Articles

New research shows people over 50 look forward to golden years, with ‘good health’ and ‘wisdom’ as leading reasons

Category: Health Published on Wednesday, 19 September 2012 10:57 Written by Courier Newsroom

(ARA)—With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day—and according to recently released research, a majority of them expecting to live to nearly 90—the celebration of older Americans is a developing trend, and more people are aspiring to live longer and better than ever before.

The latest research conducted by Gallup and Robinson as part of Pfizer’s Get Old initiative asked more than 1,000 Americans 18 to 65+ years old how they feel about getting old. The results showed that priorities and perceptions about aging shift over time.

Key findings of the research include:

• Nearly half of those over 50 (41 percent) said they were “optimistic” about getting old as compared with “uneasy”, “angry” or “prepared”

• A vast majority of those who feel aging is better than expected cite good health (74 percent), wisdom (72 percent) and greater appreciation for friends and family (72 percent) as the top reasons

• 51 percent of all people surveyed think they look younger than their age, and 40 percent think they are wiser than their age

• Given a list of lifetime achievements, those 18 to 34 (45 percent) rank having $1 million first, while those over 65 (48 percent) would rather see their grandchild graduate from college

“We all have one thing in common—each day we get older. At every age and stage of our lives, we can make choices and take actions that will help us live longer and better. There are so many positive role models today who are changing how people think about aging,” said Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, Pfizer’s Chief Medical Officer. “There’s a huge opportunity to support the shift that’s underway. At GetOld.com, we want to hear what people want and need to live better and healthier and create a forum for dialogue on what it means to ‘get old’ today.”

The Get Old initiative is supported by the following leading organizations: Easter Seals, International Longevity Center at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Men’s Health Network, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Consumers League, National Family Caregivers Association, Patient Advocate Foundation, Society for Women’s Health Research, Visiting Nurse Associations of America and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

The goal of Get Old is to amplify the conversation on aging and learn more about how Americans at all ages are tackling aging for themselves, their family, and society. At the center of the initiative is a first-of-its-kind online community, GetOld.com, where people can discuss aging by sharing and viewing stories, photos, and videos about getting old. The site provides people the opportunity to vote on how they feel about aging: Angry, Uneasy, Optimistic or Prepared.