Positive Ageing

Positive Ageing is a concept or an idea that it is possible to age in a positive way. Our society embraces and worships youth and beauty and as we age these things often do not come with us into our latter years. Society's general view is that people are not as attractive as they age. Beauty contests are for young people in their prime or perhaps for babies.  As the furrows of time bestow themselves on our faces and our bodies succumb to the ravages of gravity we can find other ways to remain positive.
When you are employed in the aged care industry it is easy to percieve older people as slow, immobile, demented and generally needing care. We don't see the older people in our society that are still fit active and mentally alert in their nineties unless they are on the television. The people that make it to the TV news usually sit proudly behind a cake that requires a fire brigade escort due to the 100 plus candles burning upon it. They often have a 'secret' to their longevity, which may be some rebellious statement that flies in the face of the sterotype of older people. " I smoked a pack a day and drank a bottle of whisky every week! then there is the octogenerian who has just tandem jumped out of an  aeroplane, grinning like an adolescent saying ' I can't wait to do it again'.
These are the older people that we love. So what is it that we love about them? We love their zest for life and that they are still fully engaged in their lives and in society despite their ailments.
I am sure the Dept Health and Ageing website would list some suggestions for positive ageing such as:

• Following a healthy diet
• Getting regular excercise
• Visiting the doctor regularly
• Staying engaged in the community

Of course all these things contribute to positive ageing but it is ultimately our attitude and willingness to stay connected that helps us to age gracefully or as many a baby boomer would cite, age disgracefully.....

• What are your attitudes to older people?
• What do your friends and family think?
• How do you see older people portrayed in our society?

Do you uphold and support the sterotypes or do you believe in and support older people to rebel and live their lives to the full right to the end?