The vibrant lives of older people are visible and celebrated here, whether it’s the warm summer nights playing cards on the terrace, tending to the garden, Sunday lunch with the family, or attending the never-ending stream of local celebrations. Wisdom is respected too. You always know that the bar with the abuelos sat outside is the best place to go, and that the señora at the end of the street knows how to grow the best local produce you’ve ever tasted. Reflecting on these observations got me thinking about what wisdom we can learn from older people about living long, happy and healthy lives.
Recent thinking around longevity draws upon the Blue Zones – areas with exceptionally high concentrations of centenarians, such as Okinawa in Japan, regions of Sardinia in Italy, and Nicoya in Costa Rica. Whilst these communities tend to maintain archaic patriarchal structures, they suitably emphasise the importance of movement and eating well. In Nicoya, a diet of corn, beans and squash provide an abundance of nutrients, whilst in Okinawa people spend hours a day active in their garden. Yet, this is only half the picture. Positive psychological factors also play an important role in longevity, particularly feeling connected with others and having a positive outlook on life. In Sardinia, older people form an essential part of family life, whilst evenings are spent gathering with friends.
Researchers in the field of the psychology of aging affirm that our attitudes and outlook, both on life and aging, do in fact impact how we age. However, changing the way we think is easier said than done. Our thoughts, attitudes and beliefs are fundamentally rooted in the society around us, shaped by social and cultural norms and trends. In the UK, pessimism about ageing is chronic. This is largely perpetuated by media and industry, from excessive exposure to anti-aging creams to the dominance of decline-narratives in TV.
From the Blue Zones, and the first SAACY Policy Lab, we know that shifting people’s attitudes towards aging hold enormous promise for individuals and societies to live long, happy and healthy lives. As a new member of the SAACY research collaborative, I share SAACY’s mission to change how we see ageing in society. That’s why we’ll be holding a second Policy Lab, bringing together experts and evidence to explore how we can shift representations of older age in the media to present a fuller, more realistic and optimistic view of people’s lives.