February 4, 2009

Aging and mental health

By Julie Filby

A cyclical relationship exists between mind, body and spirit. A key to successful aging is staying active, not only physically but mentally as well.

The brain
The brain atrophies without use. Brain experts are convinced that engaging in active learning throughout life will help maintain brain health in our later years. According to experts, “The brain wants to learn.” Merely replaying well-learned skills that you’ve mastered in life may not be enough. The brain requires active continuous learning. It requires change, and that change requires that you acquire new skills and abilities.

Mental exercise such as playing cards or board games, or working on crafts can increase the blood flow to the brain which can help ward off diseases, such as Stevenson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, to a certain extent. A large study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who engaged in activities such as learning to play a musical instrument or dancing were less likely to develop dementia.

Learning tasks that require mental alertness keep us engaged. Mental function helps both to facilitate productivity in later years and to strengthen our need and desire to be active (which in turn, improves our physical wellbeing). Finding ways to stimulate the brain is particularly important for someone who does not visualize working during retirement. Once a person reaches a point where they no longer want to learn or grow, it might as well be time to order the tombstone.

Social connections
Not only is it fun to spend time with friends and family, but research shows that time can also help keep your brain healthy as you age. In fact, experts say that how socially connected a person tends to be is one of the most important ways of predicting his or her health and independence in later years.

A major public-health study involving more than 116,000 participants found that people with strong relationships had less mental decline and lived more active, pain-free lives without physical limitations. Other studies suggest that people with the most limited social connections are twice as likely to die over a given period than those with the widest social networks. Many experts believe that social isolation may create a chronically stressful condition that accelerates aging.

Develop friendships and social networks at work, senior centers, places of worship and in your neighborhood. Ensure that strong human connections continue to be an integral part of your life as you age by seeking out friends, family and neighbors. Here are some ideas for staying socially connected:

• Pursue social activities, like wine tastings, lecture programs, hobby clubs or traveling with friends.
• Get involved in projects that require regular contact with others, like planning a gathering for a club, organizing a card game with friends or helping with a church event.
• Seek out people who may share your interests by getting involved at your place of worship or other organizations.
• Volunteer at a local nonprofit organization, such as a charity, school or museum.
• Join a walking or cycling club or fitness center, go golfing, or take yoga or cooking classes.
• Take an adult education or college course in something that interests you.
• Stay in touch with your neighbors and participate in neighborhood activities.
• Take advantage of programs and services offered at community and senior centers, or at your local offices for aging.
• Furry, finned, and feathered friends can bring great joy and love into our lives.  Animal shelters are full of potential companions looking for good homes.

Healthcare options
Research shows that physical and mental exercise not only helps you feel better, it can also reduce your healthcare costs. Healthcare is the second largest expense in retirement (second only to housing).

Retirees will be responsible for far more of their own healthcare expenses than in previous generations. In 1993, 40 percent of companies with 500 or more employees offered retiree healthcare coverage, but by 2004, only 20 percent did. This trend has staggering financial implications: studies estimate that a healthy 65-year-old couple that retired in 2006 needs savings of $200,000 to $330,000 to supplement Medicare and cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

On average, healthcare costs will increase an estimated 3.2 percent per year through 2030 and out-of-pocket health care costs may nearly triple, eating up a projected 35 percent of a retired couple’s after-tax income, versus 16 percent in 2000. That makes healthcare a top concern for nearly everyone at or near retirement age. With healthcare costs skyrocketing, many face stiff monthly health insurance premiums, or worse, no coverage at all.

A significant reason some retirees continue to work is for access to employer-paid (or employer-subsidized) healthcare coverage. “Job lock” describes a situation when an employee feels locked into that position (unable to leave) because of the value of the health insurance benefits. Healthcare benefits are an important form of compensation to consider when looking for a new job, or deciding whether or not to leave your current one.

Healthcare for seniors can be a maze of programs, eligibility restrictions, coverage limitations, and overlaps, with terms varying widely from program to program and plan to plan. It is very important to look into coverage and availability well before retiring. Be prepared for heath problems in retirement. Health issues are part of aging. Don’t wait until they happen to cover the costs.

Reprinted with permission from “The Guide to Retiring on Purpose: Develop a Plan and Strategy for Your Next Chapter” (Capital Consulting, 2007).