A Life Worth Living
I sat across the room from my peers, all Baby Boomers, at a recent function. The women and the men looked fit and healthy. This function was all about keeping fit and all in attendance were keen walkers, golfers, bowlers and travellers. This generation is the most active and independent generation in history and losing independence and freedom would come as a huge blow. It is this realization that translates to the needs of the current generation receiving care, some only 10 years older than this Baby Boomer Group.
The goal of ageing gracefully is to have a life worth living. One must avoid risk of loneliness; boredom and depression for these are only the precursors to further health problems. Many studies have linked depression to Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The goal of ageing is not to deny that one is physically changing, but to accept it with humour and grace. In other words, we need to help our loved ones maintain a life “worth living,” so ageing becomes a positive experience. The people who seem to do the best with aging are the people who are comfortable in their own skin and at peace with the changes their body is going through.
We must look at what older people can do for themselves rather than what they can no longer do. Voids should be filled so there is little empty space. For example, if one cannot walk, it does not mean they become socially isolated as they are still able to converse or see or hear and so therefore immerse them in social outings even if its to the park in a wheel chair.
It is not enough to be alive; one must have a life worth living
