Siblings John and Ruth both had a longer-than-average lifespan. John lived until he was 90, and Ruth lived until she was 94. However, John had a much longer healthspan.
A Shorter Lifespan but a Longer Healthspan
After John retired from his position as a marketing manager, he started sharing his expertise as a volunteer for a local nonprofit. He also spent more time doing something he loved—working out at the local gym and working in his garden. Sometimes, John confessed, he still enjoyed flirting with the young women and liked to show off on the treadmill when he knew they could see him. John enjoyed his life to the fullest. One day, shortly after his ninetieth birthday, he had a fatal heart attack.
A Shorter Healthspan but a Longer Lifespan
When Ruth retired from her position as an office manager, she believed it was her time to relax and enjoy herself. She liked to watch afternoon sitcoms on television, play online games, and putter in her garden. When she was about 70, Ruth started losing her balance periodically and was also diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. When she was 75, she fell and broke her shoulder. After spending time in rehab, Ruth became depressed and spent more time sitting and munching on comfort food. By the time she was 79, Ruth needed to wear adult diapers 24/7. When she turned 80, Ruth needed more care than her family could provide. She spent the next 14 years in an assisted care facility. When she ran out of money to pay for her care, she was eligible for Medicaid but ended up spending her remaining years in a shared, tiny room at the facility.
Healthspan Described
Healthspan has been described in different ways, including the years we live free from “chronic and debilitating disease” to maintaining life quality and function to the degree possible until the end of life. When Ruth’s quality of life started to diminish when she was about 75. Yet she lived another 19 years—fourteen of which were in an assisted care facility.
The average American has about a nine-year gap between their healthspan and their lifespan. If we want to enjoy our lives to the fullest now and in the future, it is imperative that we focus on enhancing our lifespan rather than simply living a long life.
Increasing Your Healthspan
Research suggests lifestyle is key in extending our healthspan. Regular exercise, limiting the amount of time sitting, controlling stress, getting sufficient sleep, eating a healthy diet (e.g., the Mediterranean Diet), having a positive attitude, maintaining social connections, and having a sense of purpose.