Are You Successfully Ageing? How Do You Know?
Increasingly over the last century we have seen the ageing population of Australia treble in size (Hugo, 2002) while family and social networks have decreased. This is in part due to a continuous decline in birth rates, marriages and increased globalisation of the family structure (McCalman, 2002). Along with this continuos decrease in family networks and globalisation of family we have seen an increase in older people living alone (McCalman, 2002). This is often viewed as a time of loneliness and despair when a persons experiences little or no life satisfaction within their existence (McCalman, 2002), but in reality this time can be one of successful ageing and increased personal health and wellbeing, social interaction and support with the integration of more positive leisure experiences.
Successful ageing is more than the “absence of disease and maintenance of high functioning” (Everard et al, 2000, s208), it involves the ability to be engaged in life and includes activities and social support. Leisure offers many opportunities for inclusive recreational programs which can enhance the quality of life for the individual (Moulder, 2003) and also improve their personal interaction amongst their peers. Peer interactions provide a variety of benefits such as improving self esteem, increasing acceptance of one self and others and help to developing a sense of autonomy. It also assists in maintaining or improving personal wellbeing (Northern Arizona University, 1998) and minimises social isolation. Social support and close relationships can act as a buffer to the effects of stressful life events such as bereavement caused by the loss of a spouse, increasing poor health or perpetual losses such as vision or hearing.