Shortly after Dr. Art Ulene stood atop Kilimanjaro on his 90th birthday he contacted Guinness World Records to learn whether he held the mark as the oldest person to complete the climb.

He already held an honor from the Tanzania National Park Service yet he sought formal confirmation of the record.

"I did not undertake the climb for any award," he told Business Insider. "Still it would be gratifying to claim the title at least until someone else surpasses it."

The retired obstetrician and gynecologist reached the 19 341-foot summit on July 13 and received a celebratory cake from his guide and 22-person support crew.

"If I close my eyes I can still picture myself on the summit gazing down at the cloud tops," he said. "The vista was breathtaking."

The Climb Required 15 Days

His team provided cheerful company throughout the 15-day trek singing and dancing while he moved steadily between camps.

The group carried a portable chair for his rest breaks and fondly referred to him as "Babu" the Swahili term for grandfather.

Ulene completed this ascent his third in 15 years in cooperation with CareScout an organization that assists older adults with aging concerns.

At age 85 he had turned around at 17 000 feet on an earlier attempt stating he did not feel well and refused to let pride endanger his health.

The former medical correspondent for the TODAY show indicated this Kilimanjaro climb would be his final one yet the experience would inform his advice for other seniors facing later-life challenges.

"I am not encouraging anyone to scale Kilimanjaro," he said. "I am urging them to climb their own Mount Metaphor because its peaks and valleys mirror those of life."

Here are three longevity recommendations Ulene offers for maximizing later years.

Emphasize Exercise Sleep and Nutrition

The father of three born in 1936 smoked until age 33 and began serious exercise only at 50.

He has since compensated by visiting the gym three or four times weekly for strength training.

He built the leg power and endurance needed for Kilimanjaro by repeatedly climbing 50 flights of stairs while wearing hiking boots.

"I dislike exercise while performing it yet I appreciate how I feel afterward," he said. "I soon forget the effort just as I have largely forgotten the discomfort of the climb."

He pairs activity with sound nutrition focusing on plant-based meals and moderating fats.

Adequate rest also matters. "I never slept better than I did inside my tent on the mountain," he added.

Value Your Own Capabilities

"People discuss natural resources and say we must extract them now yet the greatest resource lies above ground," Ulene said.

"It consists of the intelligence experience knowledge and wisdom of tens of millions of older adults."

He noted that many businesses overlook the advantages of seasoned workers and accept the idea that they are in decline.

That notion is false he said and older individuals should take pride in themselves. "If you accept the stereotype it turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy. My new motto is to live up to your potential not your age."

Stay Socially Engaged

Ulene said the last thing he wanted in advanced age was to sit alone in an armchair.

"The later years should be a period of growth," he said questioning the view that they are merely a time to rest on past achievements.

He mentioned his wife Priscilla three years younger who is currently on a month-long solo tour of contemporary art museums across the United States.

He stressed the value of interacting with younger people. "My support team on Kilimanjaro was made up of young men," he said. "They felt like family."

"I have seven grandchildren in the US yet I now have two sets of grandchildren American and Tanzanian."

Looking ahead Ulene plans a December return to Tanzania with his youngest grandchildren ages 15 and 13.

They intend to camp near the base of Kilimanjaro and take part in a safari.

"I have traveled worldwide with my children and grandchildren," Ulene said and he has no plans to stop.