As long as you’re alive, you will age.

Instead of thinking of aging as something you have to fight, approach it as something you can do well.

Those who work with older people see what happens when people don’t take care of themselves. Some draw inspiration from those who age well. And some have made changes in their own lives to remain healthy and engaged in life.

Don’t wait, experts say. There are many things you can do in your 30s, 40s and 50s to pave the way for a healthy, fulfilling life when you’re older.

Here’s what five people who have expertise in working with older people had to say.

Stay active

Several times a week after work, Judith Walker heads to a fitness center to work out.

As director of the nursing division in the Douglas (Minn.) County Department of Health and Human Services, Walker is aware of how important it is to prevent health problems by developing healthy habits.

Walker, 64, doesn’t deprive herself of food but tries to be aware of what she eats. She tries not to eat between meals and considers the nutritional quality of the food she eats and the size of portions.

“If you do a couple of things like that, then try to keep a real positive attitude. It can make a difference,” she said.

To prevent loneliness, people need to make an effort to stay connected to other people, she believes.

Judith Walker exercises with weights to keep in shape. She joined a Duluth, Minn., health club to help fight off osteoporosis and other aging-related ailments.

Eat right

Dr. David Spoelhof said our mothers and grandmothers were right when they said we should eat fruits and vegetables.

It’s best to eat healthy food rather than rely on vitamin pills, he said.

“Too many people seem to think vitamins will replace good food or exercise,” he said.

Spoelhof, 49, is a family practice physician at Superior Health Medical Group in Piedmont Heights, Minn., who also has a certification in geriatrics.

There is some evidence that vitamin E may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, he said. And although vitamin E pills are safe, it’s still better to get vitamins through food, he added.

The main dietary sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils, nuts (especially almonds) and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin E also is included in many fortified cereals.

As for Spoelhof’s own efforts to stay healthy: “I eat an extra apple or two a day. I push the fruits in my own diet.” He also goes for a walk about three times a week, a couple of miles each time.

Stay engaged with life

Staying actively engaged in life is important in aging well, said Chandra Mehrotra.

Mehrotra, 69, is dean of special projects at the College of St. Scholastica. He has a doctorate in psychology and has studied and written extensively on aging.

Although he is considered an expert in his field, Mehrotra still considers himself a learner.

“To me, that is part of aging well — to be open to new ideas and engaged in learning,” he said.

Having a positive attitude contributes to aging well — especially in a society that fears aging and worships youth, he said.

If you are actively engaged in mental tasks, it allows you to maintain mental functions, Mehrotra said. You can volunteer to read with a child in school or help people deal with their medical insurance forms.

“Use it or lose it, and participate in academic challenges,” he said.

Keep learning

Mary Lee Lalich believes lifelong learning is an important part of aging well.

Programs like the one for which she works as director — the University for Seniors at the University of Minnesota Duluth — not only give people intellectual stimulation, but also provide a chance for social interaction, she said.

“It has been phenomenal watching the older people continue to bloom and relationships develop between people who don’t know each other before they come here,” she said.

Lalich, 59, went back to college about 10 or 12 years ago to get a degree in gerontology.

“I have a strong interest in older adults and keeping them as independent as they can be in their older years,” she said.

Lalich keeps active by exercising, including playing tennis, biking and kayaking. She also tries to eat well.

She believes it’s important for people to get out of the house and do volunteer activities, socialize or take classes like those offered by University for Seniors.