Every day, 74-year-old Jerry Wahl walks nearly two miles with his wife, Cindy. During the day, he does stretches with a rowing machine in the living room. He is always busy with his errands, although he has retired for more than a decade.
“I’m much more active now when I’m retired because of the work I do out in the country, at the ranch, and in the garden,” Wahl said.
Wahl finds himself reflecting on a question that numbers and medical charts cannot answer.
“You get to seeing other people that are older than you pass away, or younger than you pass away, and you get to think about, well, who am I?” Wahl said. “How long am I supposed to be here? And what is my purpose?”
For Wahl, aging has little to do with statistics. His purpose roots deeply in family and faith. Alongside his activities in gardening, working at the ranch, hunting deer, and attending church, his motivation is simple: he wants to watch his children and his grandchildren grow, and he refuses to leave his wife to navigate old age on her own.
“It’s important for me to be alive, to be available, to help my wife,” Wahl said. “I have told God that I would like to go before she does, unless we both die at the same time, ’cause I don’t want her to have to be alone. That’s one reason I pursue longevity.”
According to U.S. Census Bureau population projections, adults 65 and older will outnumber children under 18 in the United States by 2029. In Texas, the average life expectancy at birth stands at 77.1 years in 2022. It is slightly below the national average for the United States (80.2 years). The data indicate that the senior population will continue to grow, affecting labor markets, healthcare demand, public spending and the size of the future workforce.
While age is just a number, the actual challenge is how to maintain dignity and function in an advanced age, says Dean P. Fischbeck, executive director of assisted living and memory care facility in New Braunfels.
“Longevity is about having more healthy and meaningful years of life,” Fischbeck said. “I would rather live to 90 and still be active, independent, and mentally engaged than simply live a long time while dealing with poor health and limited independence.”
Fischbeck, 58, witnesses the realities of physical decline every day. He believes that personal habits contribute more than genetics to role. While he sees artificial intelligence (AI) and technology could have a major impact on aging and longevity, like it is used to help monitor residents, communicate with families, manage medications, and provide better care, he emphasizes that algorithms cannot provide the core of caregiving.
“Technology should support human care, not replace human connection,” Fischbeck said. “In memory care especially, a computer or AI system can’t replace the comfort of a caregiver holding someone’s hand, a family member visiting, or simply having another person sit down and talk with a resident.”
For Tim Knight, 69, active aging comes down to a steady shift on the job. Working alongside his wife, Rhonda, for the same retailer gives the couple a shared routine filled with daily movement and social interaction. Rather than dwelling on physical decline, Knight takes a clear-eyed view of getting older by eating well, skipping alcohol and cigarettes, and keeping his blood pressure under control.
“I don’t feel as strong as I used to be when I was younger, obviously. But I feel like I’m aware just as well as I always have been.” Knight said. “But I do take care of myself. I do the right things. I don’t smoke; I don’t drink. I take supplement vitamins. I only take one thing that’s a prescription. It’s for blood pressure. I feel good other than losing muscle mass because of aging, bone structure, and all that. It’s just a part of aging.”
Aging is a natural part of life, but how people approach it—through daily lifestyle choices, close relationships, and a clear sense of purpose—ultimately defines longevity. “To live a long life, you have to be smart,” Wahl said. “You’ve got to know what you can do and what you can’t do, what God wants you to do, and what He doesn’t want you to do. There’s so much evil in the world and so many things that can make you feel bad. Well, I pray, I give it to God, and I do what I can. I don’t carry the weight of the world on my shoulders.”
