News

Life expectancy on skyward trajectory...

May 12, 2014

For St George Private hospital newborn Harriet Neill, just four days old here, life expectancy is on a skyward trajectory. According to the Lancet Medical Journal, more than half of babies born post 2000 will live into the triple figures.

Yet back in 1922 it was just 59 years – although Marjorie Bray, 92, one of St George Private Hospital's volunteers, is bucking the trend.

"The secret is staying active, volunteering, a good social life and of course "a little bit of chocolate," says Marjorie who volunteers at the hospital every week with tasks including meeting and greeting visitors and providing companionship to patients post day surgery.

For the record, the world's longest surviving woman, Jean Marie Calment, who lived to 122 years of age, also ate chocolate daily!