Secrets for longevity from a centenarian
Eloise shares her secrets at her 101st birthday party.
Making it to a 101 years of age is no easy feat – but as it turns out, travelling the world, eating a good breakfast, and staying active in the garden sure help you get there!
Anglicare St Martin’s interim care resident and The Prince Charles Hospital patient, Eloise, celebrated her 101st birthday this week surrounded by new and old friends, including doctors and nurses from the hospital.
Eloise, who is in great health, had been in The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) after a fall pulling weeds in her garden. With the help of her treating team, she made the decision to move to St Martin’s which has now become her new home.
While enjoying the festivities and a large birthday cake, Eloise shared her secrets to longevity which include hard work and a good diet.
“I worked all my life, and my husband and I travelled overseas a lot – we went to Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Italy,” Eloise said.
“I like to potter around the garden and pull out the weeds.
“I think that’s what kept me going. Plus, I used to take the vitamin pills. And have breakfast—that’s the main part of the day.”
TPCH geriatrician and birthday party attendee Dr Lucy Dakin said it was likely that those that make it to a hundred have hobbies that keep them active and are curious about the world—like Eloise with her travel and gardening.
“The secret to the centenarian’s longevity is a little genetics, a little about how you look after yourself – walking everywhere, having a purpose, and being grateful for what you have all certainly help!” Dr Dakin said.
“We know that diet and exercise play a role, as well as social networks and keeping your mind active.
“As geriatricians we are focussed on all of these elements when caring for older patients, giving them the best chance of feeling happy and healthy well into their hundreds.”
But Eloise is not the only member of the ‘hundred club’ who Dr Dakin has seen in her role, attesting to the fact that centenarians are becoming more common, and she does see people in their hundreds come to hospital and go home again when well.
While centenarians remain a growing cohort due to our ageing population, the average person will not make their 100th birthday—making Eloise’s secrets to longevity extra valuable.