At our recent Move for Better Health conference, we had the privilege of hearing from Mike Rungie, a long-term advocate for healthy aging. Mike challenged us to rethink the way we approach ageing and think about older people, highlighting key societal issues and the importance of roles in shaping both health and happiness.
The Reality of Ageing in Australia
More than 50% of Australians hold ageist beliefs, often unconsciously. This impacts key areas such as work, opportunities, health, poverty, and aged care. Many older Australians find themselves without meaningful opportunities, facing health system barriers (such as being removed from health screening programs) and financial instability (with a quarter of older Australians renting and at risk of losing housing due to affordability).
Lessons from the Blue Zones
Mike introduced us to the concept of Blue Zones—regions where people live longer, healthier lives. These communities share common traits that naturally encourage well-being:
- Purposeful roles in society
- Access to fresh, local food
- An active lifestyle that is built into daily life
- Strong social connections
Rather than setting goals in isolation, Blue Zone cultures use nudges—subtle environmental and social cues that promote healthy behaviours without needing strict self-discipline.
Happiness, Health, and the Role of Purpose
Measuring happiness is complex, but key indicators include life satisfaction, purpose, and positive emotions. The research is clear: having the right jobs/roles, socialising, owning a dog, experiencing love, and living in the right home all contribute to a fulfilling life.
Older people with meaningful roles tend to be healthier and happier. Roles provide a social identity, skills, and responsibilities, supported by time use, mindset, resources, care, health, and networks. People with well-defined roles are valued in their communities and often have stronger connections with others.
Rethinking Health Planning
Mike posed the question: if financial planners begin by asking about life goals, shouldn’t health professionals do the same?
A person’s reason to be healthy is often more powerful than health goals themselves. Encouraging older adults to maintain meaningful roles could be a game-changer in preventive healthcare.
Our team had an insightful Q&A with Mike, exploring the complexities of roles and ageism. We discussed how older people can feel both valued and burdened – especially grandparents who take on significant caregiving responsibilities. We also explored mentorship and how to create meaningful intergenerational relationships. Mike emphasised that older people are often nostalgic, and mentoring requires skill – learning to ask the right questions rather than revisiting past experiences.
Rethinking Health Planning A New Life Stage: Young Adults Holding onto Options (YAHOO)
Mike introduced an emerging life stage – YAHOO (Young Adults Holding Onto Options) – which can fit people between their childhood/schooling years and their professional life, think gap years!
However, there is a new trend which shows that older people are adopting this lifestyle between traditional work and retirement. At times, these people never move into full retirement and continue working or volunteering in different roles. These individuals seek flexible work (around 20 hours per week) and new opportunities. Research suggests that embracing this phase can add 7.5 years to life expectancy, a greater increase than quitting smoking or improving diet alone.
Key Takeaway: Purpose Matters
One of the most powerful insights from Mike’s talk was simple but profound: People without roles generally don’t want to live longer. This highlights the importance of staying engaged, having a purpose, and being valued in society at any age.
At Move for Better Health, we’re committed to supporting healthy aging by promoting active lifestyles, meaningful social connections, and ongoing learning opportunities. Let’s work together to rethink ageing and create a future where everyone has a role to play.
