ON TRACK
How old are you, really? We have all heard it said many times that you are only as old as you feel – and it just may be true. JUDY RAFFERTY explains the three different measures for deciding our age.
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here are days when I feel like an octogenarian and others when I am 20 again. So how old are we really? Is it our psychological age, our physical age or our chronological age that dates us? We tend to believe that all three ages – psychological, physical and chronological – will be consistent, but this is not the case. The difference between them can result in a significant difference in how we age and how we experience ageing. Psychological age is about how you think, respond and behave. It is hoped that as you age you become more mature emotionally. This does not mean becoming more staid and serious but being able to handle emotions without reactivity. Psychological age is about attitude. Professor of Public Health and Psychology at the Yale School of Public Health Becca Levy, and other researchers, have shown that negative beliefs and stereotypes about ageing
predict many adverse outcomes among older individuals. Levy’s studies have shown that the stereotypes we have about age influence cognitive and physical performance. People exposed to positive cognitive or physical stereotypes performed significantly better compared to those exposed to negative stereotypes. Those with more negative age stereotypes demonstrated significantly worse memory performance (a 32 per cent decline) than those with less negative age stereotypes. One of the highest risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease is a particular variant of the APOE gene. Those with the gene variant but with positive age beliefs were 49.8 per cent less likely to develop dementia than those with the gene variant and negative age beliefs. Another study by Levy and her associates found that people with more positive self- perceptions of ageing lived, on average, 7.6 years longer than people
with more negative views. Psychological age reflects our beliefs, attitudes and stereotypes about age. And those beliefs, attitudes and stereotypes are important determinants in how we age – whether we become younger than our years or older than our years. Physical age, sometimes called biological age, relates independently to all the different systems and organs in the body. Biological age is hard to reliably identify as a single figure. Perhaps the one that many people worry about most is brain age. Anxiety around dementia is notable in the many jokes about it. There is often a selfdepreciating reference made by an older person to a “senior moment” even though everyone has these moments regardless of age. Research is showing that individual cognitive decline can begin anywhere from age 20 onwards. And then there is your chronological age. This age is simply the number of birthdays you have had. Are you chronologically challenged? Are you
challenged by aligning the age you are according to your birth certificate with the felt age of your body and mind? Which is the older? If you didn’t know how old you are, what age would you be? As a psychologist, I spend time talking to people about their retirement, helping them to plan for it and to make decisions about it. It is important in those discussions for individuals to consider their chronological age and their felt age. It is important for them to challenge expectations of retiring at 65 or 67 or at any specified age. It is important not to be restricted by expectations of your behaviour based on age. Some of us will not live according to stereotypes of ageing and will break the age barriers. Perhaps you will be one of those who make 80 the new 50. Judy Rafferty is the author of Retirement Your Way, A Practical Guide to Knowing What You Want and How to Get It, at all good bookshops and online.
Establish a routine for life after work After years in the workforce, adjusting to life as a retiree can be a challenge. DAVIE FOGARTY suggests ways to establish a healthy retirement routine.
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he new-found abundance of time can be disorienting, and many can struggle to find structure and balance in their day. While it may be stressful at the start, a retiree’s ability to adapt and re-focus will help them feel fulfilled and happy. Here are five strategies to help: 1. Participate in regular exercise. Regular physical activity plays a strong role in maintaining good quality of life, social wellbeing and cognitive function. Australian health guidelines recommend those aged 65 years or older engage in at least 30 minutes of
moderate physical activity every day but data reveals only 28 per cent do. 2. Learn a new skill or hobby. Leisure activities from physical to creative recreation, can improve motivation and psychological wellbeing. Retirement increases the time available, which can be both exciting and daunting. To avoid getting lost in the day and losing purpose, reflect on your interests and hobbies. 3. Prioritise quality sleep. As we get older, changes in hormone levels can often lead to reduced sleep quality. Melatonin production slows,
causing sleep to become more fragmented. Establish a regular sleep schedule that helps your body find a natural rhythm. If you struggle to fall asleep, try adding weight. Weighted blankets use deep pressure stimulation which can reduce restless night-time movement and relieve stress. 4. Maintain social connections. We are naturally social beings and connecting with those around us is essential for health. Retirement can disconnect people from various aspects of work, such as a daily routine, access to a stable social network, positive
self-identity and a sense of meaning. Find new ways to be social – phone or video calls, share a meal, exercise with a friend or partner, take up a class. 5. Engage in volunteer work. Volunteering is a social connection that can provide a sense of fulfilment and help in transitioning from work to retirement, as it is a structured way to make a meaningful contribution. With a wide range of volunteering options available, find a cause that benefits you as much as others. Davie Fogarty is founder of Calming Blankets. Visit calmingblankets.com.au
All the staff have They make each resident feel worthy
Our Local Aged Care Residences:
“Exemplary, kind, considerate and good natured care delivered to all of the residents.” - Judy, daughter of Bribie Cove resident.
Bribie Cove | Bongaree 199–213 Goodwin Drive
CapellaBay | Capalaba 260 Old Cleveland Rd East
Glasshouse Views | Beerwah 96–104 Peachester Road
Seaton Place | Cleveland 111 Smith Street
Buderim Views | Buderim 383 Mooloolaba Road
Seabrook | Deception Bay 15 - 29 Bonton Ave
Our Victorian Residences:
The Ormsby | Buderim 112 Burnett Street 33 Newmans Road, Templestowe 441 Waterfall Gully Road, Rosebud
1300 899 222 | mckenzieacg.com
1 Innisfallen Avenue, Templestowe
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