How to keep living well in retirement?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Claire Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
What is the difference between lifespan and healthspan in retirement?
Now, most of us hope to have long lives, but it is equally important to have healthy and fulfilling years later in life. Consultant in geriatric medicine at the Mater Private, Doctor Shane O’Hanlon, is here now to talk to us about how to achieve that. Good morning to you. Good morning,
Claire. Thanks really for having me in.
So we all want to live till we're what? About ninety, maybe? I may
mean for a hundred. I don't know but I mean for a hundred. I mean I have patients who've made it to a hundred, so why not? Let's
What but what do you want one hundred to look like?
That's exactly the question. So actually we're doing very well in Ireland because our lifespan is pretty good. We're actually a year better than the EU average at about eighty two, but health span is the main issue. So health span is the years that we live in good health. And actually for most of us that starts to taper off from age sixty five onwards. Retirement age. Exactly. Yeah. And that's the issue. So so
is that our mindset about retirement? 'Cause you know, um there are some of us around here who can't wait to slow down when we get to sixty five or sixty six. For
sure.
You're saying don't have that mindset. Correct.
How can retirees stay physically and mentally active after leaving work?
And actually it's the opposite. Don't slow down, speed up. So as soon as you retire, you know, a lot of people will say, Yeah, just relax, read the paper, you know, you you've done your work. But actually, the the more we do, the better to keep our brain and our body healthy. We're going to lose about 10% of our muscle mass each decade from the 60s onwards. But you can stop that. You can reverse that by getting out. And if you retire, you actually might have more time for exercise and activity. Same for your brain, you get atrophy. Shrinkage in your brain cells, we lose them every day of the week, probably a few cells going. But if you stop and you do nothing in retirement, you're gonna speed up that process as well.
And then if you're not meeting people, social isolation. So that's the equivalent in many studies of smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. So if you're sitting at home doing nothing, not meeting anyone, actually the risk of everything increases.
So you need to have a plan for when you if you are in a situation where you're going to retire from work, you have to have a big plan to make yourself busier than you were, essentially, but with nice things.
Exactly. You have to treat yourself as well. But you know, we we look at financial advisors, we make lots of plans for pension, we think about those things, but we don't really plan the health aspects of retirement.
How can families support older adults without undermining their independence?
And I suppose there's also a few myths out there that, you know, we often think, okay, say Mum or Dad has retired, uh I'll just do everything for them now. You know, I'll get the online shopping done so they don't have to go to the supermarket anymore, I'll get some ready mails in so they don't have to cook anymore, get a robot vacuum. Cleaner so they're not running up and down the stairs. But actually, if you're able to do those things, you should be doing those things because preserving our independence is the one thing for most of us that we want if we do live to a hundred. So overhelping can actually cause deconditioning or or lack of fitness and it can increase frailty, which is basically a reduction in your muscle strength.
So stop doing things for older people in your life.
So you support them. So you try and keep people doing it if it's safe and appropriate. But of course, you know, some people will get issues, say memory issues or mobility issues, and then they'll need some help. But if you're able to do these things, you should be doing it. If you're thinking of buying a present for your parents, uh a robot vacuum cleaner is not the right thing. A fitness watch actually would be much better.
Love the robot vacuum cleaner too. To
be fair. I know. I got one years ago. I was one of the first people to get them, but I'm regretting it now.
Really? Um okay.
Which health problems should older adults investigate instead of dismissing as aging?
So the other thing you want to talk to us about is accepting changes to your body and mind as you get older.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–0:09
2
What is the difference between lifespan and healthspan in retirement?
0:09–1:06
3
How can retirees stay physically and mentally active after leaving work?
1:06–2:10
4
How can families support older adults without undermining their independence?
2:10–3:15
5
Which health problems should older adults investigate instead of dismissing as aging?
3:15–4:23
6
How does strength training help older adults stay healthy and live longer?
4:23–6:40
7
How can older adults address sleep problems and safely review their medications?
6:40–8:41
8
How can walking aids and hearing aids support healthy aging and social connection?
8:41–10:43