Marcus Riley releases a new book to help seniors get the most out of life

A positive ageing advocate who has worked with seniors for more than 20 years has revealed his top five tips for growing old “successfully”.

BallyCara CEO Marcus Riley has released a new book. Picture: Chris Higgins

Positive ageing advocate Marcus Riley has worked in the “ageing” industry for more than 20 years has released a book detailing his tips on how to age “successfully’.

Mr Riley is the Chief Executive Officer of BallyCara, a village for older people, at Scarborough north of Brisbane.

He also represented the Global Ageing Network at the United Nations to discuss the rights of older people.

His new book Booming: A life-changing philosophy for ageing well, was released on November 1.

“My book is the result of my many years involvement in the world of ageing and I believe that when it comes to ageing people have a choice,” Mr Riley said.

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BallyCara CEO Marcus Riley has released a new book about ageing gracefully. Picture: Chris Higgins

“People can accept the negativity that abounds about getting older, concede that they will decline and wither on the vine. Or we can chose to seize the opportunity to revel in our extended later years with joy, passion and wisdom.”

“I hope that my book encourages people to do just that and engage in healthy ageing.”

He said the book sheds light on the challenges and delights of being an older person and provides a blueprint for successful ageing.

He shared his top five tips:

1. Say yes

“Say yes and say it more than you ever have before,” he said. Every time we do something new we grow, so not being afraid to fail and make the most of our everyday means we have to grasp opportunities when they come along. So say yes to the invitation for an outing, yes to someone lending you a hand and yes to your grandkids trying to teach you how to take a selfie.”

2. Participate

Mr Riley said getting involved with community and family lead to finding fulfilment in those relationships.

“It’s no secret that most people rate moments of connection with people and shared enjoyment as their most important life experiences, so it’s really important to be present and participate,” he said.

3. Be proactive

“Positive people are proactive, not reactive so it’s up to you to take charge,” Mr Riley said. “We can be proactive by understanding what threatens our successful ageing and take pre-emptive action. For example known that relationships are important to our wellbeing means that we may need to take proactive steps to patch up a fraying friendship or family relationship.”

4. Dodge the negative

Mr Riley said to avoid the “glass-half empty folk”. He said negativity was contagious. “Reject it and be positive,” he said.

5. Pursue your passions

“With more time on your hands, you now have the opportunity to revel in passions of your choosing, good books, films, music, art or gardening,” Mr Riley said. “Learn a new language or a musical instrument or wrestle that cryptic crossword into submission. Spend your time doing the things you enjoy and with the people who help make you feel good.”