It’s never too late to plan for good health

Healthy ageing received huge national interest in a recent report jointly produced by the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health and Pfizer Australia.

The findings are based on responses from 1456 Australians aged 18 years and over, who discussed their views on healthy ageing. The research was conducted in April 2005 by independent consultants Stollznow Research, on behalf of  the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health.

Key result

The survey shows that twice as many people have financial plans in place versus other retirement plans, such as transitional easing into retirement, maintenance of social contact, lifestyle planning and  prevention of disease.

Key findings

• People aged 31–50 years are more likely to feel that work, family and everyday life interferes with  time alone  with their partner.

• Eighty-eight per cent of people consider losing loved ones their greatest fear. This was followed by fear of losing their independence, fear of physical health-related issues, fear of mental health-related issues and financial insecurities.

• Despite these fears, the only area most Australians plan for is financial security.

• Health checks are not done regularly, with 60  per  cent of Australians not having blood sugar  levels tested regularly.

• Australians report that they are neglecting their relationships with loved ones through overwhelming work and life commitments.

• Older Australians are more likely to share regular intimacy with their partners than younger Australians.

• Regular intimacy with partners increases after 50  years of age, with almost two-thirds of Australians aged over 50  making a specific effort to  have intimate time with their  partner.

Ageing well

In Australia today, women are living four years longer than they were 20 years ago. Making sure we ‘age well’, so that we improve our health for later years, makes sense.

Ageing well is about living healthier, not just longer

A healthy lifestyle will help to prevent chronic disease and improve longevity. Socialising and participating in physical activity and eating healthy  foods is good for both your emotional and  physical health. Chronic health conditions, common in older age, can often be related to lifestyle risk factors, such as  lack of physical activity and poor nutrition. The good news is that lifestyle risk factors can be reduced: all it takes is commitment and learning new strategies to replace old habits.

Talk to your health practitioner about health issues as you age

Some chronic conditions, such as osteoporosis and incontinence, are common in older people, so it is important to discuss with your health practitioner ways to  improve bone health and bladder function.

Preventing and managing osteoporosis requires a lifelong intake of calcium, a nutritious diet, adequate Vitamin D and an active lifestyle. Falls are common in older people and can result in broken bones. There are many ways that  people can reduce their  risk of falling.

Regular pelvic floor exercises are important in managing urinary incontinence.

Ageing can be a positive experience

It is important to see your health practitioner for  regular check-ups. Remember, prevention is better than a cure.

Early menopause… Karen’s story

My story is... I was 28 years old. I already had two beautiful children, one of each. So I guess in a way, you could say I was lucky! The trouble started when I tried and I tried... and again tried to fall pregnant for what I thought would be the final last time. Looking back it was a very frustrating time for all.

I had missed periods, so off I went to do a home pregnancy test, only to come up negative. Then off  to the doctor convinced that “This time I must be pregnant”, only to have my doctor put it (missed period) down to stress and it will happen when it  happens.

Needless to say this went on for some months. Then  there was the depression, mood swings and hot flushes - my god! I started to see a counsellor who thought I had post-natal depression. After all, my little girl was only two years old and a handful at that. We put the hot flushes down to anxiety attacks. By this stage I was in severe depression and felt totally out of control. I went on antidepressants for  a  while but that wasn’t really my thing.

Close to one year after I had my very first symptoms, I was diagnosed with early menopause at the age of 28. The youngest age my doctor had seen personally. I still find it difficult to talk about. You could say embarrassing and ashamed leap to mind. But as I mentioned earlier, I do realise I am one of the lucky ones because I was able to have two beautiful children. If I’d left it a few years later, then I might not be so lucky.

All the same, you still can’t help feeling a little bit cheated and envious when sitting with the kindy mums having a coffee and the conversation goes like  this, “I’m going to have another one when Tommy goes to pre-school, what about you?”

I just smile and reply, “No more for me”.

Karen* 30 years

Western Australia

* Not the writer’s real name

Early menopause support

Early menopause – that is, menopause before the age of 40 – is a subject that receives little attention. Yet surprisingly, around one in 100 women experience the symptoms of early menopause, including young women in their teenage years and  early 20s.

For further information on early menopause please log on to www.earlymenopause.org.au or call tollfree on 1800 151 441.

This resource was developed with the support of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing.

Due to recent changes in Australian privacy laws your permission is required for The Jean Hailes Foundation to continue sending you information about our activities. You will continue to receive information unless you indicate otherwise. If you wish to be removed from our mailing list, or would like to make changes or additions to your contact details, please contact us on 03 9562 6771 (1800 151 441 tollfree).
The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. 

© The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health.

Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or reused for any commercial purposes.