When we hear the term “wellness,” it may conjure up the image of someone who is physically active and eating a healthy diet. Yet, wellness is so much bigger than that, and includes staying mentally and socially engaged in life, too. In fact, having a sense of purpose and meaning is a vital aspect of wellness.
Some people may struggle with maintaining their sense of purpose after retirement. Once they stop working, raising children or running a household, they may find they are less enthused about life. Instead of waking up excited about the day, they may have the nagging feeling that something is missing in their life.
In contrast, people who age with a strong sense of purpose often seem timeless, their zest for life almost contagious. That was true of Roxanne*. She moved to a retirement residence when she was in her late 70’s. Her husband had passed away three years before, and she had spent several years caregiving for him. When the intensity of grief lessened, she began to realize that her life needed a new focus. She had volunteered in her community for many years, but had to stop when her husband needed care.
罗克珊决定“适应”她的生活环境，这样她就可以自由地从事新的活动。她卖掉了自己的房子，搬进了养老院，然后积极地开始寻找新的生活重心。就在那时，罗克珊发现了查特韦尔的项目h.o.p.e(帮助他人有目的的参与)，它为居民创造了与他们的社区联系的机会。反过来，这个项目也促进了他们生活的目标感和意义感。居民可以选择回馈当地或全球，通过建立持久的社区联系来帮助改变现状。
Roxanne has a special fondness for children; she has three of her own and five grandchildren. She also always loved being in the kitchen. For her it was a natural fit to join other H.O.P.E volunteers in preparing lunches for local kids in need. She loved the comradery with the other volunteers and found she was energized, not exhausted, after she finished making the lunches. She said she could picture the faces of the children when they got the meals, and it made her feel great.
Having a sense of purpose that includes doing things for others goes beyond making us feel good: it actually helps us stay healthy. Dr. Strecher, a professor and director for innovation and social entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, says, “It’s particularly important to have a self-transcending purpose, something that goes beyond yourself. There’s strong science showing that having a transcendent purpose helps you in changing your behaviors, in changing your life, but it is also good for your health.” Researchers have found thatpeople who have a strong sense of purpose live longerand are less likely to have heart attacks or strokes. In addition, they found that those with a weak sense of purpose are 2.4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with a strong sense of purpose.
Whether or not it is for the good feelings, or for the notable health benefits, staying engaged if life and having a sense of purpose and meaning in your later years are key factors in overall wellness and happiness. That was certainly true for Roxanne. She found that retirement living provided her both the opportunities to stay engaged, and the freedom from day-to-day chores that had taken up a lot of her time and energy. Roxanne was able to find a new focus and passion once she was freed from the responsibilities that she didn’t feel contributed to her sense of wellbeing.
Today, when she runs into old friends, they comment about how happy and vital she looks. Best of all, that’s how she feels!
*Name has been changed for privacy
About Dr. Amy D’Aprix
Dr. Amy is a certified senior advisor, Vice President of the International Federation on Aging, and Co-Founder of the Essential Conversations Project. As a gerontological social worker, she has over thirty years of experience working with older adults and their families.