What a geriatric doctor wishes you knew now for healthy aging
Food, exercise and social connection are three important pillars for healthy aging.
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Longevity isn’t just about living a long life but also about living well.
More than 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2040, the Department of Health and Human Services projects. And more than 56% of those turning 65 will need some sort of long-term service.
Fortunately, there are things you can do at any age to ensure that you will maintain your health as the years go on, according to Dr. John Batsis, a geriatrician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Batsis, an associate professor at UNC’s School of Medicine and Gillings School of Global Public Health, spoke with CNN about what people should know about healthy aging.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Some people may find it hard to relate their health behaviors now to outcomes in their later years. Why should people start to think about healthy aging early?
Dr. John Batsis: There will be individuals who may become sick and frail. There will be individuals who are robust into their 90s. I have patients who are still extremely fit and active — they may not be as active as they were 20 years ago, but they are still doing the things that they want to do.
You have to find a sense of self, a sense of purpose. You have to find a sense of what makes you happy, and it may be different at each stage of life.
You can’t change your genetics; you can’t change your past. You can try to change your future with things that are modifiable. If it means altering what you’re eating or how much you’re exercising or engaging in the community, or stopping smoking or drinking — these are things that are in your control. And there are tools — like working with your health care team and community resources — that may be available to be able to help you achieve those.
Part of it is really getting to a point that you’re saying, “Yeah, I’m willing to change.” You have to be willing to change to effect that change.
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