I am pleased about the government’s latest proposal to extend the retirement age beyond 65.  Whilst I realise that not everyone wants the opportunity to continue working, I feel that people who are keen to carry on should not be stopped from doing so.  Very often older people have a wealth of experience and a whole range of skills that have been built up over time, and I believe that this is to be valued and nurtured.  Being able to feel that your life still has meaning and purpose is essential is retaining self-esteem and a positive outlook.

My mum and dad are both in their mid 80s and have certainly had their fair share of health problems, including heart disease, cancer, failing eyesight and IBS, to name a few, yet they remain unerringly positive and cheerful and the reason for this, I believe, is that they still have active and meaningful lives.  Whilst having long ago retired, they are constantly busy with gardening, cooking, reading, sewing and knitting as well as being fully involved with their families and friends.   They have a ‘young’ outlook on life, and enjoy tuning in to such programmes as the new Matt Lucas & David Walliams series ‘Flylo’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity, get me out of here!’  My son who is 14 years old and attends school quite near to where my parents live goes to their house every lunch time for ‘the best cheese toasties ever’.  Word has now spread round his friends, and so there is now quite a crowd going to mum and dad’s house for their toasties.  It is now a regular part of my mum’s day to prepare Joe’s toasties, and both she and my dad look forward to the daily lunchtime visit of my son and his group of friends.  They love doing this, and feel that it keeps them young and in-touch.

Whatever you chose to do in later life (whether this be paid or voluntary work or helping out with the family), it can really add meaning and richness, beyond what material wealth can give you.

With many more of us expected to reach 100, it is important that we place an emphasis on how to remain positive into old age, as this, I believe, has a profound bearing on physical as well as mental health.   Feeling needed by others and finding one’s role in life undoubtedly has a big part to play in this.