Americans Don't Want To Live to be 100
Despite medical innovations that promise to slow the debilitating effects of aging, Americans say they don't want to live to age 100 th . Concerns about poor health and financial insecurity are the top reasons cited for not wanting to join the centenarian ranks, according to a new survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Other concerns include losing mental faculties, depending on others, burdening the family, becoming isolated and living in a nursing home.
These fears are outdated and need to be addressed in senior-focused public awareness campaigns with messages that focus on exercise, healthy eating habits and maintaining a positive attitude. Many seniors are already on their way to leading healthy lives in spite of their fears about what old age means.
The survey, which found that 63 percent of Americans don't want to reach 100, also found that 84 percent are exercising, eating well, watching their weight and maintaining a positive outlook. The survey is based on interviews with 2,032 adults nationwide.
Other survey highlights include:
- 60 percent of Americans believe life will improve for the average 80-year-old.
- 57 percent expect medical breakthroughs to increase life-expectancy to 120 years old within the next century.
- Most believe there will be a cure for AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.
- AARP estimates there will be about 70 million older people by 2030.
(AARP, 202/434-2277,http://www.aarp.org)
Promoting Fitness Standards For Seniors
Frailty and inactivity don't have to shape a person's golden years. To promote better senior-focused fitness, researchers at California State University, Fullerton (CSU) are pushing for better fitness performance standards.
These standards would allow anyone 60 and older to quickly assess if they're in good physical condition for their age. CSU Professor Roberta Rikli led a study of 7,000 seniors (ages 60 to 94) that provides insight creating these standards.
Frailty is among the top risks of aging. By age 70, most people have at least 20 percent less muscle than they did at age 30. While some of this deterioration is inevitable, at least half is due to increased lack of activity with age, according to the study.
Fitness ability declines an average 1 percent a year with age, according to the study, which suggests that seniors should achieve moderate physical activity at least three times a week.
Factors used to assess physical fitness for seniors include:
- How many times in 30 seconds they could rise from a straight-backed chair without using their arms to push up.
- How many times in 30 seconds they could lift a weight-5 pounds for women, 8 pounds for men-in a bicep curl.
- How many yards they could walk in six minutes.
So far, 267 senior centers that participated in the study are using the fitness assessments. By this fall, Rikli hopes to have consumer brochures available for seniors to measure their fitness levels compared to national standards.
(California State University, Dr. Roberta Rikli, 714/278-3316)
Elder Boomers Expected To Become Centenarians
Centenarians are among the fastest growing segments of our population, according to the Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Currently there are about 50,000 centenarians in the U.S. The first wave of baby boomers, also called "elder boomers," is expected to drive this unprecedented growth in the first decade of the next century.
Approximately 3 million of these elder boomers can expect to become centenarians. Their high level of education, income and attention to good health habits is what will help them become centenarians.
(Harvard, http://www.med.harvard.edu/programs/necs/)