The #1 Sign Someone Is Aging Well, According to a Geriatrician
Older couple smiling and posing together
We all want to thrive as older adults, but what exactly does that mean?
As primary care doctors with specified training in treating older adults, geriatricians see first-hand people who are living a healthy and satisfying life in their later years as well as people who are struggling. In both instances, there are common threads. In fact, there’s one sign in particular that’s a major indicator that someone is aging well.
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The #1 Sign of Aging Well
“Aging well means much more than staying healthy or fit,” says Dr. Theresa A. Allison, MD, PhD, a Professor of Medicine and Family & Community Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. As a geriatrician, she says that to her, “aging well” also means having meaningful engagement in daily life. This, she says, could be through time spent with loved ones or doing an activity that brings you joy. “For many people, aging well involves maintaining a sense of self in relation to something larger than the self, whether spiritual, political, or related to the world around us,” Dr. Allison says.
As part of her research on what it means to age well, Dr. Allison spent two years studying people living in a nursing home and wrote about her findings in the journal, The Gerontologist. Dr. Allison found that having meaningful relationships and engaging in meaningful activities were greatly important for one’s well-being.
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“Having relationships is especially important for many people across many ages,” Dr. Allison says. “The U.S. Surgeon General recently released a report on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation. Relationships are the cure to this epidemic.” In his report, the surgeon general points to scientific data showing that isolation is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, a decline in cognitive function, and a higher risk of depression and anxiety.
Dr. Allison adds that, for older adults whose cognition or physical function becomes impaired, relationships become important for a different reason as well. “When our memory or physical abilities decline, we need other people to help us live meaningful lives through assistance with the things we can no longer do alone,” she says.
As for engaging in meaningful activities, Dr. Allison says what this looks like varies greatly from person to person. She says it could include spending time in nature, doing something creative, doing faith-based activities, spending time with a pet, traveling or doing community work. The key is to find what is meaningful to you.
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Tips For Living a More Meaningful Life
Maybe you aren’t currently content with how you spend your days or feel isolated and lonely. What can you do to spend your days in a more meaningful way? Dr. Allison says to seek out activities that are meaningful to you that are also social. This will give you access to other people and serve as a starting point for building meaningful relationships. If you aren’t sure what sorts of activities are meaningful to you, Dr. Allison says to focus on doing the ones you enjoy. Enjoyment is meaningful!
In her research, Dr. Allison has also seen the importance of personal intellectual growth and spiritual growth. Other studies back this up as well. In terms of intellectual growth, activities such as reading, writing and playing board games have been scientifically linked to higher cognitive performance. Another study found that puzzles, being part of a reading group (such as a book club) and playing musical instruments had similar effects.
When it comes to spiritual growth, scientific studies show that spirituality is connected with positive aging, which is the concept of appreciating growing older. Research shows that religion and spirituality are often a source of comfort and strength for older people. It also serves as a way to foster community and form meaningful relationships.
As you can see, aging well is so much more than meeting a certain step goal or maintaining a certain weight. It’s about living a life full of meaning. In the end, what’s more important than that?
Next up, here's what to eat for breakfast if you want to improve your memory.
Sources
Dr. Theresa A. Allison, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Family & Community Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco
Living Longer, Not Healthier. BellSant. 2023
“Now I Write Songs”: Growth and Reciprocity After Long-Term Nursing Home Placement. The Gerontologist. 2019.
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2023.
Activity Engagement and Cognitive Performance Amongst Older Adults. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021.
Normal Cognitive Ageing. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. 2013.
The Role of Religion, Spirituality, and/or Belief in Positive Ageing for Older Adults. Geriatrics. 2018.
