by Lesley Lyle | April, 2024 | Ageing/Aging
Have you ever been to a school reunion and met up with your former classmates who are the same age as you, give or take a few months? If so, you probably noticed the variety in how those people had aged – how they looked physically, how they dressed, how they moved and how they thought. But the real curiosity lies not in the mirror but within: How old do we really feel? When I was a child and my grandmother was several years younger than I am now, she definitely considered herself to be ‘an old lady’. So, is ‘old’ really just a number, or is it a mindset? A recent study from Germany unveils a trend where ‘old age’ is being nudged further away by each generation (Wettstein et al., 2024). It found that those born in 1911, consider 71 to be the starting line for old age whereas the baby boomers of 1956 suggest old age starts at 74. It’s clear that longevity and vitality are reshaping our perspective on ageing, but personal circumstances play a role too. Health, loneliness, and how old we ‘feel’ can prematurely age us. The old saying, “You’re as old as you feel,” couldn’t be more relevant. This is where role models come into play, particularly those who exude positive ageing – they could very well be the secret to our own fountain of youth. As we navigate longer, healthier lives, it’s time to question our benchmarks for old age and welcome its fluidity. Why not redefine these extra years as a time to thrive, to be robust, and to relish...
by Maggie Bevington | October, 2017 | Ageing/Aging
Last year I retired from one-to-one practice as a holistic therapist. It was a tough decision to make as I had an established practice and enjoyed my job but I wanted to pursue my ambition of introducing positive health to a wider audience – especially children and young people – and complete a list of half-finished projects that have been gathering dust over the years (sound familiar?). My list includes writing a book – current title is Healing Words for Teens, although is not final – positive health guidance cards for teens, finishing an Eating Psychology course and designing character strengths ‘snippets’ notices for schools. My decision was also partly influenced by having a relatively independent but elderly mum and in-laws who may require increased support as they get older. At the same time my daughter announced that she was expecting our first grandchild and my husband took redundancy from work, so the decision to semi-retire seemed even more timely. Notice I say semi-retire. Having spent almost 40 years working in the field of health, (20 years in nursing and longer in holistic medicine) and completing a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology in 2014, I believe that I have a unique and rounded perspective on health and wellbeing that may help others and especially if introduced early on in childhood. I suppose that helping others in these so-called caring professions is a ‘calling’ that fits my character strengths and is central to my sense of meaning and purpose. A better way to health I have always enjoyed working to help others in their journey towards health in both...
by Dan Collinson | October, 2016 | Ageing/Aging, Relationships
In a few words, I would like to talk about leisure and share a significant episode of a very old woman of the group I’ve been studying since 2010, the Wednesday Tea programme. It is a ritualised programme for old women. There are moments for conversations, moments for doing what they like the most, moments of prayer for their families and for themselves and in the end, they have a cup of tea and eat some cakes and sandwiches. Always at Wednesday at 2 pm, for women only. Mastery in adversity A very old woman, aged 80, that worked all her life as a rural worker, wanted to participate in this group. She was convinced that she needed a specific ability that she could share and show to her colleagues of the group. She didn’t know who they were, but she knew that they used to do things during the group gatherings. The problem was that this woman became blind some years before. But she wanted so much to participate in the group. Then she had an idea. She said to me, in an interview that she might still remember the art of knitting. She thought that if she imagined herself knitting in a dark room, she could remember it. She tried over and over… She said that it was very, very difficult, but then she made her first sleeping boots– or something similar to that! She practiced again and again. The moment to enter the group arrived. She now mastered the art of knitting. She began to do lots of sleeping boots to sell in the Christmas sale…...
by Lesley Lyle | August, 2016 | Ageing/Aging, Relationships
There is no doubt that my beloved Nan is in her twilight years. She is fast approaching her 94th birthday and is still going strong although her strength is slowly diminishing. As a family, the last 18 months have made us wonder how many more years will we be blessed with Nan in our lives? Around the world, there will be millions of families in the same position, all cherishing a loved one’s twilight years. It is a poignant time, but a time that we are grateful to have. A Quality of Life Nan has been lucky in so many ways. She has lived a fulfilled life and until recently has always been happy and upbeat. Like everyone, she has had to face difficult times in her life. She was brought up in an orphanage, lived and got married during the Second World War and was sadly widowed almost 32 years ago. She has always embraced life, leading a very social life, supported by the pillars of her faith. When she moved into her sheltered accommodation flat in 1987, she immersed herself into various activities, including volunteer work, knitting, helping my parents with childcare and housework, social committees, keep fit and carpet bowls, to name but a few. Being diagnosed with osteoporosis very late in life and twice breaking her wrist, did not get in her way. As she approached her 80’s and 90’s she readily adapted her life, accepting limitations as they came along. She had her social life, faith and most importantly the love of an ever-growing family. Over the last 18 months, things started to change...
