International together with UNO has developed the relevant methodology. Generally, the quality of life after 60 years is evaluated under 4 parameters:

1. Financial situation. Is it possible to live a decent life on pension income? Does everyone has such a pension?
2. State of health. Here the rating is influenced by three parameters: availability of healthcare, longevity, and duration of active life.
3. Personal capabilities. This defines how the education, state of health, experience, and external environment allow a person older than 60 years of age remain useful.
4. Social conditions. Do the elderly have an opportunity to work, study, travel, and communicate? Do they have the same opportunities as younger people?

Annually HelpAge International publishes the Countries’ Rating of Living Standards for Aged People.

The rating is headed by Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden. The expected lifetime, i.e., how long you will live after the age of 60, in the most developed countries, makes 25-27 years. This is more than a third part of life, and it shouldn’t be overlooked. The feeling of guilt for your age shouldn’t make you regularly overstressed.

What You Can Do Right Now

Our main goal is to provide for those optimal conditions defined by HelpAge International.

Learn. Getting additional education or, at least, learning new computer software is useful at any age. The scientists note that almost in every case, the longevity correlates with a higher level of education and readiness to continue studying. The issue is not only about keeping the mind in shape. New skills and knowledge expand the options for socialization and employment, which contribute to the longevity in itself.

Work. For the moment there are more people aged 50 years than those aged 20. It means that they can significantly contribute to the economy due to accumulated experience, which means that they should work in its important segments. First of all, this creates a feeling of being useful and, secondly, allows making savings.

Walk. The WHO considers physical activity as almost the most essential precursor of longevity. You don’t have to walk 10,000 steps per day. According to the research 4500 steps is enough. On average, the risks of death from the main causes (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes) decrease by 15% with each new one thousand steps! But this is valid only until 7,500 steps per day. Walking above this distance doesn’t offer any benefits. And if there is no difference, why to walk more?

Communicate in social networks. Even if one day (after another 50 years) you are not able to walk and go to work, you will still stay in a good company and will have someone to talk to.

Make love. According to the data of British researchers giving up sex after 60 increases the risks of coronary heart disease and cancer for man by 46% and increases the risk of stroke for women more than twice.

Keep friendship and family relations. Especially with people of the same age. Social inclusion and sense of own worth are one of the most important prerequisites for healthy longevity, according to WHO experts.

Take regular medical examinations. Timely detection of diseases or susceptibility to them can defer that stage, which can have an impact on your ability to work. Women aged over 45 years should consult with a doctor on possibilities of menopausal therapy, which can help to live through the transition period without losing the quality of life.

Don’t hide your age. Get used to it: it’s not an advantage or disadvantage, it’s a part of your bio. In Western culture, hiding one’s age is still considered a good practice. This attitude to oneself and your age creates conditions for ageism, which has become even more widespread issue than racism or sexism, according to WHO. When you are ashamed of your age, you make it illegal or even embarrassing. It is important to realize right away that after sixty years, you do not live through but live — developing, improving, and using all your abilities, expertise, and skills. And the more active you are, the longer you live.

Those of us who are just below 50 or over 50 are the majority. It has just happened. We have made this world adult, and it looks not bad, actually. Never before it was so human, so thoughtful, so kind. We live while making ourselves and the world better. At least it’s curious since the longer we live, the more exciting things we will see and learn.