What Does our Future Hold?

WHAT DOES OUR FUTURE HOLD?

31/3/2019

The World Health Organization is predicting an enormous rise in the numbers of older persons throughout the world. In fact, our world will contain more people over 60 than under 15. Do we need to change the commonly accepted picture that is currently held about ageing and how the aged are treated? There is a rising urgency for everyone, including governments, to start looking at what the future holds for this predicted two billion elders.

Whilst longer life spans are on the increase, and though we may celebrate this, is this really a good statistic, or is it that most older people are simply living longer in poor health and needing nursing home care for the later years of their life?

How do you feel about this topic, ‘What Does the Future Hold’ for our elder generation and what are your experiences and ponderings as to how you will contribute to changing the present paradigm held by society?

Before posting any comments if you have not already done so, you may also like to read last month's article 'Ageing in Society - What Does our Future Hold?' and the new article this month 'What Does Our Future Hold? Part 2: Empowerment for Elders'.

12 Comments

Ingrid Langenbruch link

31/3/2019 06:21:45 am

Our picture of old age and old people has changed dramatically since the industrial revolution. And I see many old(er) people – as soon as they retire – give up, drop responsibility and loose their feeling of self-worth. Not only does society need to change their picture of older people and how to treat them but old(er) people need to take more responsibility for their health, their emotional and energetic wellbeing, and keep contributing and giving back to society.

Anne Hart

31/3/2019 07:57:23 am

I agree Ingrid. As we age we have so much wisdom to contribute but this is lost if we do not actively support our own health and well-being. There is much focus on financial security but all the money in the world means little if we lose our health and vibrancy. Our bodies do change and do require our attention and co-operation to maintain health. Being engaged in the community in whatever capacity we can is both a personal joy and a valuable contribution to that community.

Bernadette link

31/3/2019 07:42:39 am

I feel that connection is one of the healing ingredients in ageing joyfully. Whenever I am with other people I enjoy their company and conversations, and feel expanded. Staying connected in whatever ways we can, will keep us engaged and contribute to our emotional well-being.

Sandra Newland

1/4/2019 06:47:15 am

Connection is indeed a 'healing ingredient', Bernadette, and something that a lot of older people miss especially when they live on their own.

The key for me is to be connected to myself first and then I find I do not feel lonely and when I am with other people I can bring more value to the conversation. If I am on my own for a long period of time and am not connected within I start looking for some distraction such as listening to the radio or watching TV, just to hear a human voice.

Most animals or birds live in groups such as prides, herds or flocks and, at a basic level, we are also social animals needing others around us to live in our fullness. So is it perhaps not healthy for us to live on our own too long and does this isolation make it much harder for older people to value themselves and connect with their inner joyous quality?

Sandra Newland

31/3/2019 07:56:30 am

Yes Ingrid, we can change the way society views older persons by taking more responsibility for our health and wellbeing as we age. By taking the time to deeply care and nurture ourselves, by appreciating ourselves and valuing our worth we command respect from society as we express our authority, wisdom and our willingness to stay engaged in life rather than giving up or waiting for someone to 'fix us'. This will serve to bust this concept of ageism and therefore change the way society views future ageing populations.

Gayle

31/3/2019 12:13:37 pm

I agree with Ingrid's comment about old(er) people needing to take responsibility for their own health. We have to take individual responsibility because what will work for one person won't work for another. We have to feel our way through this stage of life. It may even be that what is working for us right now, won't work for us next year. We need to stay tuned in and switched on right through to the last breath whenever that may come.

We live in a different world now. The elderly used to think and even assume that when they got old their family would take care of them. But nowadays, many people are choosing not to have children and those that do may find themselves living at a great distance from their adult children.

There is so much to explore on this topic. How do we support ourselves to stay well physically? How do we support ourselves to stay well mentally? Equally important is how we support ourselves to stay well emotionally?

I will enjoy having this conversation.

Susan Wilson

1/4/2019 06:12:20 am

Ageing is a natural cycle from birth to death to birth and occurs continuously in all physical forms, e.g. a tree grows from a seed to fully maturation whilst shedding seeds to cycle again in a new form. For physical form this is the way it is and serves as an example of how all stages of growth or ageing needs to be respected and loved for what it can show or reflect. Staying with the example of a tree as it matures it holds many species within its form and even in death it houses many forms of plants, insects and animals. What this means to me is that each of us has a responsibility to provide a reflection of how to live because through living we can support many people to remember through their connection with us what life can truly be if we live joyfully at no matter what age. But beneath the physical form that does die is the energy of truth that also is being reflected if we live that truth and that is what is communicated to all because we are all connected to that truth whether we are aware of it or not. The energetic space we live is a continuous living essence that never ages but always is pulled to expand and never declines. Could we live like that?

Marian Rudeforth

11/4/2019 08:41:23 pm

I feel that the future for each person as we age is a combination of us choosing to interact and be connected to others and society, along with support systems and people supporting each other, either directly or by looking out for each other or simply by being willing to lend an ear or a hand when called on.

One's health is key to being able to continue to participate, so attending to any signs or symptoms, even at a relatively younger age, is important to be able to set oneself up for a healthy ageing process. Finding an enjoyable and sustainable form of exercise is a keystone and these days there are more options available for the older exerciser, as governments and gyms realise that there are plenty of people to fill those less strenuous exercise classes.

It may take some more time yet, but as politicians themselves age and it becomes more personal for them, perhaps more of the country's budget will be moved from defence (for example) to aged care, one can wish hey. I think the government will be forced to allocate more to aged care, especially with the current Royal Commission into Aged Care, but also because of the number of people moving into their later stages of life.

Gayle

12/4/2019 05:11:49 pm

Your comments are thought provoking, Marian. I've recently taken out a senior's membership at the local sports and aquatic centre. Admittedly the senior's pass restricts use of some of the gym facilities to 'off-peak' hours, leaving it free in the early morning and after 4pm time slots for those younger folks who are still in the work force. But whenever I go during the day time, it is still very busy with all the participants having grey hair - until school kids come in the afternoon. Exercise is obviously not restricted to any one age.

Also, I appreciated your optimistic comment that as politicians age they will have more concern about funding aged care instead of defence. haha That remains to be seen but it is an uplifting idea.

Marian Rudeforth

29/4/2019 08:05:03 pm

I realised the other day that we're needing to break many pictures and beliefs that we carry around ageing. I was sharing with others that at age 60 I've started a new career and am in the process of setting myself up with it by completing some years of study and gaining qualifications. Another person found that inspiring which surprised me – I've been unsure that it will all come to pass, but with that comment I realised that I could be inspiring myself with what I'm doing, instead of hesitating!

I saw my old pictures of expecting to be retiring from the workforce about now and possibly being a grey nomad travelling the country, but saw that that was our previous generations' story. I'm now not sure when I'll stop working but anticipate being in the paid workforce for another twenty years, maybe not full time like now, but certainly half time at least.

Our generation and ones following will have very different ageing activities which can include being active in the workforce for much longer and being in mainstream life till old age. There are professions already which have older people being front and centre eg, law with older judges, Ita Buttrose with the ABC is breaking expectations, the diplomatic service, for example.

I see the most powerful way to dissolve these old pictures is to simply be out there and doing it by living our lives. Our activities through middle age and into what was previously thought of as old age can amaze and clear beliefs and the expectations that ageing is a phase of life where one 'throws in the towel' and has little to do with the mainstream. Instead we show by simply living our older lives that Elders are very much in life and community and can provide balance and wisdom to the fast-paced and reactive younger stratum of society.

Gayle

30/4/2019 07:34:48 am

I really appreciate you sharing your views Marian because you look at the future in a beholding way, letting things be as they are while still lifting them up to be more, Reading your last comment caused me to reflect on my own attitude towards 'retiring', a feeling of 'deserving to retire' and recognising how we still carry an imprint from our parents lives that we have the ability to reshape, if we so choose. I too am inspired by you starting new studies and a new career at 60!

Joan Calder

1/6/2019 07:59:47 pm

For me it has always been "What's next" whatever age I am. However, when I was sixty and suddenly became aware that my two careers (which had run in tandem with each other) were no longer either possible for me -- physically with one of them, and with the other becoming aware that I was trying to fit myself into a mould I was no longer willing to conform to. By asking "What’s Next" I began to find a way of addressing the issues from inside the work, but as I struggled on for five years trying to continue both in this way it became obvious to me that in no uncertain terms I had to stop. So what was next then? My last five years had not been a true choice of What’s next, rather a compromise. It led to four years of illness and operations when I had to take care of myself. I learned so much in that time that has created a foundation for the rest of imy life. Having always believed I would keep working till I died, at the age I should have been taking retirement in society’s terms, I was actually forced to because of health and found my true work at that time was learning to observe and nurture my body, something I had neglected in the past. When I was feeling more able the What’s Next became seven years of volunteering. Now at 77yrs I find that once again my body is informing me I have to rest and take stock. I am finding so much value in that, and joy and delight as I become more intimate with myself and my body, there is space and time to do so. As I reflect on all this I feel it is my body which all the time has been choosing the What’s Next for me. Now I am learning to take more notice of what my body is showing me and out of that wisdom make my choices for what follows. So instead of choosing from the old way that so many feel is what we must DO to make a healthy vital old age for ourselves in the way of activity, I am choosing the listening to body, my heart, and life and see where it leads, and much of it is just in BEING. But that is actually pretty hard work, to remain consciously present, and involves application and commitment and purpose. It definitely is not retirement from life, and that beingness may impulse us to take on activities, and of course, as Bernadette says, connecting with others is huge support and reflection for us as we all work together on our own way to a fulfilment and the completing of our lives. So it seems to be being open to whatever comes -events, people, opportunities, illnesses, and STAY PRESENT.

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