What we all want -- Successful aging

This past Friday I attended an educational event about successful aging on the UIndy campus The event was hosted by the Delta Mu Chapter of the Sigma Phi Omega, the national honor and professional society for gerontology. A panel of presenters brought forth an array of information from studies, experiences and observations to enhance our understanding of what differentiates outcomes of aging based upon heredity vs. lifestyle.

• Heidi Rauch provided excellent guidance on healthy habits.
• Tamiko MaGee Rodgers shared poignant examples from her work with elders in geripsychology.
• Anita Siccardi shared fascinating findings from a study with older adults on concerns of health that related back to spirituality and a sense of meaning in life.

The take-away message from the event was that we all want to age successfully and it requires more than good genes and good choices to make it happen – we need to believe that we are connected to something more important than just ourselves.

For some people the relationship with their family or friends provides them with a sense of purpose and meaning. Others extend their interactions with the greater community in volunteerism or within their faith community. On a day-to-day basis we may not have occasion to do monumental activities of great import or significance. However each of us has the opportunity to nurture existing connections, to re-connect with people we have lost track of, or to pursue new connections and build our network of social support.

Communities do not happen, they are built, one person at a time. And, for all of us to get what we want -- to age successfully -- we need to be an active part of the whole. But don’t take my word for it, check out Outliers: The Story of Success, a new book by Malcolm Gladwell.

Gladwell describes the findings from a study of the Rosetans of Pennsylvania who defied the understanding of medical experts with their healthy longevity. Despite tendency toward obesity from poor eating habits, high rates of smoking, and hard working conditions, these immigrants from Southern Italy were experiencing less heart disease and outliving the majority of Americans.

When all other variables were accounted for, the only explanation was the community itself, a place of belonging, a place of meaning where each person was a link in the connection to the others. The beauty of helping ourselves by connecting to others and building our community network is that through this process we help everyone else we connect with enjoy the benefits of successful aging as well.

That’s because aging isn’t about old people, it’s about all people.


Tamara Wolske, MS
Academic Program Director