ABOUT THIS EPISODE
“Your doctor can be the expert on the medicine. But you are still the expert on the life you’re trying to protect.” – Barbara Hannah Grufferman
KEY LINKS
The original study in PLOS One is HERE
AGE BETTER CHEAT SHEET on Substack is HERE
What do we really want as we get older—more years, or better years?
A fascinating new study of more than 6,000 adults over 50 asked people to make some surprisingly personal choices about aging, health, quality of life, independence, and who should have the final say when medical decisions need to be made.
In this solo episode, I unpack the findings that caught my attention most—especially what women said about quality of life versus simply living longer, why what our bodies can do becomes increasingly important as we age, and why maintaining a voice in our own healthcare matters.
I also share the experience that fundamentally changed the way I think about physical function and independence: watching my mother’s world become smaller after a hip fracture.
You’ll come away with a different way to think about longevity—not simply as adding years, but as protecting your ability to live the life you want for as long as possible. And I’ll give you one question to ask yourself that can help clarify what you’re really trying to protect as you get older.
If this episode makes you think, share it with another woman and ask her: What is the one thing you most want to protect as you get older?
And please follow AGE BETTER with Barbara Hannah Grufferman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. It’s one of the easiest ways to help more women find the show.
