Aging is just a matter of attitude adjustment

Sometimes when Paul Nishimura, 60, and his wife, Joy, go to clubs like the Republik to listen to music, they look around and it seems like they’re the oldest couple there.

But Nishimura doesn’t mind because going to concerts is something they enjoy.

“I think old is a state of mind. If you feel that you’re old, you’re going to act old,” he said. “I don’t really look at age. It’s just a number.”

Nishimura is an AARP volunteer, and his attitude — that age shouldn’t prevent you from living the life you want to live — is something we see a lot of.

What is “old” anyway? Too often our preconceptions are based on outdated stereotypes.

The first baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are now entering their 70s.

In a recent AARP survey, young people, especially those between 18 and 39, believe it’s normal to be depressed once you hit 60. But ask people 60 and older, and they report that they are happier than people under 60, and often it’s the happiest time of their lives.

About 67 percent of people 60 and older said they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with life, compared with 61 percent of those 18 to 39 and 60 percent of those 40 to 59. Only 10 percent of those 60 and older believe that old age is a “depressing stage of life.”

In other words, getting older is much more satisfying than younger people realize.

The fact is we can generally expect to live longer, healthier lives than our parents – especially if we are lucky enough to live in Hawaii. People here have the highest life expectancy in the nation. The life expectancy in Hawaii is about 81.2 – that’s three years longer than the rest of the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For many of us, that time will be spent enjoying life, especially if you live a healthy lifestyle and are financially prepared to live for a long time.

And while health becomes a bigger concern and expense as you age, Hawaii’s high cost of living also makes it difficult for people to afford to retire as early as they might prefer. Our kupuna are helped by key programs and laws that AARP fights hard to protect: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Prepaid Healthcare protection and caregiving support.

Social Security alone keeps about 55,000 Hawaii residents out of poverty. About 38 percent of people over 65 rely on it for 50 percent or more of their income. And for 16 percent of Hawaii’s residents, it is 90 percent or more of their income.

One thing we’ve learned is that age need not keep you from helping others.

Geminiano “Toy” Arre is an example of that. The longtime Filipino community leader and a member of AARP Hawaii’s executive board is 83.

“I see a lot of younger people who are not able to do things that I can do,” he said. “My philosophy of life is that it is a continuous learning process. When you stop learning, you’re old.”

The only concession he’s made to his age is that he doesn’t go out to dinners and community functions as often, cutting back from most nights to just two or three times a week. And he gets home by 10 p.m., rather than staying out later.

He still volunteers and wants to help others.

“I don’t view age as a number of years,” he said, “but in terms of physical capabilities to do something that’s useful for society or for yourself.”

So don’t let your age limit how you live. Life is not about age. It’s about how much more you can learn, enjoy and accomplish.