More than most would have thought. People are moving from the material world to embracing beliefs with more substance. This is having an impact on ageing and wellbeing.
Belonging, and success, is defined by some as acquisition and accumulation. Maxing out the credit card can only hold sway for a limited period of time as many have discovered. More substantive versus superficial influences is important in defining the quality of life. This is one of the reasons why spirituality as part of life is gaining ascendancy.
Those engaged in identifying the ingredients for ageing well now realise this to be a subject that warrants attention. Even to the point of defining best practice and developing policy initiatives.
If spirituality is elevated to be a bona fide part of a national ‘ageing well’ strategy where is the best place to start? There is a growing and diverse set of opinions on such matters.
New Zealand currently has a number of policy, planning and implementation initiatives fuelled by a vision of creating a society where older people live well, age well and have a respectful end of life in age-friendly communities.
The New Zealand Government Better Later Life - He Oranga Kaumātua Strategy (2019-2034) focuses on making the future better for New Zealanders as we age. Its guiding principles are:
- Valuing people as they age
- Keeping people safe
- Recognising diversity and that everyone is unique
- Taking a whole-of-life and whānau-centered approach to ageing
- Taking collective responsibility to plan and act for later life.
Of particular note is the objective of maximising people’s physical and mental health, and wellbeing throughout life, with an emphasis on building physical and mental resilience.
At the same time, The Ageing Well National Science Challenge is looking at ways to add life to years for all older New Zealanders. The mission of Ageing Well is to enable all New Zealanders to reach their full potential through the life course with particular reference to the latter years of life.
This initiative maintains that harnessing science to sustain health and wellbeing into the latter years of life is the best path forward.
Spiritual matters
There is growing evidence for recognition of the place of spirituality in the context of ageing well.
On a number of levels but specifically in regard to this call to action included in the Government’s Better Later Life - He Oranga Kaumātua Strategy (2019-2034) the way forward is to increase understanding, and explore partnerships, to promote overall health and wellbeing for older people at an individual, organisational and community level.
Can ageing well get better?
Around the world there is a plethora of institutes looking at the myriad of issues related to the subject of ageing well. This is in response to a growing interest in methodologies and practices that will enhance peoples’ life experiences and expectancies.
Many of these have been developed relative to different professional focusses and orientations. The United States National Institute on Aging, for example, supports and conducts genetic, biological, clinical, behavioural, social, and economic research to better understand the aging process, as well as diseases, conditions, and other problems or needs associated with growing older.
The Milken Institute’s Centre for the Future of Aging works to promote healthy, productive and purposeful ageing.