February 6, 2004 The Long and The Short of Longevity

Longevity, or long life is one of the mysteries of life that is usually studied seriously but at the same time is often taken lightly because to some extent it is out of our hands. From an historical perspective people are living longer. In the Roman Empire the average age was 28 and 100 years ago it was 49. High infant mortality was a significant factor in those averages. Today the fastest growing segment of the population is over ninety. Another report states that the world's over 65 population has tripled in the past 50 years - to approximately 420 million as compared to 131 million in 1950.

A recent report from CARP (The Canadian Association of Retired Persons) provides a chart showing how Canadians are living longer on an ever-increasing scale and will continue to do so until they become "a dominant segment of our population". The implications of this in terms of long term care and pensions etc. is monumental. 

According to a recent article by John Ibbitson in the Globe and Mail there is another issue as expressed in a report from StatsCan and which is "emerging as the most important story of our time". The issue Ibbitson raises is depopulation and how dealing with it will be the obsession of the 21st century. He argues that "depopulation is likely to be one of the driving forces beneath the surface of the news". He states that birth rates are falling faster than predicted everywhere. Among the implications is not having a younger population to support the older population. Canada will be able keep its population up to provide a work force and support the needs of seniors but our Asian and Hispanic populations will outnumber the European old stock as is the case now in the United States.

Some of the many books to help you live longer or better.

On a lighter note another trend is the effort by seniors to live longer and or live better. Some businesses that seriously look at demographics are moving rapidly toward helping these seniors while at the same time boosting their bottom line. In the book business for example there are dozens of books to help one live longer. One wag, on reading some of these books, said you don't really live longer it just seems like it. He also said that after reading several of these books he decided to give up - reading.

Deepak Chopra, one of the best known longevity gurus in his book Grow Younger, Live Longer (2003) quotes a survey of centenarians where they were asked why they thought they lived so long. The conclusion was that most were "able to let go" "Long-living people have flexibility and resiliency when facing the inevitable challenges in life…and relinquish their hold on experiences that do not serve them." Chopra argues that our chronological age is not as important as our biological age which with work can be less than our calendar age.

Even though there is a high level of chance - accident, disease, genetics, stress, lifestyle - having a plan is the intelligent thing to do. The books mentioned and the Internet have lots of information. I found an interesting Longevity Game on the Internet which people who want to take a look at themselves can try. There are 12 questions including how old you are now. The game calculates your life expectancy and gives it to you on screen. You can then make changes if you want to.

I checked in my "obituary" file where I clipped various items especially people I have known or interviewed. With reference to the question of longevity it is remarkable how many of the people I have interviewed have followed Chopra's recommendation above and have had full and long lives. I recall chatting with Johanna Murphy in Mattawa especially about her sister Gertrude, better known as Grey Owl's influential companion Anahareo. She reached her 100th birthday in 2001 and has since passed away. I recall interviewing Chisholm resident Annie (Wraight) Mulligan at Eastholme when she was 100 years old. Stella McGibbon, also in an Eastholme interview when she was 99 inspired me to write a book on the logging village of Fossmill where her husband was the Woods Superintendent. I interviewed Chisholm resident Gladys Stuart now age 103 on a date numerologists will enjoy - the 9th of September in 1999 (9/9/99) on which occasion Gladys pointed out that she would be 99 on the 19th of September 1999 (19/9/99) and would enter her 100th year. I am informed that Bill Busch of Powassan is in his 99th year and looking forward to his 100th.

Author John Leach chats with centenarian Gladys Stuart at a Stuart family reunion in Chisholm Township

My longevity file contains many obituaries or birthday celebrations of centenarians. Mary Heasman in her Powassan newspaper column notes several centenarians - Margaret Bailey - age 103, Nora Harkness 100, (Nora died last week) and Mary Jane Butter, 100. Mary Heasman's father, Les Whittaker, also at Eastholme is one of the few male centenarians in the area. Mercedes McConnery died in 2002 at age 107 in North Bay. Edith Privett at Cassellholme, one of several hundred-year-olds there is 104. Margaret White and Lil Davis at the Rowanwood Retirement Lodge are over 100. A Nugget article reports that Rose Robataille and her husband Leon age 101 have been married for 79 years.

My file also notes the death of Elena Slough at age 114 with Mary Dorothy Christian age 113 taking her place as the oldest American. Another article identifies the death of the oldest American man John McMorrow who was 113. The oldest person in the world was Ramoto Honga of Japan who was 115 and has since died. Canada made the record books a few years ago when Madame Meillieur reached age 117 at Nipissing Manor. The Manor currently has 2 centenarians.

Long life and happiness to all the good citizens in the Community Voices area.