Purdue University	Mimeo  he-13
Agricultural Extension Service	August 1952 (2M)
EATING WHILE AGING
Where modern medicine is practiced and sanitation thrives, the life span is lengthened. Life expectancy in the United States is 20 years longer than it was in 1900 and almost 10 years longer than in 1930. U. S. Census reports tell us that in the last 50 years  general population has doubled but people over 65 years of age have increased four times , Now we have over eleven million people over 65 years of age or about 13 percent of the population.
 There are 90 men for every 100 women over 65 years of age. The average woman faces  8 years of widowhood. This is true because women live from 3 to 5 years longer than men and women tend to marry men older than themselves. The longer life span presents  problems in employment, economics, medical care, housing, social education and family living.
The aging process cannot be halted but its pace can be controlled largely by nutrition and proper living habits. We must learn to accept the fact that aging is a natural  pattern of life then we must prepare for that, phase of living. A mother cannot wait until her children are grown nor the father until he no longer has a job to get ready for  old age. Lawton the psychologist says the best time to solve our personal old age problems is in our youth. The next best time is in middle age.
Steps Toward Solving the Problem:
1. Make the most of our abilities and continue to be useful to society.
2.	Develop new interests and participate in community activities.
3.	Continue to learn.
4.	Train for two types of work.
(a)	Active years
(b)	Retirement years
5.	Become more interested in preventive medicine. Have a periodic medical
	"Check-up" once or twice a year.
6.	Plan for economic security.
7.	Console yourself to the idea that death may not be many years away. The fear of death will then be replaced by a new poise.
Older adults do need to slow down. The active person must learn when and how to delegate progressively more responsibilities to others if he wishes to prolong his life into healthy and useful old age. Self-control, poise, calmness of mind are conducive to length of life. As years advance, combat any tendency to the narrowing of interests to your immediate self or environment.
YOUR CHANCES OF LIVING A HAPPY USEFUL LIFE ARE GREATER IF:
1.	The duration and intensity of daily work is gradually lessened.
2.	Diet needs are carefully adjusted to nutritional requirements.
3.	There is proper amount of diversion, recreation, and social participation.
NUTRITION AFFECTS HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND LENGTH OF LIFE.