Age UK reveals recipe for ageing better

Age UK reveals recipe for ageing better

It's never too early, or too late, to improve later life says Age UK Age UK has developed a recipe for ageing with top tips for ageing better from expert researchers. With genes only thought to make a 25% contribution to the length of life and factors like lifestyle and nutrition making up the remaining three quarters , following the tips can really make a difference to how we age.

Whilst much advice targets specific diseases, conditions or age groups, Age UK's top tips are useful and practical for everyone to follow at all stages of life. Released as part of Age UK's ‘Ageing Better Together' campaign, they look at many aspects of life and include advice such as getting sufficient good-quality sleep, engaging socially with others and staying positive about ageing - which some research shows can increase life expectancy. Some of the other tips highlight the importance of more familiar advice like taking regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and taking care of pensions.

The top tips are:

• Take regular exercise
• Engage socially with others
• Have a positive attitude about ageing
• Eat a healthy diet
• Protect your eyes
• Don't smoke
• Get regular health checkups
• Avoid excessive sun exposure
• Get sufficient, good-quality sleep
• Pay attention to your pension, and get expert financial advice

Professor Ian Philp, Medical Director at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and one of the experts who helped Age UK develop the tips, said: 'We really can influence how we age and the top tips are a great guide to ageing better. For example, it may seem obvious but going for regular health check-ups are really important for keeping healthy in later life. And getting early diagnosis of an illness, taking advantage of screening programmes and being up to date with vaccines are all crucial to keeping healthy whatever age you are so don't be afraid to bother your GP!'

'Some of the tips, like taking exercise and eating a healthy diet, are all really important and already well-known. However others tips, like those that concentrate on the importance of both the body and mind, are also key to ageing well - such as engaging socially with others and staying positive about ageing. Therefore I'd urge people to try and follow as many of the tips as possible, whatever age they are.'

Age UK celebrity ambassador and fitness guru Rosemary Conley, said: 'The older I get, the more convinced I am that age is just a number. Through eating well, exercising regularly and having a positive outlook I feel as young as ever. Everyone faces different challenges with age and general health and fitness differs from person to person. However, I really believe that to a great extent you're in charge of your own destiny and that if you look after yourself, and of course follow Age UK's top tips, you will give yourself a great chance of ageing well.'

Professor James Goodwin, Head of Research at Age UK, said: 'With the number of people aged 60 or over expected to pass the 20 million mark by 2031, these top tips are really important because they offer a practical guide to people of all ages about how to age better.

'Individually the tips are important, but together they give each of us the best chance of ageing better. By bringing together global experts in ageing research as part of the Age UK Ageing Better Together campaign, we are aiming to show that the message is clear: whether you are 25 or 85, you can have a positive impact on your life as you grow older.'

Some great ways to follow the tips include gardening, joining a fitness class or taking part in T'ai Chi. Other ways to keep fit include attending one of Age UK's ‘Fit as a Fiddle' classes which run around the country.

Age UK produces a range of information guides with advice on a variety of topics, including how people can act on the top tips and improve later life. The guides cover everything from staying steady on your feet and living healthily to planning your pension and managing your money. To see the full range of information guides available visit the Age UK Ageing Better Together web page, call Age UK Advice free on 0800 169 65 65 or alternatively visit your local Age UK.

The tips come from leading experts, many of whom Age UK works with through the Charity's centre of knowledge into ageing. Age UK is the only charity which exclusively funds consumer, social and applied research on ageing, which includes age-related conditions such as dementia, incontinence and osteoporosis. The Disconnected Mind project is uniquely tracking older people in Scotland who were tested in 1947 for their cognitive capabilities and are now being retested to understand better the impact of lifestyle and other factors on healthy ageing.

The top tips come during Age UK's Ageing Better Together campaign which is focused not just on living longer, but living healthily and happily for longer. This summer, the new Ageing Better Together campaign will give people practical ways to feel better and to stay fit and active every day. Whether it's providing information, encouraging activity, or helping to get the most from health services, Age UK intends to ensure that people are getting as much out of life as possible. People can get involved in Ageing Better Together by volunteering, campaigning, or even taking on a personal challenge to raise funds.

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For an interview with a researcher, Age UK's Professor James Goodwin or for photography, call Andrew Walker at the Age UK Media Team on 020 3033 1433 or email andrew.walker@ageuk.org.uk

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Notes to editors

Age UK

For media enquiries relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland please contact the appropriate national office: Age Scotland on 0131 668 8055, Age Cymru on 029 2043 1562 and Age NI on 028 9024 5729.

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged, dedicated to improving later life.

We provide free information, advice and support to over five million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).

Media contact: Andrew Walker
Tel: 020 3033 1433
Out of hours: 07071 243 243