Conference: "Social isolation is poison for aging"

To age well, you first need to think about living well. That, in essence, could be one of the messages that Dr. François Sarkozy conveyed during the two lectures he gave on Monday, January 5, and Tuesday, January 6, in Saint-Barthélemy.
The author of the book Vieillir heureux, c'est possible ! (Aging Happily is Possible!) (Édition Leduc), a pediatrician and former intern at Paris hospitals, accepted an invitation from OVE-Caraïbes and the Irénée de Bruyn Hospital. On Monday, he met with healthcare professionals at the hospital. On Tuesday, he led a public meeting. Not at the Gustavia harbor master's office, as originally planned. When the organizers found the doors closed, they were able to take advantage of the presence of the president of the tourism committee, Alexandra Questel, to take refuge in the CTTSB premises. More than twenty people attended the conference.
Different generations were represented to listen to Dr. Sarkozy. "You have to live and not forget to enjoy yourself," the doctor reminded the audience, highlighting an aspect of well-being that is too often neglected: sleep. "We must learn to accept ourselves as we age," he said. "This is an extremely important point. Accepting ourselves allows us to rise above. " It also means getting organized. François Sarkozy emphasizes the fact that "studies show that 18 to 20 months after a poorly prepared retirement, there is a high morbidity rate." In addition, he condemns social isolation at all ages. "It is poison for life and aging," he says, adding: "You have to learn to manage your stress and put your problems in their proper place!"
Of course, good practices and positive thinking are essential, but so is preventive medicine. "Regular health check-ups are important," he reminds us. "Early diagnosis is a determining factor."
A regular visitor to Saint Barthélemy, Dr. Sarkozy notes: "Saint Barth is a wonderful place to live. The island should also become a wonderful place to age well." This is an additional public health issue that needs to be addressed by the community as a whole.