'A whiskey a day' - is this the secret to reaching 100?

Dorothy attends Age NI's Anna House day care centre in Dunmurry

A checklist for a long life - breakfast in the morning, three good meals a day and maybe a tipple of an evening.

That's the secret according to Dorothy Malcolm, who at 100-years-old, is one of Northern Ireland's growing number of centenarians.

"A whiskey a day keeps the doctor away," joked Dorothy, who lives in Dunmurry.

More and more people are living longer and according to recent statistics from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) there were 294 centenarians in June 2024, up from 265 in 2014.

Mrs Malcolm was born in 1925 and began working in Stormont at the age of 15. After training, she operated a contometer (a mechanical calculator).

After surviving polio at age three, she lived a relatively healthy life. She said she used to smoke and liked to have a drink.

She enjoyed recalling memories of dances at what used to be the Floral Hall on the Antrim Road in north Belfast.

Mrs Malcolm is the middle child of three sisters. She says her sisters lived to 101 and 92 so they have good family genetics.

When asked what advice she would give to someone hoping to live a long life, she said: "You don't have to be extravagant, just ordinary good food. Potatoes, steak, carrot and onion".

Just don't abuse it. Just live, have three good meals a day and make sure you have your breakfast before you go out in the morning".

The amount of people aged 100 years and over in Northern Ireland, per 100,000 people has almost doubled since 2004.

So, why are people living longer?

Dr Mihalis Doumas says centenarians are amazing

Dr Mihalis Doumas is a senior lecturer in psychology at Queen's University Belfast.

His research focuses on age-related decline, cognitive function and fall prevention.

He said some people can live a long life but not a healthy one.

"Centenarians are the exception to that... centenarians are amazing because they have hit the sweet spot of genetics and lifestyle".

Dr Doumas said it is very hard to know exactly why someone lives to the grand age of 100.

"You ask them, did you smoke, what were you eating? With a group of centenarians, the thing we've discovered is that genetics are more likely to be the cause of living that long, than lifestyle.

"Especially because you will see that people were smoking, drinking and doing all these unhealthy behaviours we try to avoid, to live longer so, there is something in the genetics".

Elizabeth Jess is 106 years old. She turns 107 in December of this year

Elizabeth Jess grew up in the countryside outside Dromore in County Down but also now lives in Dunmurry.

Born in 1918 and at 106 years old, she is still living in her own home with carers coming out four times a day.

She has three daughters, one in their 70s and two in theirs 80s.

Most of Mrs Jess' siblings lived into their 90s so she said they also have good family genetics.

She wasn't a stranger to exercise growing up, adding: "When I was working, I rode the bicycle eight miles a day, six days a week.

"I don't know how I did it, I wouldn't like to do it now but there were no cars".

When asked what advice she has for young people she said: "Look after yourself, don't drink or smoke or do drugs, they are the worst".

Mrs Jess loves to socialise and chat, adding: "I could talk to the morning, I love to see people coming in and talking."

She has kept her sense of humour, too.

When asked about how good her memory was, she laughed and said: "Well, there's things I'd rather forget too I suppose."

Positive outlook on life

The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, Siobhan Casey, said living longer should be matched with living well.

"The rise in the number of centenarians is a remarkable milestone and something to be celebrated," she said.

It is important that the demographic shift is reflected in how the government plans, prioritises and delivers services, she added.

In Scotland, figures show that women make up more than 80% of those who make it to 100.

Dr Doumas said that women having wider social circles helps.

"A possibility is that women are better with social networks. If you ask a woman who is her best friend, she will tell you her best friend's name.

"If you ask a man, he will tell you more than likely, his wife. Women have a wider social network than men and that keeps them going for longer".

Both Mrs Malcolm and Mrs Jess have positive outlooks on life and say that is the key to longevity.

When asked if she's always been an optimistic person, Mrs Malcolm said "I think so, it's just the way I am".