Dr. Haidee M.

Libre

The Art of Ageing Well

Ageing is inevitable. It is one stage of our lives that most people did not prepare for and

give much attention. Along with its physical changes, cognitive, emotional and memory are

among those human functions that are greatly affected with ageing.

In the Philippines, there is an alarming number of Filipinos suffering from lifestyle

diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Cerebrovascular Accident, or Chronic

Obstructive Disease at an early age starting from thirties to fifties. This would result to living

their years with disability with low quality of life.

As a doctor, I believe that practicing a healthy lifestyle such as having regular physical

exercise and being conscious of our food intake is a great factor in having a healthy and happy

ageing. As years passed, people have been more conscious with their lifestyle specially now that

there’s an easy access to social media. One click away and anyone can get information on a

particular disease or any ways that could promote healthy living. Celebrities, social media

influencers and the internet have played a big role on promoting this campaign. People then

follow what their icons usually do or promote.

 With all the many debilitating and degenerative diseases of our ageing population, it

made me wonder of how we can stop time or make a pill to make humans impenetrable with

these diseases or perhaps living longer and enjoying life without ay disabilities. It would be a be

a game changer if this pill will be materialized and produced as what the lecturer mentioned on

the video.

Billions of people will greatly benefit from it. The drug company will definitely have a

sky rocketing sales on this magic pill. Imagine being able to extend life beyond the expected life

span of a human, experiencing ageing beautifully and healthy without the burden of debilitating

diseases and the complications of lifestyle diseases, ditching the maintenance medications which

cost a lot and give a burden to the family of the ageing individual.

However, this pill should not be the only factor that we should rely on. Still I believe that

having a healthy lifestyle, managing stress gracefully, spending your days with loved ones and

family mean to live life worthwhile and contented.

They say age is just a number. Super agers are individuals at their 70s or 80s but still

their cognitive and physical functions are same or better of those of younger individuals. Being

one definitely is having a graceful, meaningful and happy ageing. Having mental exercises,

increasing physical capacity, engaging more socially with loved ones and important people in

your lives could help one to become a super ager.

 Having a support group is a big factor. A supportive family, an intimate group of loyal

friends, and a community that could support your needs and lifestyle help you achieve a

successful, healthy and happy ageing.

Finding your purpose and meaning in life makes a person complete. Spending the rest of

your years in this world meaningful could make someone happy and fulfilled. Thus a lot of ager

now are doing charity works and clicking off their bucketlist.

Therefore to become a successful ager, avoiding disease and disability, having high

cognitive, mental and physical function, being actively engage in life, and being psychologically

well adapted in later life are essential to live a high quality of ageing life.

I can see myself twenty years from now, retiring happily with my husband and fully

grown kids and grandchildren. I would still be active and engaging to social works and continue

to do things that I want to do in my life. I would like to see myself and my family healthy, free

from debilitating and degenerative diseases, less or no maintenance medications, thus I’d keep

on advocating practicing healthy lifestyle and having good relationship to people.