Lets look at an example of one older person I had the opportunity to know. John was seventy-nine the first time I met him. Every morning he would get up at dawn to feed his two horses, three cats, two dogs, and numerous other assorted animals, including a flock of wild turkeys that visited his yard every morning. While this is an extreme, it does demonstrate that mind over matter is a fact. If people have things to do, someone to care for, they literally have less time to grow old.
Cats seem to be a favorite choice.
They are quite adaptable to day to day changes in amounts of exercise. Do not assume cats do not like to go for walks though. A cat that is introduced early on to a leash and harness will discover the joys of the outdoors and learn to look forward to a daily walk around the block or even a stroll in the garden. A woman I knew who had not gardened in years, planted a small garden the year after acquiring her cat. When I asked her that after many years of no garden, did she suddenly start one again, she said she read somewhere that cat s loved fresh catnip.