Reaching fifty is a milestone that gives you an opportunity to do the following:

• Reappraise your working life;
• foster family relationships;
• make a will;
• have blood pressure tested annually;
• have hearing tested occasionally;
• have eyes checked every 2-3 years
• visit the dentist twice a year

Sixty years and retirement beckons

The years between 60 and 70 are a period of readjustment to retirement for both men and women. Even a woman who has chosen not to work outside the home will need to adjust to having her husband at home with her all day every day after he retires!

A modern trend is for many men and women to continue working in a position related to their earlier work-life. This maintains a sense of worth and of still being valued by society. It allows a gradual "run-down" into full retirement.

Positive thinking and the opening of new horizons are very beneficial at this age.

It is a time to resume or introduce activities for which a busy working life has left little space.

It is most important to have a "passion" in life now that it can be fully exploited. Nowadays men and women can undertake many leisure activities together.

As women out-live men this is sadly the decade in which widowhood often begins.

Special Points at this age:

• Keep young at heart;
• be a useful member of the community;
• take up a new hobby;
• review and renew friendships;
• travel as far as you are able;
• accept that the world is changing;
• learn to deal with the idea of death;
• have eyesight and hearing checked at least every 2 years;
• have blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked every 6-months;
• have breast and cervical screenings every 3 years (women) and prostate tests every year (men);
• visit the dentist every 6 months.
• Review your will every 5 years and as far as you are able, make
• arrangements to ensure the financial and physical well-being of the surviving partner

Three score years and ten!

The years over the anticipated "3-score years and 10" i.e.over 70, should be fully enjoyed.

Many people of this age have reached amazing goals, academically and physically in the last years of their lives. A youthful attitude to fitness and the ageing process is a great help in combating inevitable illness and will be most helpful in promoting well-being and a good quality of life.

Special points at this stage:

• Get out of the house every day;
• don't economise unnecessarily;
• be generous;
• accept the inevitability of death and that your partner might die before you do;
• be positive and cultivate the young;
• don't be over-proud;
• help others;
• care about your appearance;
• have a routine and don't sleep too much;
• keep busy.

A lifetime of health

At all stages of life, aim for:

• A healthy diet;
• controlled drinking;
• no smoking;
• no drug-taking;
• as little stress as possible;
• aerobic exercise 3-5 times a week.
• Be sensible about taking medical advice.

Remember that many diseases can be readily cured if diagnosed early.