- 26 August 2025
- Michael McGrath
Australia is getting older! Next year 22% of Australians will be aged 65 or older. This is up from 16% in 2020, this was double the 8% in 1970s.
The reasons for the spike are in the birth rate after the war (the baby boomers), as well as falling birth rates. However, on a positive note Australians are living 30 years longer than they were a century ago!
The impact of this on society in terms of the increase in demand for certain services and the pending generational movement of wealth, which we have already written on, is beyond the scope of this blog. What I wanted to do, was highlight how the 60,000 business owners currently aged between 61 and 79 in the mid-market and who are still running their companies, are being encouraged to stay healthy as they age.
Kate Spicer, writing in the AFR on 21st August boiled it down to Seven Rules:
Know your blood pressure and other risk factors – in short, don’t smoke, do exercise, restrict drinking to moderate quantities on social occasions, keep a healthy BMI and have regular checks on hearing and vision. Beware of over-testing, apparently, it’s better to just get moving!
Put walking at the center of your life – according to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, exercise is “a miracle cure.” Lifting weights are good also!
Eat nutrient-rich dishes – as the old saying goes, you are what you eat. The rather overweight British comedian, Peter Kay, used to say, “If that’s true, then I’m a Twix!” Apparently as you age protein becomes even more critical!
Take up a social sport – they didn’t mention darts and snooker as options, pity! Training with others can be a great incentive to get moving even if you don’t feel like it.
Boost immune defences and reduce inflammation – this includes vaccines! I know this is a touchy subject, don’t blame me I didn’t write it!
Be smart about sleep – and get some! Apparently, sleep is key to good health especially as we age. This can seem counter intuitive as we seem to sleep less as we age but the research urges us to take sleep seriously.
Clear cortisol with movement – cortisol is the bodies response to stress. Apparently, too much of it is not good. Movement is the antidote, as we exercise and get out of our heads, where our thoughts can exacerbate stress, the movement of our bodies can help relax us. The advice is, go for a walk, sing or take three deep breaths!
So, there you have it in a nutshell, the seven keys to health and wellness as we age! Seriously though, this article, originally from the Telegraph in London, was well researched and worth a read, its not just got utility for the baby boomers like me buy has some great reminders for everyone.
Stay healthy and well!
[1] AFR 21st August 2025