In this episode of the podcast, we discuss how you could potentially go about preparing for old age. There is a lot more to this discussion than you might imagine.
We all are hopefully going to grow old, and while preventing disease and death is great, how do we set ourselves up to actually live vigorously in our old age.
What is ageing?
- 9 hallmarks of ageing
- genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient-sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3836174/
This is a really important topic to discuss, because we will all hopefully grow old. We have an ageing population, and thus it is going to take up more and more of our resources over time (with fewer people paying into the system to pay for them) and ultimately, it is the morally right thing to look after our elders (especially our closest relatives).
So, in this episode, we will discuss how to look after yourself through the years, so you can be better prepared for old age yourself. Focusing on prevention is worth more than focusing on care (although both are needed).
The Stigma of Age
Carl Jung wrote of the cult of youth in our culture, where we romanticise all that is young and lively. Not only do we admire the energy, ambition, and care-free nature of youth, but we also allow this to degrade our valuation of normal ageing.
We celebrate the 85-year-old hiker.
We speak of being old with disdain.
But, can we see the beauty in it?
Is the grandmother at home passing on the skill of knitting, or the grandfather who shares his lessons from the war, of less value than the elderly who are still out there embracing their youthful energy on their own?
Religious or generational concerns can play an important role here, as the person who has faith, or a family to whom he wishes to pass his world to, can see a future. Without this, the finality of life can be daunting to the elderly.
Financial Health
Now, before we do go into the health and fitness stuff, we must cover one of the major elephants in the room, money. Social security/ state pensions are likely to run out by the time you need them, because the money you pay in now, goes to the people who paid in years ago. Due to inflation, population growth, more people living for longer, the pot of money just doesn’t stretch as far.
- Get a better job (5+ % raise per year to beat inflation).
- Contribute to a private pension earlier if possible (this is tax-advantaged and compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world).
- Have children or invest all the money you would have been spending on having children in a broad ETF.
- Plan ahead if you think you will need care in your old age (i.e. put money aside to deal with your medical expenses in your old age).
- Get health insurance and life insurance (especially if you have children).
- Have a last will and testament, so your loved ones are looked after.
Preparation by Life Stage
How can you prepare for old age (checklist through the years of milestones that prepare you for better health long term)
- 0-18
- learn human culture and how to fit into society (humans are hypersocial creatures and if you don’t learn this, you will always struggle)
- develop basic movement pattern competence
- attain basic education standards
- develop aerobic base
- (teen years begin developing muscle mass and strength)
- increase bone mineral density
- engage in hobbies
- 18-30
- develop strength and muscle mass
- continue to develop aerobic foundations
- further education and/or career progression
- make boatloads of money
- develop experience
- become an integral part of your community and society
- get finances in order (start (paying off debt), saving money, investing, and contributing to a pension)
- increase bone mineral density
- ensure good oral health (prevent tooth loss)
- continue engaging in hobbies
- Look after your hearing
- 30-50
- have children
- prevent bone loss (especially for women)
- ensure good oral health (prevent tooth loss)
- start health screening
- continue engaging in hobbies
- Look after your hearing
- Look after your ability to walk (feet, knees, low back)
- 50-70
- prevent muscle and strength lose
- try to overcome anabolic resistance
- prevent bone loss (especially for women)
- “brain training”
- ensure good oral health (prevent tooth loss)
- flu vaccines
- health screening
- continue engaging in hobbies
- Look after your hearing
- Look after your ability to walk (feet, knees, low back)
- 70-100
- prevent muscle and strength lose
- be able to get off the floor easily
- continue to walk
- try to overcome anabolic resistance
- maintain balance
- “brain training”
- ensure good oral health (prevent tooth loss)
- flu vaccines
- health screening
- continue engaging in hobbies
- Look after your hearing
- Look after your ability to walk (feet, knees, low back)
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