Aussies 'young at heart' ...
source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/aussies-young-at-heart/story-e6frfku0-1225924553709
AUSTRALIA truly is a young nation, with a new survey revealing the majority of Aussies feel young at heart regardless of their age.
In a further streak of optimism, more than half of all Australians over 65 believe old-age only begins at 80.
A survey of more than 1200 people nationwide and 12,000 globally by healthcare company Bupa found that when compared to other countries, Australians are remarkably upbeat about their impending senior years.
In China, things look much more dire, with more than two-thirds believing a person is old by the time they reach 60.
This shift in attitude may be a result of the population living longer in the 21st century, says Paul Gregersen, managing director of Bupa Care Services Australia.
"This research shows that Australians are genuinely only as old as they feel and while the world's population is living longer, our perception of what is old age is also changing," Mr Gregersen said.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Australians aged 18 to 24 possess the greatest fear of old age, believing this eventual fate begins to loom at age 50.
The survey also showed that men worry less about ageing than women, and that unlike other nations, Australians don't expect their families to care for them in their old age.
Mr Gregersen said this revelation posed a real challenge for the aged care sector, which will need to cater for those still grasping for the fountain of youth.
"We need to create services based on the mental and physical needs of the ageing," Mr Gregersen said.
While on the whole Australians showed a relaxed attitude toward ageing, almost one third in France believed a person is only really old when they reach their 80s, compared to just over 20 per cent in Australia.
In a further streak of optimism, more than half of all Australians over 65 believe old-age only begins at 80.
A survey of more than 1200 people nationwide and 12,000 globally by healthcare company Bupa found that when compared to other countries, Australians are remarkably upbeat about their impending senior years.
In China, things look much more dire, with more than two-thirds believing a person is old by the time they reach 60.
This shift in attitude may be a result of the population living longer in the 21st century, says Paul Gregersen, managing director of Bupa Care Services Australia.
"This research shows that Australians are genuinely only as old as they feel and while the world's population is living longer, our perception of what is old age is also changing," Mr Gregersen said.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Australians aged 18 to 24 possess the greatest fear of old age, believing this eventual fate begins to loom at age 50.
The survey also showed that men worry less about ageing than women, and that unlike other nations, Australians don't expect their families to care for them in their old age.
Mr Gregersen said this revelation posed a real challenge for the aged care sector, which will need to cater for those still grasping for the fountain of youth.
"We need to create services based on the mental and physical needs of the ageing," Mr Gregersen said.
While on the whole Australians showed a relaxed attitude toward ageing, almost one third in France believed a person is only really old when they reach their 80s, compared to just over 20 per cent in Australia.
