Blue Zone 2.0: Living to be 100, part 1
Here’s how to stay socially and mentally active beyond 90
What are your thoughts on living past 90? Ask most Singaporeans, and the response is something like “Haha, no way I will live that long, no need to think about it.”
But the fact is, more Singaporeans are living to 90 and beyond. As of 2020, the number of centenarians (people reaching 100) has doubled over the past decade; and with advances in medical science, this number could increase even further in future. So a long life is nice - but how do you ensure it’s a long and happy life, with as little burden from health conditions as possible? Here are some ways:
Keeping socially active past 90
Key ways to maintain a healthy social life include:
1. Factor higher transportation costs into your retirement planning
One of the main impediments to socialising for seniors is the lack of transport. A common reason to miss birthdays, reunion dinners, community events, etc. is simply that for seniors, it may be tough to get there. The fact is, you may not be able to rely on bus and MRT transport past a certain point in life.
Now at the time of writing, transport for elderly in wheelchairs could range between $27 to over $50. There’s no telling how much it will be by the time you’re past 90, but inflation will definitely drive up the cost. So when planning your retirement needs, it may be wise to place a higher estimate on your transport costs.
Besides helping you to get out more and socialise, this is also a practical contingency. If you need frequent treatment, for example, you’ll need to cover the transport costs anyway.
2. Keep up to date with tech
Seniors who know how to use applications like FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, and so forth are better able to keep in touch - they can socialise even if they’re immobile; and for those with an active online presence, they can even socialise with people in other countries.
Government bodies like IMDA have a lot of relevant programs to support this, such as Digital For Life. What you do want to ensure though, is that you can afford the actual tech to allow this. A lot of Singaporeans think of their retirement costs as just “kaya bread and eggs in the morning,” or other such daily needs - but don’t forget to factor in the cost of replacing your phone, tablet, or other such devices in future. They do break and go obsolete with time after all.
So we’re not being materialistic when we say that, yes, it’s important to budget for some level of gadgets in your twilight years. In the current era, those gadgets aren’t just toys - they’re part of our means to keep socially active.
3. Build family traditions of frequent visiting and reunions
It’s best to start early, so the family forms a tradition of reunions. For most Singaporeans, this is usually a once-a-year meetup in the form of Christmas or Chinese New Year; but you can work toward other customs as well. Consider:
- A monthly “try-a-new-eating-place” venture (this doesn’t have to be expensive, it can be a new coffee shop even)
- A monthly meet-up for board games, tennis, etc
- Making birthday reunions a custom
The longer this goes on for, the more deeply rooted the tradition becomes; and this ensures that family doesn’t drift apart and leave its elderly members in isolation.
4. Pursue hobbies with larger local communities
Sometimes, it helps to see if a particular hobby has a large local gathering. The bigger the local clubs, the more likely you are to socialise and meet others. This can be anything from a chess club to calligraphy, music, bird song, etc.
This is a good justification to plan for a bigger entertainment fund in your old age. It’s not just some decadent indulgence - it’s a way to keep your mind fit and healthy, and it’s about a good quality of life.
Keeping mentally active past 90
Based on our existing knowledge, major factors to continued mental acuity include continued learning, and constant use of all your senses. In other words, have a hobby that requires some degree of persistent effort. Playing a musical instrument, painting, playing board games, or bird watching (and trying to identify the species of bird by sight and sound) are all good examples of this.
Nutrition and exercise are the other half of the equation. According to the Ministry of Health, a higher intake of low-fat protein, such as fish, is preferable to more red meat (although white meat like chicken is still okay). Dairy, wholemeal, and fresh fruits and vegetables are also needed to round out your diet.
Staying active (about 300 minutes or five hours of physical activity per week) also helps to prevent conditions such as dementia. And the more you socialise, the more likely you are to get that level of exercise - see how it all ties together?
If we have the right lifestyle and financial planning, we don’t need to look at a long life as some sort of drawback. There’s no need to go “I don’t want to live that long, what a burden, etc.” Instead, we can look forward to it as more time to spend with our loved ones, and more time to fulfil all our aspirations.
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