Christine Webber

There are plenty of bonuses about growing older but whoever first said, “ageing isn’t for the faint-hearted” did have a point. There are lots of health niggles and irritations, aren’t there? And some of them are hard to ignore. So, I thought this week we might look at digestive problems because they certainly seem to be more prevalent in later life.

I’ve lost count of the number of people who have said to me recently, “Isn’t it dark outside?”

This week’s column is all about making sure you are caring for you, and prioritising your needs during the autumn and winter months. In fact, I’d like to suggest that you do something amazing for yourself which will help you enjoy them better.

Last week, I wrote about eating the right foods to try to stave off any bugs that might get us this winter. I also mentioned that at this time of year, we have a tendency to crave high carb comfort, and that this can be ruinous for our waistline.

This week, I want to write about assertiveness. Some people find it harder to be assertive as they age – partly because they sometimes feel invisible in certain situations. This is a horrid feeling.

Opinion: Let’s face it, you don’t have to be at death’s door to feel dreadful when you get some bug or other. So, I think a bit of preparation for illness could be sensible.

In the past, I’ve written about how good our decision-making is as we get older and how research shows we use our life experiences in this process.

If you’re a regular reader of this column, you’ll know I’m forever urging you to do all you can to keep yourself as fit and healthy as possible. But this week, I want to draw your attention to those times when you can’t deal with a health problem alone and must seek professional help.

I’ve been doing some extra research on positive ageing this week as I’m writing a book on the subject, and I thought I’d share some of it.

At a lovely supper with friends the other evening, we got talking about whether or not you can change other people. Most of us there were in our seventies and tended to the belief that you can’t.