Are loving your family, music and art the recipe for living a long life? Ask 101-year-old Ida!
Ida Harman is one of Discovery Health Medical Scheme's centenarian (people aged 100 years or older) members. A Discovery Health Intelligence analysis highlights how incredibly healthy this group of members are. Watch Ida's life story and also read all about this remarkable woman.
Watch Ida's video here
Ida Harman turned 101 years old in October 2023. However, there is a chance she actually turned 102 years old.
"I never got a birth certificate," says Ida.
Her son, Toni Harman, asks: "Did you ever think you'd live to be over 100 years old?"
"No, none of my family did," says Ida, smiling and shaking her head as she is the only centenarian in the family.
Ida has always been healthy. Other than having a pacemaker implanted almost two years ago, she has never had a serious illness.
"I'm a very family-minded person. I love to have my family around me."
And Ida absolutely loves reading. "I've always got something to read."
In fact, Ida loves books so much, that at the retirement lodge she lived in before moving to her current residence, she ran a library for residents.
"I set up the library myself when I moved there, and I ran it for a couple of years. It was lovely."
Ida also attends music appreciation sessions every week.
"It's very interesting," she says.
Toni adds: "My mom also goes to art appreciation sessions, where she and other residents do art projects together."
Ida doesn't think there's anything specific that has contributed to her living a long and healthy life but says, "I have always loved my family and loved everyone around me. Maybe that's it."
Ida is one of 90 centenarian Discovery Health Medical Scheme members (data to end April 2023). An investigation into trends within this group by the Health Intelligence team at Discovery Health, reveals fascinating insights into just how healthy people can be in their golden years. Most centenarian Scheme members are women. However the men in the group are healthier than the women. When it comes to chronic illnesses, cancer, COVID-19, hospital admissions and more, this group defies the odds!
Read the full Discovery Health Intelligence team report on just how healthy people can be in their golden years, based on an investigation into Discovery Health Medical Scheme's centenarian members.