by Lisbeth Endre

I’ve often heard older people say “if they knew they were going to live so long, they’d of taken better care of themselves”.  You can’t get back what’s done, but you can make the best of what’s left.

Life expectancy in this country has been rising steeply since 1990, and the National Center for Heath Statistics concludes that the older you are today, the greater the age you are likely to reach. Men and women who made it to age 75 in 2010 can expect to still be around in 2020 and 2021, respectively. At age 85, the odds are good that you’ll reach 91. There was big news recently that if you were born in 2000, you would live to be 100.

One big question remains. Why do women live longer than men? The short answer is that no one really knows. However, one good explanation is the gender gap in heart disease risk. Women tend to lag behind men in death rates from heart disease,  some of this difference is presumably due to the protective effect of the female hormone estrogen.

Prepare financially, seniors can not rely on social security benefits alone. Max out your 401k, set aside a portion from each check. You will need the appropriate funds to support your retirement lifestyle. The social security system is under increasing strain as more baby boomers are retiring and there are fewer workers available to pay their benefits.

Healthcare is another factor to take in consideration, you can’t solely rely on Medicare. Long term care, yet another thing to consider. These cost could severely dip into your retirement. Lots to think about. So, how early should prepare for retirement? Start today.

Take better care of your health. It’s never too late to start, again, start today. It’s as simple as eating natural foods, such as fruits, nuts, grains, beans and vegetables. Eat good fats, high in Omega 3. Eat slower and smaller portions. Walk and participate in some sort of strength training program. It’s important to stay socially engaged. There is nothing wrong with living longer as long as you are prepared. Remember you are only as old as you feel.

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