Active living can positively influence Canada's economic situation by increasing productivity throughout the lifespan and by decreasing ill health and dependency during the retirement years, thereby reducing social costs.

After reviewing the economics of active living among older adults, Sandra O'Brien Cousins and her team from the University of Alberta conclude that "Alarmist statements regarding the adverse economic consequences of increased survival due to the adoption of active living by older adults have commonly ignored important facts." Here are these facts:

• Most pension calculations have assumed a uniform age of retirement. However, active older adults can and often do make a productive contribution to society for several years longer than their sedentary counterparts. They do so through volunteer work, paid labour and caregiver roles.
• Typical analyses have considered the "dependency ratio," taking into account the support of both children and older adults. Supporting children costs more than providing for older people, however, and the proportion of children will decrease as the number of seniors increases.
• Active living reduces the likelihood of premature death, and there is growing evidence that it also prolongs high quality survival ("successful aging") up to the point of death.

Poor health seems to be a frequent cause of premature retirement. Active living not only prevents poor health, it also helps to manage and control chronic conditions. As such, it may very well extend the average period of participation in the labour force.

Active older people also depend less on the state. The demand for institutional and home-care services and the burden upon relatives differ greatly between active and inactive individuals, particularly in those over the age of 80. An active lifestyle can prolong independence by maintaining adequate strength, flexibility and aerobic power.

Morbidity, or ill health, during retirement years is greatly reduced by active living. Exercise has a beneficial influence upon such common problems as cardiac and peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, maturity-onset diabetes, certain cancers, osteoporosis, arthritis, memory loss, anxiety and depression.

The influence of active living on the number of injuries requires further documentation, but the type of activities common among seniors — walking, golf and gardening — are unlikely to produce a lot of injuries. In addition, exercise leads to a better control of blood pressure, a reduction of postural sway, faster reflexes, and stronger bones. All of these reduce the risk of falls and fall injuries.

Finally, regular physical activity changes the age at death. A well-quoted American study by Ralph Paffenbarger showed that regular moderate exercise could prevent premature death. Now, mounting evidence suggests that among those who are leading very active lives, all kinds of disabilities can be avoided too. Do these active older adults tend to die of "inexpensive" and "pleasant" deaths? Very likely, but more research is needed to confirm this point.

In the end, our society values quality of life above extended lifespan. The quality of life that accompanies optimal health and independence is certainly within closer reach for active older adults.