CLEVELAND -- When you're in your 30s and 40s, the last thing on your mind is retiring.

But as part of The Cleveland Foundation's "Successful Aging Initiative," NewsChannel5's Adam Shapiro reported that your golden years will also be your active years, despite what you might think.

Like many older Americans, Naomi Feil continues to work well past the age most think they will retire.

"I like that I have energy, (and) I like that I don't have to worry about what I will do with my life," she said. "I don't worry (about) if I (will) lose my job (or) what will happen."

Feil, 70, travels the world training nursing home staffs and physicians on ways to treat the elderly who live with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

She thought she would be retired by now, but she wants to keep working. Feil admitted that she has to work to finance the lifestyle she enjoys.

Her financial planner, Bob Smith, sees such situations all the time.

"You are going to spend as much money, if not more money, because of having more time to shop, more time to travel, (and) more time to just spend money," he said.

Feil said that plenty of young people prepare for old age financially, but many fail to prepare mentally.

"To be very honest, it is a shock, and you have to be able to face the fears, 'Am I going to lose my mind? Am I going to lose my ability to walk?'" she said. "And you have to face that and look at that and say, 'I am scared,' and say, 'Hi, fear.'"

Feil said she confronts all kinds of fear in her life, including health issues that come with old age and declining finances that come with a drop in stocks, but she said the key to successful aging for anyone old or young is go with the flow.

"To be flexible, to be honest with yourself and to face your life struggles," she said.

For more information on the "Successful Aging Initiative" or available resources, write NewsChannel5, 3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, or log onto our special section on aging.