Media Release May 01 2008

Boomers are bloomers

North Shore baby boomers - those born after WW2, between 1946 and 1964, are reshaping retirement the way they reshaped music, architecture, business and politics.

It is common for boomers on the North Shore to be busier than ever although some are at least thinking about a retirement from active, full time employment.

For many, the weeks are crammed with sporting activities, travel plans, socialising with friends, caring for grandchildren, new hobbies and significant volunteer work. For others, full time work is still the order of the day.

Baby boomers are the wealthiest living generation. Maintaining a ‘work longer, retire later attitude’, provides the money to fuel consumption and lifestyle. On the North Shore there is also a commitment to helping adult children and grandchildren to ‘find their feet’. Many boomers have kids still living at home and boomer grandparents may underwrite school fees and mortgages.

The big question is… while the boomers continue to look after others, are they looking after themselves?

Australia has the second highest life expectancy in the world. Many boomers continue to work hard and play even harder, some almost refusing to accept that old age is on the horizon.

But growing old healthily requires planning and care.

Similar to creating a financial nest egg, those in their fifties and sixties should ensure they make wise lifestyle choices to build good health. A good superannuation scheme is important but good health is crucial.

“Healthy aging is just ‘good practice,” says Dr. Peter Veitch, geriatrician at Royal North Shore Hospital.

“It’s all about making smart lifestyle choices. It’s common sense to avoid conditions that can kill you. Don’t smoke, reduce alcohol consumption, eat the right kinds of foods and exercise regularly,” says Peter.

Recent medical research has highlighted the role alcohol consumption plays in bowel and breast cancers, two common North Shore cancers. What we often think of as moderate consumption has been shown to increase the risk of these two cancers.

“Our genetic makeup means that we may be predisposed to some illness and disease. The best way to reduce the impact of this is to detect them early and start treatment quickly. Regular screening and tests are vital.”

“However, some conditions that worry the over-50’s such as heart disease and lung cancer are not inevitable. They can be avoided. It‘s never to late to make positive changes.”

Your body is a high tech instrument. It needs good maintenance and routine testing. This gives you the best chance to live and age healthily.

Essential screening / tests for over 50’s on the North Shore include:
blood pressure (4 times a year)
fractionated cholesterol tests and liver profile (once a year)
screening for lung cancer
hearing and eye sight exams (as required)
bowel cancer screening (colonoscopy at 50. If normal, once every 5 years)
osteoporosis check (bone mineral densitology; women after menopause, men after 55 years)

Women over 50
Pap smears (to detect cervical cancer)
Mammograms (to screen for breast cancer)

Men over 50
Prostate specific antigen to check for prostate cancer

A word about exercise if you’re over 50
Moderate exercise is an intrinsic part of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise lifts our mood, keeps us flexible and allows us to enjoy good food and drink without gaining weight. Because baby boomers are competitive by nature, remind yourself to adjust exercise as you get older so you don’t encounter exercise-induced injury.

If exercise is NOT part of your life, now is the time to start - slowly and gently. Short walks, golf lessons, stroke correction, a gentle exercise class are all suitable. You are not competing at Beijing!

Media Contact: Kristen Bunyard 9926 7199 or 0413 025 742

Authorisation Stamp