The New 50s

You’ve been watching Elizabeth Banks on movie and television screens for decades now—literally. Her career has taken her from absurd comedies to rigorous historical dramas and back again. You’ve seen her in over-the-top makeup and in moments of complete emotional vulnerability. It’s been a long ride.

But she would be the first to tell you that the ride is only just beginning. Banks didn’t direct her first feature until her 40s. 50 isn’t what it used to be.

Once upon a time, American society was designed so that the 50s were a culmination—the last, valedictory decade before you could retire, draw that pension, and ride off into the sunset. But for Banks and other Americans in their 50s, the sun is still high in the sky.

The saying goes that age is just a number. In fact, that saying is true. Our perceptions of age are changing all the time.

The old 50s were, well, old. The new 50s are all about flourishing.

“I’ve done my learning. I’m doing my earning, and I’m really enjoying life,” says Banks. “I’m clear about my priorities, letting go of what other people think of me. That confidence translates to a sense of feeling in my power as a human, a woman, and a mother like never before.”

There’s no more imposter syndrome, says Banks. Instead, there’s a deep understanding of what she has to do to take care of herself. It starts with the basics, like eating well, prioritizing good sleep, and making sure she is physically active every day—even if that means going on a leisurely walk. Those fundamentals also include taking smart steps to help protect her health, like getting regular checkups and staying up to date on vaccines.

While old age is a social construct, the biological risk factors for disease are not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently lowered the recommended age for pneumococcal vaccination to include healthy adults age 50 or older. That group is 6.4 times more likely to get pneumococcal pneumonia compared to healthy adults aged 18 to 49. The numbers are even higher for certain groups, like African Americans and Hispanics, where vaccination rates lag behind those of white adults by 10%.

“If you’re in your 50s, you may look and feel healthy, but your immune system weakens as you get older,” says Dr. Meredith McCormack, a pulmonologist at Johns Hopkins University. “Pneumococcal pneumonia poses a year-round risk, and it’s important to help protect yourself by getting vaccinated.”

For Banks, the importance of getting vaccinated was driven home a few years ago when she was diagnosed with shingles, a vaccine-preventable disease. Like shingles, pneumococcal pneumonia can happen any time of year.

“I missed work for the first time in my career, and it was a painful and unexpected wake-up call,” she says. “It showed me that despite living a pretty healthy lifestyle, I’m still at risk and need to be proactive in managing my health and staying up to date with recommended vaccination.”

If anything, the reality check has empowered Banks to take charge of her health as she tackles the next decade. “For me, turning 50 brought about a new-found appreciation for my health and well-being, but I’m also recognizing that I’m not invincible,” she says.

Banks has a lot going on. In addition to acting, directing, and producing, she is taking care of her two teenage boys and keeping an eye on her parents, who are getting older themselves.

“I found that being proactive about things like vaccines, especially for preventable conditions like pneumococcal disease, is key,” she says. “Staying ahead of potential health issues and managing perimenopause has allowed me to continue pursuing the things I love, both personally and professionally.”

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Joy Over 50

Tonya Parker knows what it’s like to be woken up by a health scare. Parker, a writer and fashion influencer, celebrates “joy over 50” on her website The Real Chic Life and social media channels. But before that, she was a single mom and a high-school counselor. During graduate school, while working a full-time job and raising two teenage daughters, she fell ill.

“At the time I said, ‘I don’t really even have time to be sick. I have to finish this graduate program,’” Parker recalls. After the episode, she became more intentional about her health. More than half of people over 50 have a chronic medical condition. To stay ahead of those risks, she eats a plant-based diet, exercises every day, and stays up to date on recommended vaccines.

“People 19 and over with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] have a higher risk of getting pneumococcal pneumonia and are vulnerable to severe complications,” says Dr. McCormack. “Preventive steps like vaccination can significantly reduce their risk for developing the disease.”

Parker’s journey to joy over 50—as both a guiding principle in her life and a message she shares with her audience—is not the one she anticipated. While working as a school counselor in Virginia, she applied to what she thought was a writing fellowship with a popular magazine publication. Only when she was selected did she realize that she would instead be modeling in ads. She was in her mid-40s, and her life changed completely. She barely knew what an influencer was when she became one. But she knew that as she approached her 50s, she was entering a decade she felt nobody talked enough about.

“When 50 hit, it was kind of like, what is this stage, even? And so that’s when I really had to double down and say, ‘It can be anything that I want it to be,’” she says. To Parker, that has meant embracing her passions: writing, volunteer work, and family time—especially with her grandchildren.

The new 50s—these 50s—are something Parker earned. The same goes for Banks. The same goes for all of us. “Our longer lives are one of humanity’s greatest achievements,” said Dr. Linda P. Fried, the longtime dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Health in a recent TED Talk. After a century of investment in medical research and public health, we have more knowledge, tools, and resources than ever to live long and fulfilling lives.

That means the new 50s are also a time to set ourselves up by making proactive choices that will define the decades to come. Not just in terms of health, but in terms of finding meaning in what we do.

“My 50s have brought about a world of new possibilities for me,” says Banks. “It’s been a time to embrace new opportunities, push creative boundaries, and fully enjoy life. My focus on health has helped me show up as my best self and allowed me to focus on the things I love without worry.”

Parker recently completed her first novel. Banks, who began her career in school plays in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is thinking about Broadway. This is a moment for redefining notions of what’s possible; this is the future they have worked so hard for.

“I’m still ambitious, but now it’s about purpose and impact,” says Banks. “It’s less about proving myself and more about doing work that feels meaningful and leaves a lasting impact.”