The focus currently on the various possible ways to extend our life spans may be off-target, in one sense. The real desired goal is to extend the length of time that we maintain a healthful lifespan.

The final decline leading to death would not be prolonged, but relatively rapid. The technical description of this approach is ‘compression of morbidity’.

Allow me to explain . . .

Imagine living an active healthy life up to the age of one hundred, then quickly passing away in a few short months thereafter. Thus, one would be doing away with the typical life of being in a nursing home the last ten to fifteen years of your life.

Is this just wishful thinking? Not a reality? Well, current statistics show that this is already occurring in the United States, and elsewhere. The 2000 U.S. Census Bureau reports that there are over 50,000 residents in the United States who are 100 years old or greater.

One of the scariest thoughts we may have is to be physically confined to an assisted care home for many years, unable to take care of ourselves.

With the practice of better health habits, this more ideal life pattern is achievable. That is, a healthy active life up to near the time of death, then a rapid, pain free decline to the end.

A series of studies have shown that those who have a positive mental outlook on life, do not smoke, are not obese, and have a healthy diet and exercise program will extend the their productive life by more than eight years.

My personal role model exemplifying this lifestyle is R. Waldo McBurney, who past the age of one hundred, set World Master records in shot put and thee 100 meter dash. Now 104, he has slowed down running races, but still leads a very active lifestyle.

He has no plans for retirement and continued working as a beekeeper.

He was recently named America’s oldest worker by Experience Works, an organization offering training and employment services for the elderly.