The story

Richard Rose used to challenge his wife, Joyce, if he thought she was misstating something, but these days he lets it go.

At age 87, he's found that as people get older, they tend to "mellow out" when it comes to arguments. Nowadays, devoting time each day to swimming and reading, Rose feels happier than he did in his 40s.

"As you get older, if you're wise, you avoid all stress," said Rose, who is retired and lives with his wife in Palm Beach, Florida.

Rose's experiences reflect findings presented over the weekend at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Toronto, Canada. Researchers suggested that, generally, people in their 80s and 90s are happier than younger people.

"Older people are better able to recognize what will bother them, and better able to negotiate their environment," said Susan Turk Charles, a psychologist at the University of California, Irvine. Read full article »

All About Aging and the Elderly • Mental and Emotional Well-Being