This is What You Need to Know About Aging
Longevity isn’t just about living a long life but also about living well. More than 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2040, the Department of Health and Human Services projects. And more than 56% of those turning 65 will need some sort of long-term service. Fortunately, there are things you can do at any age to ensure that you will maintain your health as the years go on, according to Dr. John Batsis, a geriatrician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Batsis, an associate professor at UNC’s School of Medicine and Gillings School of Global Public Health, spoke with CNN about what people should know about healthy aging.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. CNN: Some people may find it hard to relate their health behaviors now to outcomes in their later years. Why should people start to think about healthy aging early?
Dr. John Batsis: There will be individuals who may become sick and frail. There will be individuals who are robust into their 90s. I have patients who are still extremely fit and active — they may not be as active as they were 20 years ago, but they are still doing the things that they want to do.
Excerpted from CNN
