Dr. Roseanne Leipzig’s Practical Suggestions for a Good Older Adult Life
Dr. Roseanne Leipzig, a distinguished geriatrician and gerontologist, offers nine practical, evidence-based strategies for aging well. Drawing from her extensive career of studying and caring for older adults, she highlights the importance of challenging ageism, fostering intergenerational connections, setting realistic expectations, and cultivating resilience. Dr. Leipzig also emphasizes advocating for oneself in healthcare, embracing adaptability, and finding joy in life’s changes.
A geriatrician and gerontologist, Dr. Leipzig has many experience- and science-based suggestions for successful aging based on her career of caring for older people and studying them. These are particularly useful because aging is a much longer process and covers a much longer healthier span of time. Author of Honest Aging published in 2023 by Hopkins Press, she has noticed the differences between our perceptions of aging, our lack of preparedness for aging, and how our approaches to aging actually affect the aging process.
- React to ageism. If you hear and see something, say something. Speak up against it.
- Make friends with people of all ages. Participate in activities that are multi-generational.
- Right-size your expectations. Be realistic.
- Be resilient, adaptable, and creative in your responses to change.
- Never say never. You may not want to change something, but you should not be stubborn about adjusting to new realities.
- Advocate for yourself and let others advocate for you, especially with healthcare providers. Don’t be passive.
- If you can’t do what you want to do, focus on what you see yourself doing by selecting, optimizing, and compensating.
- Laugh more.
- Make sure your physician knows a lot about aging, In other words, select a doctor who knows the difference between 80 and 60.
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