Start shaking that booty

As a boy, I dreamt of becoming an elder, because I admired the way senior citizens – some former government employees and others who had invested their money well – enjoyed their old age.

- Masoka Dube

They were not required to wake up early and go to work like many middle-aged people did. Instead, they would spend their mornings drinking their favourite cup of coffee or tea and reading their beloved newspapers.

But my dream of being an elder changed after realising many of them, especially those based in rural areas, were suffering from chronic conditions associated with old age.

I noticed that many of my favourite people believed being old was a disease.

Believe it or not, many people, especially in rural areas, think it is compulsory for everyone over 50 or approaching 60 to be unhealthy.

Most of them are struggling to walk and do things that require them to use their energy.

According to health experts, common conditions associated with old age include heart disease, dementia, diabetes, arthritis, loss of vision and hearing, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.