What’s In – What’s Out for Aging Well in 2018

Each January as the holiday season ends and routines return to normal, we are offered a clean slate to fill with new goals, new perspectives and a fresh outlook on life.  In 2018 we will see a number of trends come and go and a growing proportion of older adults reaching retirement age will have many options to consider approaching old age. 

What Will Be A Yes In 2018

  • HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
  • Medical Cannabis
  • Naturally grey hair
  • Proactive Aging
  • Fresh local shopping/fresh delivery services
  • Tiny home retirement communities
  • New Shingles Vaccine
  • RV Communities
  • Re-evaluating medications with a geriatrician
  • Fewer unnecessary medical tests – less over-treatment
  • Elder gay communities
  • Smart homes and digital monitoring
  • Plant based diets
  • Green burial
  • Advocacy

What’s Out

  • Endless cardio workouts
  • Opioid Painkillers
  • Over-processed dyed hair
  • Anti-Aging
  • Frozen meals and meal replacement shakes
  • Moving in with adult children
  • Zostavax shingles vaccine
  • Traveling all over the country in an RV
  • Polypharmacy – over-prescribing
  • Invasive medical over-testing
  • One-size-fits all nursing homes
  • Medical alert necklaces
  • Sugar
  • Embalming and expensive funerals

With all the technological advances available to help older adults age in place with more success, 2018 will also herald in a return to simplicity.  This year we at The Oldish expect to see a continued emphasis on quality of life, experiences rather than purchases, pairing down to the essentials and purging excess, real food, smart exercise, fewer pills, better sleep and more social interaction.  Aging may not be for sissies but with a few lifestyle tweaks, older adults can enjoy their best possible lives.