At 81, a Brazzaville grandmother's rules for a long, happy life
Walk, exercise, eat well, never go to bed angry, and stay close to family: Hélène Dos Santos Kanda shared her routine with WHO for the International Day of Older Persons.
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Brazzaville — Every morning, Hélène Dos Santos Kanda begins the same way. "As soon as I wake up, I thank God for giving me the gift of life," she says. Then she exercises: walking, abdominal exercises and sometimes cycling. At 81, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Brazzaville, she shared her habits with the World Health Organization for the International Day of Older Persons.
A former university lecturer, she spent much of her career with the UN Development Programme until she retired in 2002. Since 2009 she has helped run the Association of Former United Nations Staff Members, which keeps her busy and in touch with old colleagues.
Her rules
- Keep moving: exercise every day to keep energy and independence.
- Don't live alone in your head: "You should not live in isolation. You need to be among people, among your loved ones."
- Let things go: "I never go to bed angry. I don't hold grudge against anyone."
- Family first: she especially loves cooking for her family. "When I cook, they enjoy it. It makes me very happy. It is my reason for living."
Her advice to young people: set goals, believe in your abilities, and value education, discipline and responsibility.
This year's theme, "The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives", is a reminder, WHO says, that longer lives should also be healthier ones, supported by health and social systems that let older people keep contributing to their families and communities.
Source: World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, 1 October 2026.
