Twilight Years: Old age has never been this attractive

In today’s day and age, there is no need to  look in trepidation at growing old. Children are settled, you are financially secure and if you have played your cards right in your youth, death does not come into the equation till you are very, very old. The world is full of examples, in India and abroad, of people living life to the fullest at an advanced age. At an age where you would normally expect a person to be contemplating retirement, 69-year-old ICC chairman N. Srinivasan is as power hungry as ever. He wants to spend his days controlling the cricket world with an iron fist. Prince Charles’ crowning moment will only come when he is a senior citizen. Hugh Hefner might be considered a dirty old man by many, but his love life and the age of his girlfriends and wives only gets younger.

Then there are the 80-plus titans of the business, and fashion worlds like Warren Buffet, Rupert Murdoch, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld... One doesn’t have to elaborate on how interesting their lives continue to be even now. In fact, single Rupert, in his 80s, is still considered a catch by the ladies. Back home we have socialite Parmeshwar Godrej, she may be in her 70s but her parties and social life are more happening than a 20-year-old. From Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan to even Imran Khan across the border are her buddies, along with many Hollywood stars.

Back home we have socialite Parmeshwar Godrej, she may be in her 70s but her parties and social life are more happening than a 20-year-old. From Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan to even Imran Khan across the border are her buddies, along with many Hollywood stars.

With the fields of medicine and science advancing by leaps and bounds it is now considered really tragic if you don’t live well into a grand old age and love it like painter M.F. Husain did. At 91, he was still painting and enjoying life’s thrills like his collection of super cars that included a few Bugatti Veyrons. In order to thoroughly enjoy your “senior” years, there are a few things you have to keep in mind. The most important rule being that retirement should never be an option because life can become very expensive if you are planning to just live off your savings or a pension. Also, what are you going to do with all that free time?

Eighty-nine-year-old Krishen Khanna, one of India’s most well known artists and member of The Progressive Artists’ Group, says, “Once you retire, you don’t know what to do and this is a killer. Problems begin to arise when you have nothing to do.”

How does he keep himself occupied? “I have plenty of responsibilities — to my work, house, wife, children and community. I belong to the painting community, so I have the responsibility to help young painters.” Does he not get tired? “At times I do feel like I need some rest, but rest doesn’t mean retirement.”
Another person who does not recommend the “R” word is 79-year-old actor V.M. Badola. The strict dadaji of the show Nisha Aur Uske Cousins, suffered a stroke a few years ago and then at the insistence of his actor son Varun Badola and daughters, shifted base from Delhi to Mumbai so that he could live in the same city as his children.

“Once I began living with Varun in Mumbai, I started thinking, ‘Now what do I do here?’ You get up in the morning and there is nothing to do. It was very boring. After all, how many books and newspapers can you read? And there is only that much TV you can watch. So when I was approached for roles for TV, I agreed.”
Everyone needs a break to re-charge, just don’t make it permanent as former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, an active face in Karnataka politics even at 82, advises, “Work as long as you can, remain active as long as you can.” While talking about himself, Gowda also spoke of veteran BJP leader, L.K. Advani. “I am 82, but Advani is 87. Look at him, the way he remains active even at his age. Though we are political rivals I admire his drive and energy.”

Gowda, Badola and Khanna are in professions where there is no retirement age. What do government employees and others who have no choice but to give up their work after a certain age do? “It is important to cultivate hobbies and interests,” says Khanna, adding, “Art was considered a hobby. Interests like reading, writing and commenting can keep you busy on social networking platforms. Studying is another wonderful thing to do.”
Talking about what keeps him fit, Deve Gowda says, “I do yoga and I walk whenever I have time.”  Apart from this, the former Prime Minister also meditates and performs puja daily at home.

If you are enjoying good health, living alone is not that scary, but ensure that you are properly monitored. You need some chaperoning. Even if you have very good live-in staff it is advisable to have children or close relatives checking in on you regularly.
 
Good health

Health issues are often the main culprits behind the ruin of one’s old age. Luckily you can battle ailments by taking a few precautions. Dr Suma Hariprasad, director of Prasad Hospital in Hyderabad tells us how: Yearly health checks: A good life span comes with eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. From the age of 35, people should get into the habit of getting a yearly full medical check-up done. Diet: When it comes to diet, generally foods like fish, fresh vegetables and dairy products in decent quantities are a must.

For good bones: Start taking calcium after 40 and ensure that you get at least 10 minutes of sunlight to ensure that your body gets sufficient Vitamin D. Eyes: Carotene-rich foods are a must. Vitamin A is also good for eyesight. Eat poultry and yellow and orange-coloured fruits and vegetables too. Premature ageing: For battling premature ageing eat papaya, pomegranate and peel of tomatoes as they all contain Lycopene. Alternatively you can take supplements that contain Lycopene.

Mental health: The moment you start forgetting things frequently, go to a doctor immediately as this is the first sign of mental ageing. To ensure that your memory is spot on and mentally you are always alert, you need to keep yourself occupied. Also yoga and meditation help delay mental ageing. Sleep hygiene: Your body and mind need rest so that they can relax too. Technology helps: It also pays to be tech-savvy. Stay invested in gadgets as tele-medicine has bridged the gap between patients and doctors.
 
Financial planning

Only money may not bring you happiness, but no money will not make you happy either. Your financial planning should factor in inflation and the requirements of medical expenses. Savings: Ideally begin at 25. “If one is already contributing to a provident fund, then one should save at least 15 per cent of their salary that they take home,” says Vijay Lakshmi Rao, financial consultant of Max Life Insurance Ltd. Health cover: The most important thing to do, not just for yourself, but your spouse too, is to get a proper health cover.

Investment options: Don’t put all your money in one place. “You should invest in mutual funds, equities, fixed deposits and insurances,” says Vijay Lakshmi. She adds that it is also recommended to keep a small per centage of investment in gold or silver, but this should not be in the form of ornaments.