Suddenly Senior

Joanna Maxwell has been the director of the age discrimination team at the Human Rights Commission and is the author of many books including The New Retirement. A passionate advocate for embracing old age she tells us that happiness peaks at the age of 80.

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Retirement doesn’t scare Monica Attard because she’s incapable of getting bored. An academic and former foreign correspondent for the ABC she boasts a strange badge of honour; getting banned from Russia. She plans to write another book on the country once she’s unemployed.

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It’s been another long nana nap between episodes but a lot has been happening for us. Ange has become a grandparent, and Ian had a heart attack ... in a hospital!

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He’s one of Australia’s most influential chefs and his Rockpool restaurant certainly helped elevate Australia’s culinary reputation globally. Neil Perry has been described as the “ageing Lion King of Australian cuisine” (by Jill Dupleix) but thankfully, for the foodies amongst us, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

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Dementia is the leading cause of death for Australian women. Unless we find a cure soon it's estimated that 812,500 people will be living with dementia by 2054. But dementia is not inevitable. Professor Ian Hickie from the Brain and Mind Research Institute has a few tips for preventing it.

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Journalist Lollie Barr made a critical decision when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease five years ago. Instead of shielding her mum from the world she decided to try and make her mother's life as enjoyable as possible, taking her on daily adventures, creating new memories, and truly live life in the moment.

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She’s been at the helm of some of Australia’s glossiest mastheads (think Cleo, Mode, Elle, Women’s Weekly) and now steers the children’s cancer charity Camp Quality. Despite her remarkable skills Deborah Thomas has still felt the weight of the ‘age ceiling’. But age, she says, has gifted her with patience, empathy and a house full of friends and family.

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Baby Boomers did a lot for the travel industry when they kickstarted the ‘backpacking’ movement back in the 60s and 70s. But does the travel industry still welcome Boomers? With higher travel insurance than other age groups, and some hotels actively preventing people over 60 booking rooms, it would seem not. Simon Darcy specialises in inclusive organisational approaches for marginalised groups and says ageism is rife in tourism.

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Retreating to an exotic Caribbean island sounds like a dream retirement plan for many, but for Jaslyn Hall it's a homecoming. Originally born in Barbados, Jaslyn introduced Australians to global beats with her world music show on triple j in the 1990s. Now she wakes at 4.30 every morning to begin her exercise regime, and then gets started on writing scripts for puppets.

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After turning sixty many of us start thinking about how to wind down a little in life and rid ourselves of some of the stresses of full-time work. But actor and director Rachel Ward decided her sixties was the perfect time to launch a new career. She pivoted to farming and is now immersed in the world of regeneration.

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