Life expectancy of Japanese women, men continues to rise in 2018

Great, but the problem is not life expectancy, it's quality of life!

I for one have no plans on living forever, particularly if "life" is crap! Rather go away peacefully into the night!

Life expectancy in Hong King will probably fall when the 50-year-moratorium expires on the former British colony and China regains full control of it.

Yubaru

You don't live 80 to 90 years old if quality of life was bad, or crap as you call it.

Good to hear. Now only if they can match that longer life expectancy with a better quality of living, otherwise you'll just be existing

You don't live 80 to 90 years old if quality of life was bad, or crap as you call it.

AlecB,

Like another poster said, live for far too many, most, is more like existing than LIVING, hence many, myself included think Japan NEEDS to do more quality, the quantity will take care of itself!

And like Yubaru I sure as hell am NOT looking forward to growing old here, its depressing as hell to witness, affordable options for the masses...……..very sorely lacking, like I always say, do you really wanna grow old in Japan......

Japan should be proud of this?

What! managing to live is misery? Longer than other people, in misery? that's an award I don't want.

God Forbid, the thought of me growing old in Japan drives cold sweat down my spine and my heartbeat faster than a hamster.

I think it’s in your genes. If you have good stock, your chances of living past 80 and into the 90’s are higher. How old your grandparents lived is telling.

I think it’s in your genes. not just genes ,

healthy lifestyle also, smokers on average die about 7 yrs earlier than non smokers, obese also have many years taken off the average lifespan also

Well, that's great.

So far medical science and practice has been great at improving the physical quality life and extending life expectancy, but hasn't been able to effectively improve the quality of mental health. What's the point of living to your 80s, 90s or even 100s in good physical health when afflicted with dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or other neurological disorders?

It's time that the retirement age is raised to 99. Because Japanese people are the No1 longevity and you want them to pay tax Of course!

How did this idea that working during your productive years and paying for your pension would result in a Golden time of comfort. TAX will slap you out of any comfort because politicians need more money like drug addicts they need more tax money. Have dementure or unable to move...TAX.

My wife works as a carer for the elderly, and she assures me that quality of life certainly outweighs duration. For the majority of her charges, hers is the only face they see all day for weeks on end.

I'm not going out that way. Once I start needing a nappy, it's a bottle of brandy and a whole bunch of pills for me.

Longevity correlates with peace positively.

Japan should be proud of this!

I agree with this. I believe Japan leads the world in healthy life expectancy.

apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.HALEXv?lang=en

I am finding myself increasingly critical of Japan, having kids and being sucked right into society proper does it to you, but the country scores well on physical health. Note that keeping people healthy doesn't really make anyone any easy money. There is far more money in selling people unnecessary calories, booze, cigarettes, etc. and then expensive medical treatments, dietary snake oil, etc. once they are ill or overweight.

I'm not going out that way. Once I start needing a nappy, it's a bottle of brandy and a whole bunch of pills for me.

I understand what you mean. But when that day finally arrives for you and it's time to carry out your plan your survival instincts might just kick in.

Is this a thing to be proud of? For some, of course, like those who live surrounded by a loving family and have money, physical and mental health, but that’s not the majority, I guess. Along with this news, instead of bragging, the government should improve the retirement plan. QUICKLY!

More cranky old people. Really? Like life is not difficult enough in Japan.

i dont see how that is in any way a good thing

Seems the government should be forming a Pannel to discuss forming a Pannel to discuss life ending options for elderly and their families. In a legal framework that doesn't include kitchen knives or wrapped in futons in a cupboard. Life is a journey and it does have an end, recognition of the end is sometimes not a easy thing. But a legal frame work might help.

The one thing I can honestly say when it comes to life expectancy in Japan is that old people consistently join those morning exercise groups. Also, they always seem to be on the move in Japan.

While I don’t believe the early years quality of life is the best due to stress, people learn to adapt. So their routines don’t feel as stressful once they get into their older years. It’s just normal everyday life.

Now me personally, I am happy to go once I get to 65 or so. I don’t need to be too old or get to the point where I need assistance.

Needing assistance is a red flag, I stopped my gym after daily seeing elderly fall down the stairs, wander around pants off. Then get in their car. The government desperately needs to form a Pannel pants optional to form a committee that can address (pants on) this problem.

My primary care physician here told my matter-of-factly that doctors will not operate on any one over 90 now. Apparently, its an unwritten guideline put out by the government to physicians to inform patients over 90 that surgery is not possible. I know in the US that physicians will not do any surgical procedure on patients in their 80's unless they are loaded to the gills with private health insurance...

"And like Yubaru I sure as hell am NOT looking forward to growing old here, its depressing as hell to witness, affordable options for the masses...……..very sorely lacking, like I always say, do you really wanna grow old in Japan...."

You don't; fair enough.

But isn't the article about Japanese people growing old in Japan?

Perhaps Japanese should all yearn to grow old in your country, whatever that might be?

Living a long life is pointlesss if you don't enjoy a reasonable standard of physical and mental health, and don't have to worry about having enough money to pay the bills.

Quality of life over longevity every time.

 I know in the US that physicians will not do any surgical procedure on patients in their 80's unless they are loaded to the gills with private health insurance...

Thanks conservatives for insisting that health care in the US is a commodity.

I'm not going out that way. Once I start needing a nappy, it's a bottle of brandy and a whole bunch of pills for me.

Too right, except for the brandy; it'll be whiskey for me. Brandy tastes too much like cough syrup.

Perhaps Japanese should all yearn to grow old in your country, whatever that might be?

Peeping,

Actually I recently went home for 2wks(trying doing THAT & being Japanese!) & both my parents are in different facilities for the elderly, mom just moved from a nice place where she had front & rear gardens but that kind of stuff was getting difficult so now she is in an apartment with various services & plans as SHE needs, very flexible, very nice, I would be totally ok moving into the apartment she just entered VERY NICE & a fantastic view, close to some shops, a lake.

so HELL YEAH if I could transfer some of these to Japan I bet Japanese would JUMP at the chance to move in!!  MUCH BETTER then Japan

Kids decrease life expectancy through stress, of that I know first hand.

Length of Life is inversely proportional to the number of Kids

Kids decrease life expectancy through stress, of that I know first hand.

Length of Life is inversely proportional to the number of Kids

Long-term caregiving for the elderly also decreases life expectancy (for the caregiver) by four to eight years according to this article (https://www.mindingoureldersblogs.com/2015/12/long-term-caregiving-may-significantly-shorten-life-expectancy-of-caregiver.html)

As for children: Having only ONE child places the burden of taking care of the elderly parent(s) rests solely on that SINGLE child.

NOT having children also raises another major problem: WHO is going to take care of YOU when you are elderly and reached the stage where you can't care for yourself?

So....perhaps the best answer to improving YOUR quality of life and reducing stress as you grow older is: *don't have children and maybe reinstate the practice of Ubasute ???*