University of Auckland Professor Ngaire Kerse has researched extensively on the topic of ageing and says more and more people will be celebrating their 100th birthdays and beyond in 50 years time as well.
Of those, half will be living independently, while the other half will be residential care.
Kerse says about 20 to 30 per cent would suffer some type of cognitive or memory problem while mobility, arthritis or cardio-vascular issues might also be on their list of ailments.
But the main physical disabilities will be related to the degradation of the senses, in particular hearing and vision, she says.
It’s not all bad news though. On the whole Kerse says research shows quality of life of those living in their 100s tends to be good.
The older people get, the more content they seem to be with their lives, she says.
How happy you are at 100 or beyond depends heavily on the level of support you have around you, either in the form of family or caregivers. A person’s immediate environment therefore becomes increasingly important in their twilight years, Kerse says.
Because of this towns and cities around the country need to do more to become age-friendly, she says, and be ready to embrace the potential dividends on offer through taking a more inclusive approach to its oldest members.
That could start with everyone simply beginning to value the older generations just that little bit more.
Source: The century club: Life as a 100-year-old and beyond | Stuff