Healthy Aging: Getting Better with Age
Say what you want about getting older, but here at BCSLA, we know the truth! Life gets better with age! From interviews to auditing senior living communities across BC, we like to think of ourselves as quite the experts in the benefits and joy of healthy aging. If you don’t believe us, check out below and see just how lucky you are to be aging in Canada!
Less Sick Days
Did you know, contrary to belief, our immune systems become smarter as we age? It all starts with these little soldiers called white blood cells. Over the years, these soldiers are exposed to various invaders and begin keeping tabs on how to battle each one. This memory process is designed to allow our white blood cells to know exactly how to fight an invader when it comes around the next time.
Lucky for us, having more years on this planet means we have been exposed to years and years of nasty little invaders. The older we get, the less unfamiliar invaders our immune system may have to fight, making our “battles” are less frequent.
As long as you keep yourself healthy (eat a balanced diet, exercise, etc.), you may only catch one or two colds a year versus three to four times for the average 20-year-old. Definitely a win!
Retirement
The moment we’ve all been waiting for, retirement! It’s time for the freedom to live life to the fullest after years of hard work and determination. You deserve it, so why not celebrate it? It’s what we’ve all worked so hard for; years full of adventures, family, hobbies, and relaxation. Enjoy the good life and bask in the best parts of healthy aging.
Additional Tax Credits
In Canada, retirement can be some of the best years of your life. This tax season, consider increasing your income to keep more money in your pocket for things that bring your life joy. Speak with your financial advisor about Canada’s senior tax credits that you may be eligible for. Depending on your income and age, you can receive a tax credit of up to 15% of your income.
In addition, depending on your pension income, you may be able to claim up to $2,000 or take advantage of income bracket differences with your spouse to save money on your next taxes.
More Clever
Yes, you read that right! Not only does our immune system get smarter, but so does our brain! Although our motor skills and cognitive function can decline, our vocabulary, verbal memory, and ability to problem solve actually can improve.
Recent research has shown that the amount of fatty material protecting our neurons grows as we age. This material protects our neurons and speeds up how fast they fire information, leaving us with a more efficient brain for incoming and outgoing information.
One study done by Harvard researchers argues for us “…to think of aging as a ripening process rather than a decline.”
Better Emotional Resilience
Mental health and wellness are crucial aspects of healthy aging. Learning and growing means going through a lot of experiences that support our personal development, which allows our mental resilience to improve over time, leaving us more grateful and less anxious in our retirement years.
In fact, last year [2020], there was a national survey distributed to measure our gratitude during the pandemic. Those 55 and older showed they were significantly more grateful for what they had in 2020. Meaning that although times have been tough, we have been through enough to know that we are fortunate as long as we have our health, support system, and family.
This year, let’s use that gratitude to remember just how much fun healthy aging can be. Take advantage of these years; you deserve it!
If you’re ready to enhance your retirement, we encourage you to view our member directory and find a senior living community in British Columbia that promotes healthy aging!
