Life brings change, and every passing year means that your body, your mind, and your health will be slightly different than in the past. Many people understandably find themselves wondering how their bodies will react to the passage of time. This is even truer in 2018, when the average expected lifespan is longer than it has ever been before. But has this trend been accompanied by a proportional growth in the quality of life?
What We Expect: Aging with Dignity
More than 15 years ago, the United Nations declared that all people around the world have the right to “age with security and dignity.” Today, with more than 900 million people on Earth over the age of 60, that right is critical to the well being of more people than ever before. The goal of aging with dignity seems to be one that everybody can agree on.
What We Experience: Aging with Fewer Disabilities
In many ways, we are aging healthily. Medical advances have reduced the number of physical ailments that were once associated with aging and the greater availability of effective medicine has made it possible to live long-term with chronic conditions such as heart disease. In the U.S., many seniors are living lives that are free of serious disabilities, and people may remain active well into their eighth and ninth decades.
What We Still Need: Aging with Awareness
In order to age in a healthy way, it’s important that people have access to health care, are able to see medical specialists when necessary, and stay aware of the importance of routine screenings. We may have a long way to go, however a recent poll by Pew Research Center found that Americans are much less likely than people in other parts of the world to be concerned about the quality of life of older people—or even about their own well being when they reach retirement age.
Parkwood Heights offers a tranquil, beautiful, and energizing environment for seniors. Our spacious homes allow our residents to enjoy independence and privacy while still being able to benefit from living in a comfortable senior community. If you have any questions about our senior apartments, call (315) 986-9100.