My great-aunt is 96 and still lives independently. Here are her 8 secrets to a long and healthy life.

To that end, Ferrari makes it a point to meet up with other residents in her community for dinner. She also regularly spends time with her children and grandchildren.

She makes it a point to stay informed

“I used to be a great reader,” Ferrari told me. Reading may not be feasible anymore due to the condition of her eyesight, but that hasn’t stopped her from staying on top of current events.

“Now, instead of reading, I listen,” she said.

For instance, she loves listening to MSNBC at night. Sometimes, in her retirement community, there are readings of The New York Times she’ll sit in on as well.

And she hit the genetic jackpot

It would be impossible to talk about Ferrari’s long life without addressing her mother’s centenarian status. In fact, she lived until she was 104 years old.

While we don’t know exactly which genes contribute to longevity, we do know that the children of people who live long tend to remain healthy for longer, too. It’s estimated that roughly 25% of a person’s life span is determined by genetics — while the rest is contingent on other factors, like diet, lifestyle, environment, and stress management.