American centenarians feel younger than their years

A new sociological study conducted in the United States shows that Americans over a hundred years old feel much younger than their age. The same goes for baby boomers—people born during the post-World War II boom. They, according to sociologists, feel no older than 55 years.

To the question “How old are you, according to your feelings, years?” Centenarian Americans most often answered “83 years”, and most of the baby boomer generation (people older than 65 years) called the age 55 years.

According to the National Census Bureau, there are about 55 000 people in the United States over one hundred years old and more than 40 million people who are older than 65 years. At the same time, the census bureau predicts that by 2050, there will be more 600 000 residents in the country, whose years will be over the century.

UnitedHealthcare, a health insurance company, for the ninth time surveyed centenarians in the United States who retired 35 years ago and younger Americans who had just left the labor market due to their age.

It turned out that among the centenarian respondents, 36% felt “blessed,” 31% felt happy, and 12% were surprised that they managed to live this long. At the same time, 53% of Americans who have passed the century mark said that they had achieved everything they wanted in life, but approximately one in three agreed with the statement that “a hundred years is not enough.”

In addition, during the survey it turned out that 53% live independently, and in their own homes, and not in institutions for the elderly. They also do not use the services of social workers, visiting nurses and carers.

None of the Americans surveyed over one hundred years old feel depressed or endure depressive symptoms. Only 3% of them admitted that they sometimes feel lonely.

Also in the survey, which included 104 Americans over 100 and 302 over 65, they were asked what they considered the main recipe for feeling good physically and mentally at their age.

Centennial Americans believe the most important things are staying close to friends and family (91%), being independent (88%) and eating healthy (86%).

For younger respondents, the priorities were different: to be independent (87%), to have a sense of humor and to laugh often (87%) and to maintain close relationships with family and friends (84%).

In both groups, the vast majority of respondents, according to UnitedHealthcare, regularly visit a doctor (at least once a year) and are vaccinated against flu every season. They also lead a physically active lifestyle.