To wonder how much of the Queen and Prince Phillip's long lives were down to wealth

My grandmother lived to 101 and was mentally and physically well up until 6 months or so before death (she was living independently at home). She was not well off at all, just a run of the mill life with no major illnesses along the way, worked from a young age. Her siblings lived into their late 90s. Her mother was 98 when she died.

ThecQueen mother lived to 102 or 3 I read that as a very generous under estimation she drank in excess of 70+ units of alcohol / week ,lots of pre lunch drinks ,wine with meals ,afternoon drinks ,cocktails etc

I think it helps but genetics also play a huge part. Plus access to a medical team on tap. Many older people will have a fall alone for example. I think that’s one of the leading causes of death. And yes constant medical check ups. Intervention and treatment the minute it’s needed. I was expecting the queen to live a little longer due to her Mother making it to over 100. I think grief when you lose a loved one has a big impact.

My partners grandma and grandad are in their 90s. Both bright as buttons.

Money doesn't prevent dementia?

It was a huge factor, have a look at the social determinates of healthcare!

People are giving illogical answers here = with answers like 'my uncle died blah blah'

Obviously wealth and longevity are linked at a SOCIETAL level - ie. individual stories are not relevant.

THe poorest parts of the UK have life expectancies way, way below the richest.

Westminster - you can live til your 80s - poorer parts of Glasgow - you can die in your 50s! Some parts of Glasgow have the same life expectancy as the gaza strip.

Of course wealth and access to the best healthcare and a private doctor played a part.

But I'd bet that staying physically and mentally active was a huge contributor. It's an anecdote I know, but after my grandfather's death my grandmother just sat in her house and watched TV. Wouldn't go out or see anyone. She sat there and deteriorated for 20 years. Severe dementia by the end. Her (also widowed) older sister on the other hand always goes out and sees people every day even if it's just to the local cafe for a tea. She's sharp as a button, still driving etc.

Eating sensibly but well and keeping active. Not counting steps, but keeping movement with enjoyment like horse riding, dog walking and hiking up the hills in Balmoral. HMQ was doing crosswords every day and, of course, reading the red dispatch boxes.
Mind and body active. Good genes and private medical care help, though!

Please don't give anecdotal answers to this question! It does not disprove wider statistical realities. Health and poverty/ wealth are completely inextricably linked.

You can 'wonder' what you like....do you really need AIBU to validate your thinking?

Or

Are you just wanting a stealth bashing session?

That's very true. Look at the life expectancy from the West of Scotland compared to Surrey.

Well, there's an undeniable link between wealth and health and so it will have no doubt played a part.

I think they did both work hard - whether you think it was useful work is of course another matter.

But however hard or not somebody works, there can be a huge difference in how much toll that work takes on your body. There's a reason why accountants and solicitors can go on into their 70s, but a miner will be ready to collapse 20 or even 30 years before that.

As well as the top healthcare on demand, I think the food/diet is also a major contributor. Not even just the knowledge/willingness of what are good dietary choices, but the fact that you have somebody there to buy it, cook and bring it for you 24/7. For us ordinary folk, we may well prefer proper, nutritionally-cooked food, but time, work and energy constraints mean that we often end up grabbing something quick from the freezer - or on the fly; even more so when you have reached quite an age and standing at a cooker, fatigue, arthritis and a multitude of other factors are at play. Simply eating the food is the easy and fun part if you don't have to worry about all the bits before that!

We don't actually know wether either of them had dementia, Prince Philip was retired from royal duties a few years before his death ,it may well have been due to his increasing age and being very frail, but who knows ,it's not like they would tell the general public anyway.

Good diet, the best healthcare, not the everyday stresses of rushing around and trying to make ends meet certainly certainly helps

a life where you do have the time and resources to do what is good for your health makes a huge difference

I always think that about diet: how many exhausted mums on here ask for advice with easy meals as they're so pushed? Telling them to batch cook or it's easy to cook from scratch doesn't help. You're exhausted and have hungry children, who hasn't been tempted to bung ready meals in the microwave or get a KFC?
Wealth gives you the luxury of time and support.

eat healthily
dont smoke
be active
be the right weight
genes
the queen mother was 100 or even 101

Surely the ones you see in care homes are the ones who arent doing so well. A friend's MIL has just died at 99 and she lived in her own home right to the end.

She was comfortable financially, which I'm sure helps, poverty is quite literally a killer, but not wealthy.

As for Queen and DofE, they both had active outdoor lifestyles and stayed a healthy weight. I expect the top quality health care helped too, but it won't make everyone one live well past 90.

We don't actually know wether either of them had dementia, Prince Philip was retired from royal duties a few years before his death ,it may well have been due to his increasing age and being very frail, but who knows ,it's not like they would tell the general public anyway.

Indeed. I imagine it's relatively easy to mask something like dementia, up to a point, simply by increasing the number of people to pick up the other tasks on their behalf. Most of what the monarch does can easily be done by a lackey with them only ceremonially signing it off.

didnt i read that charles just had fruit and seeds for breakfast, and no lunch
and i understand the queen didnt eat potatoes, so just mainly fish and vegetables

They had to do a lot of engagements which include formal dinners. I’m sure the finest ingredients would be used but would all the meals be healthy?

They were both famously very active into old age. Neither ate or drank excessively. Neither smoked. Both worked into their 80s/90s.

But obviously having a cook who would produce healthy food, lean meat or fish with very fresh vegetables was a benefit, as was having access to immediate medical advice.

My DGM lived to 102 with no significant mental deterioration. She was a farmers wife, worked into her 90s, ate home grown and home produced food, didn't drink or smoke.
My DM lived into her 90s. Walked everywhere, didn't drive, grew her own veg, cooked from scratch. Gave up work in her late 80s.

It seems to be a combination of keeping going, eating healthily, staying active, being stimulated and busy. Plus a dose of good luck.

My nan is 98, grew up in the depths of Birmingham's poverty streets and has only recently started using a walking stick.
I realise that's anecdotal. I'm sure theRF's expensive health care has provided lovely support and care, but it's not like every other person dies much younger because they don't have access to it.

They both spent lobg periods on their feet, which we're told is good for us.

Re the socioeconomic effects on health, I'm not sure it's that the very wealthy have an advantage, more that the very poor die young.