Author: Jitka Vseteckova

Ageing well is increasingly important - the period we will live in ill health is increasing and most people fear illness in our final years. The strain that the NHS is under and with the number of over 65s set to increase over coming years, a move to preventative and proactive care is a priority and where Take Five to Age Well fits in.

A striking fact is that much of our ageing rate is within our gift: until we hit 80 years, over two thirds (70-80%) of our ageing rate is determined by environmental factors. These are lifestyle factors such as exercise, nutrition and cognitive stimulation. Knowing this and having developed the Five Pillars of Ageing Well alongside an increasingly successful series of public talks (the Ageing Well Public Talks Series), Take Five to Age Well has been a natural evolution of my work. The project, akin to Dry January but for your health offers 5 simple steps to a longer, healthier and happier life. It launched 1st September 2023 and asked people to sign up online and commit to 30 days of healthy behaviours that will boost their health and wellbeing in the short and longer term. All expert led and scientifically robust the behaviours are under the 5 Pillars: eat, drink, move, connect and engage, and think.

Two of our pillars particularly illustrate the importance of the arts to ageing and healthy living throughout our lives:

Pillar 4 - Connect and engage - laughter is great for the body and mind. Laughter gives us a dose of dopamine which essentially gives the brain a workout by firing lots of synapses. It also reduces stress and boosts mood. The average 4-year-old laughs 300 times a day, whereas the average 40-year-old laughs just 4 times. People laugh more with those they are close to so challenge yourself to get together with friends and laugh like a child. The arts often give us a reason to get together, to make or experience music, to dance, at an art class or a book club. Experiencing the arts even when we are on our own can also help us feel connected with others.

Pillar 5 - Think - an old dog CAN learn new tricks! Our brains are amazing and we can keep our brain flexible by continually learning - music, languages, books - these are all feeding the brain. Actions might include being mindful of the arts around you, such as listening more carefully to background music, visiting a gallery or stopping to look at street art; learning a new skill via a class or online; or taking a creative approach to everyday activities.

We have run our first pledge in 2023 and had over 3000 people from across the UK sign up to improve their health and wellbeing for 30 days. Over the 30 days, we have supported people with emails full of facts, tips and ideas. We hope to run again next year and are conducting surveys to ensure we can iterate and improve. Our surveys are focused around behavioral change and learning about how we can facilitate a sustained change towards behaviours that support better long-term health and wellbeing.

Find out more about the Take Five to Age Well programme.