EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was contributed by Diana Spore, PhD, a social gerontologist and advocate for those facing mental health challenges and those individuals living with dementia.
“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength” (Betty Friedan)
ASHLAND — As 2025 commences, let us reflect on what older adults (as well as younger generations!) might focus on to age well, to thrive not just to survive.
Notably, several months and/or days in 2025 will be devoted to celebrating older adults and
(1) promoting positive views of aging;
(2) fighting against ageism and ageist stereotypes,
(3) addressing self-empowerment, and
(4) revealing the stories of older adults who are making a major difference in our community and beyond.
These include Older Americans Month (May), Elder Empowerment Month in Ashland County, under the auspices of the Older Adult Behavioral Health Coalition (June), and National Senior Citizens Day (August 21).
Each year, the Area Agency on Aging District 5 honors older adults who are making a difference, by providing community service and Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards (2024 – award ceremony took place in August).
Tips for aging well
1. Maintaining a Sense of Meaning and Purpose
You can maintain a sense of meaning and purpose through employment (full-time, part-time, self-employment), being a consultant or member of a Board, and/or serving as a volunteer.
Consider mentoring and making a difference in the lives of younger people; engaging in activities that allow you to be a leader and partner, not just a participant; pursuing education and training; finding ways to express yourself, your wisdom, and insights.
Maintain strong relationships with those who you hold close to your heart, be that family members, non-biological family members, peers, and friends. Reach out to them and allow them to reach out to you for support and caring.
2. Forging and Strengthening Social Connections
Social connectedness, minimizing loneliness, and avoiding social isolation promote quality of life, health, and overall well-being. Social isolation and loneliness should be distinguished from solitude which may be preferred by seniors, at least periodically.
Social isolation, however, places older adults at risk of cognitive decline, depression, decreased ability to engage in activities of daily living, exacerbation of health problems, and more.
Options exist for increasing opportunities to make new friends, to increase the size of one’s support network, and to foster increased social support.
Consider ways to remain socially active, such as taking advantage of programming available at the Ashland County Council on Aging, Ashland County Senior Citizens Center, and Ashland Public Library. Volunteering, serving as a mentor, attending religious services, taking classes all can help you connect with others, including those from younger generations.
Keep in touch with friends, peers, and loved ones in-person when possible as well as via phone calls, texts, email messages, and virtual meetings. Consider reaching out through mail as well – cards with messages can be welcomed by others, and be held on to.
3. Fostering Self-Empowerment
Elder empowerment is important, even critical, in dealing with aging-related changes and losses (such as death of spouses), ageism, discrimination, prejudice, and elder abuse.
Self-empowerment can be fostered by maintaining health through exercise, social engagement, following through on medical procedures/instructions (after engaging in shared decision-making with primary care physicians), good sleep patterns, and healthy diets.
Self-empowerment can be facilitated (a) by increasing awareness about issues faced when aging or growing old such as scams targeted at older adults, (b) by creating legal documents to remain in control of decisions being made as long as possible while deciding who can speak on your behalf if the need arises, (c) by being assertive and vocal when treated with disrespect or ageism.
The latter can happen during interactions with all types of service providers, representatives from agencies and organizations/entities, and gatekeepers.
4. Sharing Your Voice and Being Heard, Addressing Issues that are Especially Meaningful to You (FIND YOUR PASSION)
Increasing a sense of meaning and purpose can be enhanced by finding your passion.
For example, consider engaging in advocacy efforts regarding issues that are important to you (e.g., preventing elder abuse, fighting against ageism, mental health and aging, animal welfare, suicide prevention).
Find or rediscover your passion, ideally engaging in efforts that forge social connections and can be shared with others.
Options to consider: check out programming at the Ashland Public Library, look into the ScrippsAVID program at Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University (programming occurs virtually, connects you with younger generations), embrace your creativity and express yourself (e.g., artwork, writing, artistic cuisine, jewelry design), engage in volunteerism. And VOTE!
5. Considering What You Have to be Grateful For – Every Day Being aware and remembering what you are grateful for can be helpful for promoting overall health, for optimizing emotional well-being, and for retaining a positive attitude.
It’s valuable to identify what you are grateful for (even very small things), to focus on what you have and what is going well, and to reflect on the positive things that have occurred in your life thus far, regardless of age.
A gratitude mindset is a self-care strategy.
Living life intentionally — grounding your life in a sense of meaning and purpose, your values, and principles – lays the foundation for leaving a lasting legacy, one that is based on your daily actions.
The latter, for example, may include routinely engaging in simple acts of kindness which can touch others, reverberating (albeit unexpectedly) on a large scale.
Maintaining a sense of meaning and purpose is key to aging well, a gateway that is enhanced by strong social connectedness, self-value, and a gratitude “mindset.”
All foster health and well-being, promote resilience, and maximize the quality of your life. And yes, these principles apply to all of us.
Best wishes for 2025!
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear of newer and richer experience” (Eleanor Roosevelt).