The Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator was developed by Dr. Thomas Perls, the director of the New England Centenarian Study, the largest study in the world of centenarians and their families. It was designed to look at risk factors and provide suggestions for increasing longevity (life-span) and improving the quality of life.
Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator (ATTACHED)
The calculator has estimated my life expectancy and suggest ways to increase it.
Write a 2 to 3-page “reflection essay”
Describe your feelings or thoughts about completing the calculator and the recommendations.
Refer to concepts and terminology from your textbook and course contents (use 3 or more gerontology terms such as aging, health status, longevity, life expectancy, risk factors, health disparities, quality of life, life course, centenarians etc.) in your reflection essay. Answer the following four questions.
4a. Were you surprised by the Calculator results (yes or no, and why)? Discuss in detail your results and the recommendations.
4b. After reviewing the recommendations, describe the steps that you can take now to reduce the risk of disease and disability and ensure a high quality of life. Do you plan to make any changes recommended on the “Add years to your life page” to reduce your risk? If so, describe what changes you would like to make, and what obstacles or challenges you foresee. If you do not plan to make the recommended changes, explain your decision.
4c. After completing the Life Expectancy Calculator which social determinants of health question(s) would you recommend adding to the questionnaire and why?
Create your own question(s) with the following list of social determinants of health from Healthy People 2030 (Links to an external site.):
Economic Stability- employment, food insecurity, housing instability, poverty
Education Access and Quality: early childhood education and development, level of education, language and literacy
Health Care and Quality: access to health care, access to primary care, health literacy
Neighborhood and Built Environment: access to foods that support healthy eating patterns, crime and violence, environmental conditions, quality of housing
Social and Community Context: civic participation, discrimination, incarceration, social cohesion
4d. Try to imagine what your lifestyle will be like when you are old (“old” can be whatever age you decide it is). For example, do you expect to still be working or retired, alone or surrounded by family, financially secure, independent, traveling etc.
Sample Solution
