As we age, it's more important than ever to 'stretch' ourselves, and I'm not talking about touching your toes.... I'm talking about reaching for the skies, challenging ourselves, embarking on lifelong learning and personal growth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Have you heard about the Comfort Stretch Panic Model?
It's a tool we can use to set goals that will stretch our personal development, taking us out of our 'comfort zone' without stepping into situations that will cause us to panic.
As we get older and energy levels decrease, or we experience poor health and chronic pain, or loved ones and friends move or pass away, it's very easy to get stuck in our comfort zone.
In fact, in 2012 a Productivity Commission Report on Government Services found 16.2 per cent of people aged 65 and over did not leave home at all or as frequently as they would have liked.
A sad statistic.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics projects there will be 9.6 million people aged 65 and over by 2064.
If we don't change our mindset and support older Australians to stay socially engaged, there could be over 1.5 million older people who never or rarely leave their homes.
Research shows this won't only negatively affect their health and wellbeing, it will increase demand for government-funded services (lonely older people are 60 per cent more likely to use emergency services and twice as likely to be admitted to residential aged care).
So what's the solution?
How do we stretch ourselves as we age and support our loved ones to do the same?
Independent mobility is crucial.
By accessing community transport or home care support we can get out and about without relying on family and friends.
This will enable us to stretch ourselves by joining a local civic or social group.
There are some great clubs around that welcome older members with open arms, and regular meetings and functions are a good incentive to get out of the house.
Volunteering keeps you physically active and helps to feed your soul.
With so many parents working these days I know that primary schools are crying out for people to help with reading groups, canteen, ethics classes and banking.
Why not phone your local school and see how you can help?
You could also consider teaching or mentoring. Dive into your wisdom!
Older people have so much knowledge and skills to share.
You might even consider some paid teaching, or other types of work.
I know an IRT resident in his 80s who still enjoys working. And you're never too old to learn new tricks!
The University of The Third Aged (U3A) has some great short courses to help you stay relevant.
Why not take a social media class so you can converse with your grandkids online?
Speaking of grandkids, Sunday, October 30, is Grandparents Day. There's no better reason to get out of the house.
Why not set yourself a stretch goal you can do with your grandchildren?
Go somewhere you've never been before, play a new board game, or take a hobby class together?
As we age, let's remember to flex our lives, as well as our muscles.
Nieves Murray is Chief Executive of IRT Group, one of Australia’s leading seniors lifestyle and care providers.
