Change is inevitable. We have a choice: we can either act to maintain control as much as possible during change, or we can let changes occur to us, which leads to pain and loss of independence. This chapter defines strategies for Adaptability. Be realistic. Don’t be fearful of slowing down. Collect information on resources designed for older adults. Join support groups. Volunteer. Engage in social events. Take advantage of digital world to communicate with family. Learn to use new gadgets. Ask for help. Don’t wait for red flags. Research transportation options. Realize early when you need more help. Make your home or apartment safe. View adapting as an opportunity to discover new things about yourself.

With the tremendous growth of people over age 65—10,000 people a day cross that marker—it is expected that in the next 20 years nearly every middle-aged person will be caregiving someone. Few have any idea what lies ahead. No clear charted course. Takes a toll, mentally and physically. Caregivers need help too. Chapter describes Seven Core Strategies that can provide the support and renewal caregivers need throughout their journey. Look for outside help. Find a support group. Figure out a self-care plan, and do it. Enlist outside help for your loved one’s physical needs. Maintain your own health. Make time to reflect on your situation. Find your team. The greatest comfort you can know is that you have cared, you have invested yourself, and that you have loved.

Creating a map to healthy aging. Discoveries I never knew. Real joy. New ways to age, going deeper, finding greater meaning. Even amidst sorrow, a love of life. Chapter summarizes key aging discoveries and what makes for good aging. Words of Lucille, at 102: “I’m not sure what follows this precious life on earth, but my faith gives me, not fear, but a grand sense of wonder about it. In life and death, we have only to do one thing: Simply, let love in.

In Sardinia, which is a Blue Zone, older people are walking cane-free, sometimes miles to their work place. They are engaged in meaningful work to support their families. Humans need purpose in their lives. In Sardinia, that greater cause is the wellbeing of their family, community, and environment. They walk, work, and interact with purpose. The need to create purpose is an essential element that can vastly improve our chance for health, fitness, and joy as we age. Understanding the critical role that having a purpose brings to our lives is the place to start. This chapter outlines strategies to find purpose: The key to finding purpose is to be doing something—not just for yourself—but for others. Chapter outlines action plans to find your purpose.

Older adults who experience social isolation are at as high risk of dying as those who smoke 15 cigarettes daily or drink more than 6 alcoholic drinks per day. Human beings are social creatures who need collaborative groups. But as we age, those groups become smaller in number. Social isolation sneaks up on us over many years. At least ¼ of older adults in US report feeling isolated. Men who are socially isolated die of an accident or suicide at twice the rate of those not socially isolated, and have far greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Both isolated men and women have higher rates of dementia. Chapter outlines seven actions to help prevent social isolation: Seek out social interaction! (Book clubs; Museum docent; volunteer to read to children.) Reach out to cultural and ethnic groups unfamiliar to you. Take advantage of home-based care. Own a pet. Maintain a healthy self-image. Consider co-housing. Reach out and connect with others.

All older persons have a capacity to continue to live a vibrant life, with joy and purpose. You just have to make sure that you’re not merely going to enjoy life. There is a goal higher than joy. Use your skills as you age. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. A self-centered attitude is a major source of unhappiness. When you dwell only on your own needs and wants, it leads to insecurity and anxiety. You have to learn to overcome that. Think more in terms of what you can do to improve another person’s life, and then go do it! The secret to finding joy? Every day try to make life a little better for someone else. Then, the joy comes.

In considering choices, think about your needs, now and in the future. How can you remain socially engaged and not isolated? What can you afford? What about health issues over time? What activities are important to you? What things do you value the most?

Death is a normal part of life. Grief is a normal part of life. Consider it a privilege to grieve—it means you have loved well. Grief will hit you in waves. It is normal for this to last for months. Chapter answers four important questions: 1. What is normal grief? 2. When should I worry about my symptoms? 3. How long will grief last? 4. How can I prepare for the loss of someone with a life-limiting illness? We can continue to feel grief even after we have completely recovered from the loss. Most importantly, don’t go through your grief alone.

Successful retirement requires proper planning through the decades, starting in your 20s and continuing through your 70s. The key to saving enough for retirement is to invest as much as possible, as early as possible. The bottom line is this: you must create an investment strategy where you literally do not run out of money before you die. Future financial freedom is dependent on the exercise of current financial discipline. By creating realistic budgets, adequately funding savings and retirement accounts, following wise investment strategies, and reacting appropriately to economic and market conditions, you have the best chance to fund and enjoy a future that meets your needs and goals. Chapter describes important financial planning through the decades of life, 20s, 30s,40s, 50s, 60s, 70s,80s, 90s, and 100s.

What is the ideal way to build strong bones? When young, run, jump, play. Drink milk. When adults, get a healthy quantity of calcium and vitamin D. Six important actions for building strong bones explained. Exercise, Vitamin D. Calcium. Limit alcohol and tobacco. For women, when 65, get bone density test to check for osteoporosis. Prevent falls. Check medications. Falls are the number one injury-related cause of fatality for people over 65. Tai chi can reduce the risk of falls by 60%!

Retirement, for some, can be one of the biggest risk factors for death. Deficits of retirement include short-term memory declines. Worsening in mobility. Increase in chronic medical conditions and mental health problems. Studies document that retirees are 40% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who don’t retire. There is need to change the culture around work to consciously adapt to needs and desires of older workers. Rename retirement “repurposing.” Rather than retirement, find a repurposed career that recognizes our need for autonomy, mastery and purpose as we age. Research shows when real-life companies have made adjustments (shorter work days; environmental changes to relieve arthritis pain or low vision) for older workers, the overall productivity of the company increases!. Need to prepare for retirement when you are still young. Live for something that matters. Build new social relationships. Make play part of life. Studies show that retiring can improve health but only if post-retirement activities are purposeful, stimulating, and active.

At 106, Eleanor’s quote: “You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.” Importance of making new friends as one ages. Many of our older friends will die. My children’s and grandchildren’s friends are also mine, through them. Your own joy increases when you make someone else happy. A highly concerning study reveals that one out of ten people report they have no close friendships at all. Everybody has something they like and can do! Volunteer! When you just think “poor me”, joy runs away from you. You have to think about making someone else happy. Bringing joy to others, focusing on others, is the surest way to know joy yourself. “Every morning when I wake up I say, ‘thank you.’ Thank you, God, for another day. Another good day.”

Today the average lifespan in the US approaches 80 years old. However, the average health span—the number of healthy years we live—is much shorter. In the US it is 63 years old. This means we are living much longer than we are healthy. Disparity in health span is substantial in the US. The most privileged have a health span that approaches their lifespan. We must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to match their health span to their lifespan. Offering realistic guide posts on what to expect with normal aging. Crucial to put aging well at the center of policy internationally to harness the power of older people and move forward globally.

Throughout our lives, our brains undergo a process of gradual, ongoing, and highly variable modifications. It is perfectly normal for people to notice slight cognitive changes by their 50s. This chapter explains how our brain changes throughout our life span. New research on dementia has good news. Just like incidence of heart disease is going down, the incidence of dementia going down! Prevalence, however, or total number of cases, is going up, because there are more older adults in the population than ever before. Research shows life-long healthy habits may cut dementia risk by at least 1/3. Employing healthy habits at age 50 reduces our risk for dementia for at least 24 years. People in Blue Zones develop dementia at a 75% lower rate. Chapter explains the top ten practices to keep brain healthy and high functioning throughout life. Pushing yourself to learn something new helps you develop new neurons and new neural connections. Actions to take explained: Exercise, Mediterranean Diet, participate in Cognitive Training/Stimulation. Engage in creative pursuits. Sleep. Be mindful of medications. Higher education. Wear hearing aids. Watch heath. Avoid social isolation. Celebrate a healthy aging brain.