Elderly Activity and Support Highlighted in Book and Japanese Programs

A new Portuguese book, Longevidade Hoje, examines how learning, social engagement and neuroplasticity contribute to healthy aging. Psychologists Sharon Sanz Simon and Ilana Pinsky contrast chronological age with "subjective age" and cite 87‑year‑old archaeologist Haiga as a case of continued field work and teaching abroad, arguing that the brain can still form new connections.

A separate article describes Japan’s government‑backed schemes that help seniors remain employed. Data from the 2026 White Paper on the Elderly show that 54.5% of people aged 65‑69 and 36.2% of those 70‑74 are still working. The programs covered include the Continuation of Employment Benefit, a Professional Re‑placement Subsidy and an Unemployment Benefit for seniors, each with specific application rules and pension‑adjustment mechanisms introduced after the 2025 pension reform.

Both pieces underscore a shift away from viewing retirement as the end of productive life, emphasizing policies and attitudes that encourage older adults to stay active and financially secure.