Editorial: Aussies' lifespans soar sparking retirement dilemmas

But what if you're already well into your 90s, surpassing the nation's average life expectancy (83.2 years in 2021), and you hadn't planned to?

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), our nation has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

Over the past five decades, life expectancy has increased by 13.7 years for males (81.3 years) and by 11.2 years for females (85.4 years).

"The increased life expectancy in Australia is largely attributed to improved medical knowledge and technology, health care availability (such as the widespread accessibility to antibiotics and vaccines), improved living conditions and overall better quality of life," said AIHW spokesperson Richard Juckes.

For years before my dad passed away, he would often talk about his impending death as "God had told him when his number was up".

I would roll my eyes as I found death too confronting despite dad finding it jovial.

But that came and went, and I could see my father was left wondering what on earth he was going to do with his time.

The concern around living longer has reared its head again as I watch my centenarian grandparents-in-law battle with a ticking clock and depleted bank accounts.

They planned for retirement and believed they had ample funds, but now when we visit you can see the frustration in their faces of living beyond the plan while they tell us of their frustration that their money is nearly out.

The fear of running out of money is one of the top concerns for retirees (along with declining physical health and mental sharpness), according to a recently released report on happiness.

Things that brought joy - and were a priority to be happy amongst those surveyed in the 2024 Challenger Retirement Happiness Index - included enjoying life, keeping one's mind and body active.

The Senior would love to know what makes you happy, and are you excited Australians are living longer or are you ready to check out?

Perhaps you've already had a life well lived and ready ready for an adventure in the afterlife, or perhaps there is unfinished business on your bucket list.

Email us: EDIT@TheSenior.com.au

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