Speaking ahead off the meeting Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, Consultant Geriatrician at St Vincent’s Hospital, said “As we age the need for a good diet and exercise becomes more important. Eating healthy and exercising within limits will have beneficial effects for any age group. It’s also important to keep our minds in good shape by finding new interests to keep the mind active and help brain function.
“A recipe for aging has no secret ingredient and can only be achieved by a combination of personal responsibility, government policy and adequate financial support.”
The RCPI College was founded in 1654 by John Stearne; the meeting room was lit by ten spider-like chandeliers, and the walls were adorned by numerous old paintings. Guest speaker, sports broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, 78, said he never felt old, and maybe it helps to have a passion.
Mr Ó Muircheartaigh said, “My passion is sport, and when your heart is in something, life is not about aging; for me each day is another experience on an indefinite journey. I take care of the body by eating plainly, drinking bottled water and although doctors don’t advocate it as a great exercise I play a lot of golf which sometimes entails walking six miles a day.”
Brian Lawlor, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at Trinity College, said 60 is now considered young and studies have shown that there are seven basic rules to live by if you want to achieve successful aging which include exercise, mental stimulation, new learning, less stress, being socially active, good diet and positive thinking. He said new learning stimulates the brain and the brain can increase in size at any age. He also stressed that medicine intake should be reviewed.
Robin Webster, CEO of Age Action Ireland, felt that there was an acute problem with ageism in Ireland and he said, “The government itself is guilty of ageism when it charged for home nursing care and still no person has been held accountable for that. It is estimated that 1,840 people are affected by elder abuse and this number may be just the tip of the iceberg.
"Policies should be developed by government to make positive aging the norm. It’s time to recognise and strengthen the enormous contributions made by older people. Ireland's training Employment Authority, FÁS, has failed considerably in promoting positive aging when it has limited its training age to 66 years. Retirement should not be compulsory though I applaud people who take early retirement to try something new.
"We should be celebrating people who have lived 70, 80, 90, or more years. We can resist ageism on a individual basis by having the right attitude, by having an attitude of empowerment and control and by taking the lead in asserting yourself and using it, there needs to be a revolution in attitudes.”
Also mentioned were sleep patterns and the length of time needed for a healthy night’s sleep. It was advised that it depends on the individual, while some may need nine hours others can manage very well on six hours sleep. It’s the quality of sleep that’s important, poor quality sleep can result in poor concentration.
Also, a moderate intake of vitamin E, a daily glass of red wine, protein and polyunsaturated fats found in fish all contribute to successful aging. Ironically nobody mentioned that there might be a spiritual element involved in successful aging. One man asked if regular sex might be a helpful activity for positive aging, the experts replied “Everything in moderation.”
Doctor O'Shea said, “In the last seven years Ireland’s population grew faster than any other EU state and by 2011 it is estimated that 14 per cent of people living in Ireland will be aged 65 and over. This demographic shift will challenge us as individuals and as a society. We all have a responsibility to equip ourselves for successful living”