More time to live creates challenges and opportunities and alters all aspects of our lives. What could we do and, what should we do?
A longer life exposes financial risk for all. The CBC reported in 2019 that Women will manage an increasing concentration of investable assets by 2028, and women continue to outlive men by about six years. Also, we can live many years with a serious or chronic illness. Mental illness, the new pandemic, afflicts all ages. Within our aging families, we must take responsibility—for the old and the very old. Previously, the 3-stage life was education, work, and retirement. Education provided groundwork. Today learning is lifelong. More working years (older employees) compels retraining, yet ageism still stains the workplace. Outside of work, in family life, we can see ourselves as the living ancestor of four or five generations. There is much to understand and more to accomplish. Stanford University published a New Map of Life, where one reviews, reassesses and refurbishes goals, interests, education, and career.
So, The Age of Longevity gives us more time to explore and grow. What can we change, and what should we continue?
When retirement was at age 65 and the average lifespan was only around 70, retirement was a well-earned respite after a lifetime of hard work. But with increasing longevity and rising costs, a retirement lasting decades is more and more common – and running out of money is a real possibility.
Many people think that the best type of exercise is activities like long-distance running, jumping rope and playing tennis. Yet these are all high-impact exercises that bring both feet off the ground at the same time, leading to a jarring motion that comes with other risks.
In times past, multigenerational families lived under one roof. But with the average Canadian household hovering at just over 2 people, this is obviously no longer the case. The key is in creating meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships where everyone can contribute and benefit.
The need for long-term care directly correlates with longevity and today’s medical advances. These are likely to decrease the probability of becoming dependent. Medical advances could also lengthen dependent people’s life, particularly those at very moderate levels of dependency.
Ongoing learning may literally lengthen your life. In fact, study after study has correlated ongoing education with a longer life span. Some of this may be obvious: People who are better educated have access to more reliable health information, so they are able to establish healthier lifestyle habits.
Whatever you imagined for your retirement, there may be good reasons to continue working even after you hit that magic age. You don’t have to continue working long hours, but continuing to work leads to benefits in many areas, which makes it an option worth considering.
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