An eastern Indian colleague of mine recently told me she notices a marked difference in the way older people are in America versus her home in Sri Lanka. Here she sees seniors with the vitality gone from their eyes. Where she is from, they are still excited about life even as they approach death.

As we watch our friends and family members suffer from a variety of ailments such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, alzheimers, etc., everything tells us our health deteriorates as we grow older. Well-meaning health practitioners reinforce this belief. So does the media.

Our bodies do change as we age. Our muscles, bones, and nervous system require more attention, so does our digestion as our metabolism slows down. However, taking care of our health is a lifelong process that changes little from birth to death. When we give up, chronic problems start. With all the evidence why bother, we're going to die anyway? True . . . except many of the people I've worked with who are in the last stages of life wish they'd spent more effort earlier so that their later years were not so miserable.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With some simple, wellness habits, it's possible to feel healthy, vibrant, energetic and strong in our advanced years. Drink more water, eat less fat and more fresh fruits/vegetables, take vitamins and herbs, exercise, socialize with all age groups, reduce television and keep your mind active with other activities. The investment you make in your health today directly impacts the quality of life you will have in later years.