readersdigest.co.in 73Healthprogramme, painting, creative writ-
ing, jewellery making, pottery and
singing in a choir. They met weekly
for art instruction and also attended
concerts and art exhibits.
At the end of the study, the
participants in the art programme
enjoyed better health, used less
medication and had fewer doctor visits
compared with the control group.
The artists teaching the programmes
described how the participants were
exhilarated by the process and they
were motivated to continue after each
creative endeavour.
Take Your Meds
An extraordinary number of people
don’t take their prescribed medi-
cations. Studies show that 20 to 30 per
cent of medication prescriptions are
never dispensed at a pharmacist’s, and
that approximately 50 per cent of med-
ications are not taken as prescribed.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’ve
gone to the trouble to visit a doctor
to check on your health, why not
follow through and take your meds
and put yourself on a path towards
better ageing.
Connect
Staying in touch with family and
friends—and forming new relation-
ships—can keep you healthier longer
and may add years to your life.
A large body of scientific research
shows that social interaction—having
strong, happy relationships with fa-
mily, friends and community mem-
bers—is an important factor in good
health and longevity.
Friendships can get you through the
inevitable health setbacks that occur
with ageing. Friends and family give
us emotional support that can help us
cope with stress. Perhaps most impor-
tant: As we age, our friends and family
give us a sense of purpose and a rea-
son to keep getting up in the morning.
Studies show that people who keep
working past retirement age, tend to
have better health and stay more so-
cially connected. But it’s tough to parse
out whether healthy people tend to
keep working or whether work tends
to keep us healthy. Even so, most re-
search supports the idea that staying
busy, maintaining social connections
and finding meaning and purpose
in your daily routine are all part of
healthy ageing.
Studies also suggest that the type
of work matters. If you find work
fulfilling and enjoy the company of
your colleagues, you should consider
sticking with it. If your job is back-
breaking or high stress, consider
checking out around retirement
age—but make a plan for your second
act. Volunteer or find paid work
somewhere that will keep you active,
engaged and give you a reason to get
up in the morning. The main benefit
of work—[and volunteering]—may be
the social network it offers.
this version was condensed by reader’s digest. copyright © 2018 by the new york times co.