Does it matter how old you are?

Remember when you attained a certain chronological age you could get a drivers license? Legally buy an alcoholic drink? Or, be considered an adult?

Once an adult, your chronical age determines your eligibility for Medicare and Social Security-and the timing and amount of Required Minimum Distributions from your IRA.

Other than that, your chronological age should be of no significance.

Two other determinations of age are important to you as you chronologically “grow older”:

your functional age, and
your subjective age.

In the past, you may have shaved a few years off your age to be thought of as younger, but your chronological age never changed. You can shave years off your functional and subjective age—and the resulting younger you is real.

When do you become “old”? At age 65? 75? 85? No matter the age you give as a response, the answer is wrong. Chronological aging is not synonymous with becoming old—particularly since “old” in this context is often intended as derogatory. Pervasive within employment and culture, ageism is a prejudicial attitude about aging and towards aging adults.

Most older adults defy these ageistic stereotypies by being accomplished, cultured, involved, funny, intelligent, and wise (to name a few qualities). Older adults are active physically and interpersonally, engaged with family and community members as sources of advice, support, and friendship.

Older adults might scale back on certain activities they once performed, but not because they have “given up”. They are simply adapting to new circumstances, doing things differently, or taking a little more time completing a task. What you can do, not what you cannot do, will determine your functional age— which in turn determines if you have grown “old”.

The lowest bar for determining your functional age is your ability to perform the activities of daily living (ADLs), i.e., ambulating, grooming, toileting, dressing, and eating. The inability to perform some or all ADLs establishes your need for caregiving, which can dictate the type of housing you require. Your objective should be to age well and not need any help with ADLs.

The physical and cognitive conditions commonly associated with older adults—for instance, high blood pressure, arthritis, weight gain, vascular disease, immobility, and cognitive decline—are not part of normal aging nor are they inevitable. When aging, your body can decline at a rate that varies substantially from other adults given the influence of genetics, physiology, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. Of the numerous scientific theories that attempt to explain variations in the aging process, the impact of environment and lifestyle is foremost. A healthy lifestyle might help you counter the effect of bad genes, but an unhealthy lifestyle cannot be offset by good genes.

How to stay young? Embrace lifestyle habits that are age irrelevant, the most important of which are exercising regularly, eating healthy, and managing money prudently. (Your finances determine your access to medical care, housing, recreation, support services, and community which will impact your quality of life.) The sooner you pursue a healthy lifestyle—even as an aging adult—the slower you will “grow old”. The healthier you are, the more enjoyable life is, and the longer you might live.

Do you think of yourself as being old? Being old is not the same as feeling old. Your perceptions about how old you are—your subjective age—can influence how you deal with your advancing chronological age. Denial of the aging process can be paralyzing and lead to procrastination. You have decisions to make and actions to take now that can positively impact your quality of life both before and during retirement.

Aging adults should accept the changes in their bodies and make healthy lifestyle choices to prevent chronic health problems. Manage stress, eat well, get adequate rest, exercise regularly, have regular medical checkups, avoid tobacco, and moderate alcohol consumption.

Retirement is life’s last great adventure—one we all are not lucky to experience. Life is of an uncertain duration and it is now one day shorter! Make the most of your time. Life offers no do-overs; at best, there are only course corrections. Identify age-affirmative goals appropriate to your circumstances. Pursue your hopes and dreams for retirement. Fill up your days with the pursuit of activities that are your passions. Make a difference in other people’s lives. Do good. Cement your legacy. And stay young! Being engaged and active in your later years has worthwhile physiological, social, emotional, psychological, and cognitive benefits.

What difference does it make if you are 65 or 95, and functionally and/or subjectively, you can experience a life that has joy and meaning?

Enjoy this holiday season and best wishes to you in 2025.

Please contact me with your questions, or if you or a friend want a free copy of
A Guide to Navigating Retirement.

Artificial Intelligence programs were not used in the writing of this Newsletter.

Fred Payne
Email • 971-453-0130
P. O. Box 1320, Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Plan with confidence your journey in retirement.^TM

The contents of A Guide for Navigating Retirement are solely the opinions of Fred Payne. The development of the Guide is the work of Fred’s wholly owned business: 4LNA, LLC (For Life’s Next Adventure). 4LNA, LLC is operated as a separate business activity from the advisory firm (and its affiliates) through which Fred provides financial planning and investment advisory services.