Cultivate your reserve physical and mental capacity. Stress does not help the aging process. Also, the physically healthier you are or the more physically intact you are, the more your body can withstand the stresses and strains. Develop and nurture a support network. Join an older age support group or meet friends for a meal.
Affiliation is important to maintaining mental well being.
A few months after retirement seniors may feel like they have gotten their break or that they have had a chance to catch their breath. The number of older Americans has tripled since 1900 and in 1997 there were 33 million Americans over 65. The average American life expectancy is now 76 years of age, but if senior citizens reach 65, statistics show that more than likely they can count on an additional average of 15.5 years of life, Dr. Gruber says. In Houston, there are currently approximately 260,000 adults over 65. Although affecting a small portion of the population over 65, changes in the human brain can be so severe that they can produce psychiatric disorders.